We like to dine out, and we have found that Colombia has amplified our desire and ability to do this. There are so many incredible restaurants, especially in Medellin and the El Poblado neighborhood. We were based in El Poblado, so it was easy to walk into the neighborhood and dine at some incredible places. So we decided to eat out a lot and we found some of the best restaurants in El Poblado, Medellin. And instead of keeping them all to ourselves, we thought we’d share. Check out our list below!

Our selection of the best restaurants in El Poblado is not just high dining options. We like to mix it up!

Some more expensive dining options are included though. Thankfully, the cost of a top-end dining experience is a fraction of the cost we are used to.

Another thing we found interesting in Medellin is that if you purchase high quality ingredients at the grocery stores, you can easily end up paying nearly as much (if not more) to make a meal at home. Why not eat out, right?

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How Much Is An Average Meal In Medellin?

Our most expensive meal out, including four cocktails, two fresh fruit juices, two bottles of water, a sashimi appetizer, incredible main courses for all four of us, and two desserts, came out to be $100. This was at one of the highest-rated restaurants in town. Mindblowing! 🤯

Most of the time, we ended up paying somewhere between $25 and $50 for similar lunches or dinners for our family of four.

You can find all levels of restaurants in Medellin, so if you don’t want to spend much money, you can find some really inexpensive options too.

One time, we ate at a gourmet hot dog joint, and they were like $5 dollar each and plenty big!

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7 Best Restaurants In El Poblado, Medellin

Here are some of the best restaurants in El Poblado that we think back on fondly… 

Pergamino Cafe – ☕️

We love coffee! Since we’ve been traveling, good coffee has been hard to find. There have been a few places that have hit the spot but nothing that has been stellar.

You would think that great coffee would be easy to find in Colombia, but most of the good stuff is shipped out of the country unfortunately.

A coffee shop to us is much more than just a delicious latte. It also has a great atmosphere, appetizing food of some sort (pastry or other), and of course excellent coffee.

Pergamino checks all of the boxes. In addition to having the best coffee in Medellin, we also loved eating there for breakfast and lunch. There are many options to choose from such as tostadas, eggs, sandwiches, pancakes and the waffles which were my kids’ favorite dish!

They have a lot of different locations spread across Medellin too, even in the airport!

We were even able to buy their coffee beans, have them grind it, and make it ourselves at home. The best coffee in Medellin by far!

Restaurante Ocio – 🐠 🥩 🍗 🐖

Restaurante Ocio or formally called Oci.mde is one of our favorite places in Medellin to enjoy lunch or dinner with high quality food.

We went a couple of times and enjoyed some yummy pork dishes, steak, chicken and fish. There are a couple of vegetarian options too, but not many.

The cocktails were delicious, even at 1pm! 🤗 Make a reservation, and enjoy the experience. 

Alambique – 🍖🥘🥗

For me, visiting El Poblado is like stepping into a large tropical garden. When go to Alambique, it feels like an extension of this garden. The eclectic-styled inside extends out into a beautiful outdoor space. It’s weird and funky, and I love it!

Dine at Alambique when you have time to sit back and relax and really spend time with the people you are with. The food is cooked slowly and meant to be shared.

And when they say it takes awhile, it does. Just know it is worth it. The plates are a good portion size and mouthwatering!

Bonhomia – 🍕🥪

My oldest son, Levi, is not too adventurous when it comes to dining out. It is usually hamburgers, pizza, pasta or steak. Bonhomia gets top marks for their pizza. It has a thin crust and delicious taste. He almost ate the whole pie!

They have other items on their menu as well. I had a very delicious roast beef sandwich. The charcuterie boards that were passed out to other tables caught my eye as well.

Tough to beat the ambiance too. The outdoor space was one of my favorites in El Poblado.

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Mistura – 🍣

If you are interested in indulging in some sushi, Mistura is one of the best restaurants in El Poblado for it. Even with my allergy to avocados (yes it’s a weird one), I was able to find some flavorful rolls. My favorite? Guila al fuego. Look, it’s on fire! If you like eel, this one is delish! 

Mistura has other locations around Medellin and even a few restaurants in other cities in Colombia. So if you are visiting Barranquilla or Cartagena, you can also get your sushi fix!

Rocoto – 🦐🇵🇪

If you are in the mood for some delightful Peruvian fusion, you need to check out Rocoto.

Rocoto Restaurante has something for everyone from their delicious ceviches to traditional causas and the scrumptious fish, meat or pasta entrees .

Don’t miss having a refreshing pisco sour and save room for a finger-licking dessert too!

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Vibe Donuts – 🍩

UPDATED October 2024: Sadly Vibe Donuts is closed. 😭 Their instagram says they are on a hiatus, so I’ll check again on my next update.

Carmen – 🐟🦐

Since Vibe Donuts is closed, I dug through my google maps to see what other restaurant I can recommend and I found a fantastic one!! Can’t believe I missed it the last time.

Carmen is an incredible restaurant. We actually didn’t go to the location in Medellin, but we did go in Cartagena and we were blown away! If you love seafood, this is a must-visit restaurant.

Bonus Medellin Restaurant: Bunker Burger – 🍔

Bunker Burger is not one of the best restaurants in El Poblado, because it’s not in El Poblado. It is in Medellin and soooo delicious, so I had to mention it!

These burgers are worth the extra effort. If you are in the Laureles neighborhood or near it, you should go to Bunker Burger.

We only ordered through Rappi, which is a quick food delivery service in Colombia, so I can’t speak to the vibe of the place. The burgers though, WOW! The best burger in Medellin by far! Not even close.

No place in any of our travels outside the States comes close to Bunker Burger… again, Levi eats a ton of burgers, so we’ve put in the research on this one. Sorry, no pictures either. I ate it too quickly. Nom Nom. 🤤

Summary

This list of the best restaurants in El Poblado, Medellin should get you started while you are staying there. With so many different restaurant options, it’s nice to be able to narrow it down.

Enjoy Medellin and its vast and vibrant food scene in El Poblado. Your taste buds will thank you!

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