Eat Your Way to 5 Delicious Destinations in Cartagena, Colombia

Aside from the classic architectures, colonial streets, and great accommodations found in San Diego and its neighboring areas, Cartagena, Colombia is also a great destination to taste delicious dishes. Here are 5 restaurants that offer tourists a superb dining experience this side of Latin America.

1. Only the Freshest Ingredients

Restaurante Don Juan creates tasteful food in a simple way: with only the freshest local ingredients. This has made its owner, Juan Felipe Camacho, one of the renowned chefs in Colombia. He handpicks the fruits, seafood, meat, and vegetables to ensure only the best quality dishes will be prepared. There is an abundance of choices in this Caribbean restaurant located in Cartagenas' Historical Center, which includes grilled octopus, chuletica lamb, felafel, and grilled salmon.

2. A Local Feast With Choice Wine

Located at the lobby of a Cartagena, Colombia boutique hotel, the stylish Karib Restaurant Bar pairs popular Colombian staples, such as bandeja paisa, posta negra, and ceviche with the greatest wines from around the world. This gustatory twist sets the restaurant apart from its neighbors along Calle Larga. The owner takes pride with the hearty recipes passed on by his grandmother and his sommelier training that have shaped one of the popular dining spots in Cartagena.

3. The Passion for Cocktails

When it comes to contemporary Peruvian specialties, La Perla Restaurant along Calle de Ayos is one of the first stops for most tourists. This establishment has been famed for its “tiraditos” or thin strips of fresh tuna cured in “tiger milk” or a Peruvian marinade. If that's not enough, there's also the mouthwatering sea bass ceviche and sirloin steak served with a Roquefort-laced sauce. What makes La Perla an even more popular choice is the variety of cocktails the owner has personally concocted like the Mojito Mango Biche and Martini La Perla.

4. Seafood With a Sea View

There's probably nothing more romantic than having dinner with a spectacular view of the sea, and Marea By Rausch boasts that experience. Its address at the Centro de Convenciones near a number of Cartagena hotels makes it perfect for executives in town for a corporate visit. The restaurant's signature seafood dish, the Mojarra Frita, is a well-executed version of the Cartagena staple. Another notable item is the seafood rice infused with turmeric.

5. Romance of Food and Music

For a laid back experience of food and music, tourists can drop by FM Restaurante. This former artist's studio has been transformed into a sophisticated dining destination and piano bar. Its owner, Francisco Montoya, has kept the simple and classy vibe by serving home-made Mediterranean dishes and inviting some friends to play classic pieces. The restaurant is just a stone throw away form accommodations around the San Diego area.

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