The Best Cafes In Cartagena, Colombia

This beautiful bookshop is a not-so-hidden gem in the center of the old walled city of Cartagena de Indias. When perusing the various shops in the area, you may accidentally stumble upon this modern cafe and bookshop housed in an old colorful building. Abaco Libros y Café is covered wall-to-wall with books in both Spanish and English, and is the perfect oasis in which to relax and regroup after walking through the busy shopping streets that surround it. The beautiful brick walls create an ideal ambiance to enjoy some of the best coffee Cartagena has to offer.
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 3pm-9pm

Café de Las Novias is a coffee shop built upon the reputation of Ely Gourmet, and is one of the best cafes in Cartagena de Indias. Serving some of the most delectable cakes and sweet treats you will find in the capital of Colombia’s Bolívar region, this cafe is particularly famous for its creamy mocha-chinos and its tasty wedding cakes made to order. Located near the sea off the beaten track of the regular tourist route, stop by this haunt for a taste of Colombia.

Juan Valdez coffee has become an international symbol for Colombian coffee, and is a household name in many countries. The Juan Valdez Cafe in the old walled city of Cartagena de Indias is one of the most frequented branches of the series of coffeehouses, located near the beautiful old university buildings and often buzzing with students. The Juan Valdez character is a symbol of pure top-quality Colombian coffee as opposed to coffee blended with beans from other countries. He typically appears with his mule, Conchita, carrying sacks of harvested Colombian coffee beans and has become a symbol of the pride Colombia has in this industry.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 6:30am-10pm, Sat 7am-9pm, Sun 9am-8pm

Located in the Getsemani neighborhood, Ceiba Juice Bar is an award-winning cafe serving smoothies made from fresh Colombian fruit as well as a must-try Colombian-sized cup of coffee. The strong but sweet espresso coffee will have you cozying up with a good book in the dimly lit haunt with wooden seating and many facilities. A local favorite with bargain basement prices, Ceiba Juice Bar is a must-try as far as Colombian coffee tasting goes.

At Café San Alberto coffee is a science. From their odd and intricate apparatus to their knowledgable baristas, this cafe does a cup of coffee like you have never experienced before. Their ‘Coffee Baptism’ takes customers on a journey through their bean selection process, exclusively from the Buenavista, Quindío region of Colombia down to the complex machinery that is used to brew the perfect shot of espresso. A dose of Colombian culture right in your cup will complete your experience of Cartagena de Indias.
Opening hours: daily 10am-9pm