Top 10 Restaurants In Popayn Colombia

UNESCO City of Gastronomy in 2005, Popayán, capital of the Cauca region in Colombia, is full of intriguing culinary specialties. Top-notch restaurants are supplemented by street vendors and hole-in-the-wall diners offering fresh juices and regional specialties, from corn tamales to empanadas de Pipián. We list 10 of the best eats here.

La Cosecha Parrillada

Situated slap-bang in the center of town, La Cosecha Parrillada can be counted on to curb all your meat-eating urges. Huge beef cuts are cooked on an open-air grill before being served to diners spread about red-checkered tables waited on by staff in smart white shirts and dickie bow ties. With both international and local eats on the menu, the place has an old-fashioned air and Club Colombia beer on tap, making it a reliably inviting dining option.

La Cosecha Parrillada, Avenida el Papódromo #18N -20, Campamento, Popayán, Colombia, +57 2 823 6799

Balcón de los Santos

Overlooking Popayán’s public park, Balcón de los Santos will appeal to those who enjoy a good view with their evening meal. The interiors take on a typical Colombian charm, with their thick stonewalls painted white and red, shuttered windows and dark mahogany tables. The food is equally traditional and each dish given a religious epithet such as Pollo a la Magdenlena and La Lengua de Judas that eludes to the restaurant’s name, ‘Balcony of the Saints.’

Balcón de los Santos, Carrera 7 #5-06, Popayán, Colombia, +57 2 832 0050

1. Hotel Camino Real

Hotel

The stunning Hotel Camino Real, set in an old colonial mansion, is owned by some of the key figures of Popayán’s Congreso Gastronómico, and its restaurant is arguably the finest in town. The menu combines both authentic French and Colombian flavors with startlingly good results.

2. El Quijote

Restaurant, South American, Street Food, Fast Food

It’s well worth the taxi ride to El Quijote, located in the suburbs a little out of town, for its succulent grilled meat and wonderfully colorful salads. Boasting a large patio, the buzzy restaurant attracts all sorts of clientele during the weekends when you’ll often find live guitar music contributing to its magical dining atmosphere.

3. La Semilla Escondida

Restaurant, French, European, Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-free

La Semilla Escondida is a snug little bistro located on one of Popayán’s old streets. Under French ownership, it’s the go-to for delicious crêpes, both sweet and savory. Try the four-cheese crêpe followed by a classic Normande with butter, sugar and lemon juice. There are also pasta and sandwich options, some great desserts and a menu del día more sophisticated than you’ll find anywhere else in town.