The Sultry Affair
Flavour Packed and Delicious
Colombian coastal cuisine, it’s well worth knowing what to look out for – Cartagena is home to a huge range of restaurants and bars – everything from high-end modern gastronomy to greasy spoon diners and make shift food stalls. Make sure to try these favorites during your visit.
While the food is not spicy and if you want to add salt & pepper to your dish, you will need to ask your server for it. Colombians (from what I have been told) like their food mild. Don’t mistake mild for flavourless though….the coastal cuisine packs a flavour punch.
Comidas
Sancocho de Pescado con Coco 
A base of fish stock (often catfish) with a mixture of potato, plantain, yucca, coconut milk and local seasoning. It is served with coconut rice and patacones (green plantains). I am allergic to plantains though so I opted for fries.
Posta Negra
A cut of seared sirloin steak covered in a rich, sweet sauce made from Coca-Cola and Worcestershire sauce.
Arepa de Huevo
A thick corn flour tortilla, filled with an egg and some ground meat, closed and fried whole.
Carimañola
A stick of fried yucca flour dough, often filled with cheese or ground meat.
Obleas
What’s not to love about a caramel sandwich? It consists of two wafers (think giant communion wafer) with caramel spread (known as arequipe in Colombia) sandwiched between the wafers. In the streets you can find the traditional version of only caramel spread and a wide range of other toppings such as cheese, blackberry and pineapple jam, condensed milk, and coconut.
Meringue (Merengón)
The meringue is a combination of exotic fruits, whipped cream meringue and custard. With such a huge array of fresh fruits this dessert can be served with different combinations.
Bebidas
Limonada de Coco
A fresh lemonade made with fresh coconut milk – dive off the street and into any leafy café or plaza to get refreshed by the city’s signature drink.
Agua de Coco
Coconut water served straight out of a coconut: hunt down one straight out of a cooler – they’re best served chilled! The second best part is that after you are finished drinking the refreshing water, you can eat the coconut flesh.
Coffee
I mean, this is a no brainer. My struggle was that my airBnB didn’t have a coffee maker and it was a couple days before I figured out a routine for my coffee intake. I found a great little coffee shop in my neighbourhood that is satiating my addiction to caffeine. Eureka Coffee House
Mercado Bazurto is a great place to for access to the full range of local ingredients and flavours which go into the creation and traditional preparation of these foods.
Restaurants, Coffee, Bakeries & Bars
La Casa de Socorro
I really enjoyed this place. The food was delicious, the service was attentive, and the value for the portion size was very healthy. I left very very full. Bonus: they accept credit cards.
La Paletteria
Visit this local ice cream shop for handcrafted popsicles that uses Colombian ingredients and Italian recipes to create decadent flavours like strawberry peppermint, tamarind and mango biche. NOTE: Honest truth…it was only ok. I am not sure why everyone raves about it. I am still hunting for the best ice cream in Cartagena. Although the best I have had yet was the homemade ice cream by the chef at the cooking class I took. WOWZERS.
La Cevicheria
The best spot for ceviche; variants include lobster, octopus, shrimp and prawn. NOTE: Again, this restaurant was on the top of the list of soooo many websites so I figured I had to try it, but I was left disappointed after all the hype that was stewed up about it. It was good food, but not worthy of the countless high reviews.
Eureka Coffee House
Since I haven’t had a decent cup of coffee since I got here…only because I don’t have a coffee maker in my airbnb so I have to resort to microwave water and instant coffee. Please don’t unfriend me, I don’t like it either. LOL. I HAD to seek one out. So on my first Sunday morning, I took a walk along the promenade in Barrio Manga and then circled back to my airBNB passing this gem of a coffee house. They were incredibly friendly there, even as I fumbled with my Spanish. I indulged in an Americano and it was so refreshing to enjoy an incredible cup of liquid gold.
La Petite Gourmande Bakery
What a gem in Barrio Manga. I promise this is worth heading to it. I do suggest that you go earlier in the day to have access to the full selection. I will be visiting many more times.
Please note that I have not received these products for free or at a discounted price in exchange for my opinion. There may be links that are affiliate links but at the time of posting this review, I have not received any monetary kickbacks.