Food scene
The amount of great restaurants in Cartagena is simply enormous and it really depends on what you're looking for and what your budget is. Below are my favorites, all more or less in the medium price range.
Excellent tapas bar and restaurant run by a local chef who has trained and worked many years in Spain. Great brunch too, with some great sangria.
27 locals recommend
Caffé Lunático
29-225 Avenida PedregalExcellent tapas bar and restaurant run by a local chef who has trained and worked many years in Spain. Great brunch too, with some great sangria.
Alquimico Bar
##34-24 Cl. del ColegioGreat cocktails, good parties, great rooftop
Malagana Cafe & Bar
#31-55 Cra. 10Great ceviche and rooftop.
Café San Alberto
35-18 Cl. de los Santos de PiedraOne of the best coffee places.
Café del Mural
# 25-60 Cl. de San JuanMy favorite coffee place.
Mistura Cartagena
Excellent restaurant with great ambient and often live music.
Tabetai
Calle 36Excellent small sushi restaurant.
Cafe Stepping Stone
Some of the best (Australian style) breakfast in town.
A restaurant run by female inmates of the local prison (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/colombias-prison-restaurant). Very cool.
15 locals recommend
Restaurante Interno
A restaurant run by female inmates of the local prison (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/colombias-prison-restaurant). Very cool.
Very nice little bar at one of the most scenic squares in the old town where you can sit outsie, with great cocktails.
80 locals recommend
El Barón
#31-7 Cl. San Pedro ClaverVery nice little bar at one of the most scenic squares in the old town where you can sit outsie, with great cocktails.
M Cocina Arabe
3-24 Cl. 6Great restaurant nearby apartment.
La brioche
#35-32 Cra. 14Nice (French) breakfast place near the apartment.
Good and cozy Italian / pizza place (in Bocagrande) that has outside seating and often live music (esp. on weekends).
19 locals recommend
La Diva
Good and cozy Italian / pizza place (in Bocagrande) that has outside seating and often live music (esp. on weekends).
La Tapería
no 31 46 Cra. 2Very cozy and good small tapas bar.
Beach clubs
Private beach clubs are very popular around Cartagena and a great way of spending a relaxed day away from the crowds. For a fee they pick you up (usually in Bocagrande) by boat in the morning and take you back in the late afternoon. Usually there is a minimum amount you have to spend on foods & drinks during the day (usually around 150,000 pesos = 45 USD). The ones below are my favorites.
This is a great place to spend a day. They pick you up by boat in Bocagrande.
23 locals recommend
Blue Apple Beach House
This is a great place to spend a day. They pick you up by boat in Bocagrande.
bendita beach
Another very nice beachclub on a small island (https://benditabeach.com/).
Cery nice beach club oposite Bocagrande. Just 20 minutes by boat: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g297476-d10036109-Reviews-Mariana_s_Beach_Club-Cartagena_Cartagena_District_Bolivar_Department.html
Mariana's Beach Club Restaurant & Cocktail Bar
Cery nice beach club oposite Bocagrande. Just 20 minutes by boat: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g297476-d10036109-Reviews-Mariana_s_Beach_Club-Cartagena_Cartagena_District_Bolivar_Department.html
Neighborhoods
Bocagrande is the peninsula and neighborhood where the apartment is.
Getsemani, besides the old town (aka "walled city"), is the other main neighborhood with lots of bars, restaurants that one definitely should check out.
Bocagrande
This is the area where the apartment is located.
This is the trendy part of town near the old town with many bars and restaurants.
207 locals recommend
Getsemani
This is the trendy part of town near the old town with many bars and restaurants.
Nightlife
Amazing cocktails and ambient. Rooftop has great views and parties.
202 locals recommend
Alquimico Bar
##34-24 Cl. del ColegioAmazing cocktails and ambient. Rooftop has great views and parties.
Café Havana
ESQUINA Cra. 10Famous salsa bar with big band and cuban atmosphere.
Sightseeing
Trinity Square
174 Calle 29Very nice place that fills up in the evening.
Souvenir shops in the palce where the slaves where held back in the days.
135 locals recommend
Las Bóvedas Market
Souvenir shops in the palce where the slaves where held back in the days.
Useful places
Those are very close to the apartment.
Farmatodo Castillo Grande
Carrera 5Pharmacy and and items for personal care & hygiene.
Carulla
24 A-31 Cra 20Great 24h supermarket near the apartment building.
Traveler advice
Don't miss
Soundwalk through Cartagena
A friend of mine has developed so called "Soundwalks" that take you through different cities based on a story. It also has Cartagena and is available through the app store (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/soundwalkrs/id946739197).
Getting around
Taxis (yellow / official ones)
Are generally considered safe to take in the street.
Always ask / agree price beforehand.
Usually, within the city or between the city and Bocagrande (e.g. the apartment) you will never pay more than 10k pesos.
To and from the airport is 20k pesos.
Sometimes in peak high season (around XMAS and New Year) they may charge a bit more due to the traffic delays.
Getting around
Ride sharing apps
You can use DIDI or CABIFY instead of UBER (which stopped operating as of January 2020) if you wish.
What to pack
Re-usable bottle
There is a water filter in the apartment.
Customs and culture
Tips
In restaurants usually 10%. They usually ask you if you wish the "service"to be included in the bill. In case yes, they will add the 10% to it.
For taxis there is no tip expected.
For any smaller services, if you deem appropriate, a tip of 2-3k pesos is absolutely fine.
Customs and culture
Safety
Cartagena is a very safe place. Mainly just be aware of pick-pocketers especially in the old town (around "Torre del Reloj").
Getting around
Walking to / from the apartment to the city
Walking from the old town to the apartment building only takes around 20-25min and is perfectly safe.
Getting around
Public transport
If you want you can use public transport (the brand new and airconditioned TransCaribe buses) to get to / from the apartment to the old town. If you're there for longer this really can safe you some money.
Get the app "Moovit" and a re-chargeable card for the bus at the station "La Bodequita" (https://goo.gl/maps/VTeGghhX7RL9wTsK9). Just give the person at the counter around 20k COP and say that you wish a new card "tarjeta nueva"). To get to the apartment you can use the bus line T103 and get off at the station "Mizkha" that is only two blocks from the apartment.
Don't miss
Playa Blanca (better avoid)
Playa Blaca is a very touristy place and usually gets very crowded. I personally do not like it for those reasons and prefer one of the more quiet beaches nearby.
Don't miss
Festivals
Check if you are perhaps coinciding with one of the city's festivals: http://www.aboutcartagena.org/festivals-and-events.php
Especially the Hay Festival and the Cinema Festival are great and attract a large international and diverse crowd.
Customs and culture
Prices at beaches (important)
When going to any of the public beaches in the city or on Barú always ask and agree the price for food and drinks beforehand. It unfortunately is very common that they will try to massively overcharge tourists. A price for a beer should not be more than 3-4k pesos maximum. Also, the sun shelters /tents they rent at the beaches costs no more than 15k pesos. Also ask this price beforehand. Sometimes in high season (around XMAS) they may charge up to 20k pesos.
Getting around
Directions in Colombia
Directions in Colombia are stated in terms of "calle" and "carrera", similar to "street" and "road" in the US.
Calle often gets abbreviated as "CL" or "CLL".
Carrera often gets abbreviated as "CR" or "CRA".
For example, the address of the apartemnt is: Carrera 4 # Calle 7-145; meaning it is on Carrera number 4, with Calle 7, house number 145. You may find it also written / abbreviated as: Cra. 4#7-145.
Be careful to not accidentally mix up Calle and Carrera when telling and address to a taxi driver, as you may then end up in the opposite direction.