Restaurant
Celele
Chef Jaime Rodríguez's acclaimed Getsemaní restaurant, reinterpreting the produce and traditions of Colombia's Caribbean region; No. 48 in The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025.
Carmen
A refined restaurant in a historic house on Calle del Santísimo, serving contemporary cooking inspired by Colombia's biodiversity and Caribbean produce, with craft cocktails.
At a glance
- Type
- Contemporary Colombian cuisine
- Area
- Ciudad Amurallada, Cartagena, Colombia
- Price
- $$$$ · Luxury
- Official site
- carmencartagena.com
Good to know
- Three dining areas
- Craft cocktails
- Online reservations
Why we recommend it
Carmen is one of the established names of Cartagena's fine-dining scene. It occupies a historic casona on Calle del Santísimo, in the walled city, and its kitchen takes its inspiration from Colombia's biodiversity, with a particular focus on the products and flavours of the Colombian Caribbean. It is the flagship of a small group that also includes XO, Don Diablo, Moshi and Abbioco. According to two.travel, the head chefs, Carmen Angel and her husband, both trained at Le Cordon Bleu.
The house has three distinct dining areas, and the bar is known for its menu of craft cocktails. Two.travel, in its 2026 guide, describes an intimate and elegant colonial house, a kitchen known for fresh lobster, octopus and crab, and an award-winning wine list, and the full carta is linked from the restaurant's homepage, so you can see what is on before you book.
Carmen suits couples and groups looking for a special-occasion meal in elegant surroundings, and two.travel recommends it for proposals, anniversaries and milestone birthdays; dress smartly, and it works well for a long dinner with cocktails. It is at the upper end of Cartagena prices. The cocktail list also makes it a good stop for a drink before dinner elsewhere in the old town.
Opening hours are split between lunch and dinner. Lunch is served from Wednesday to Friday between 12:00 and 15:00 and at weekends between 12:30 and 15:30. Dinner runs from 18:30 to 22:00 from Sunday to Thursday and until 22:30 on Friday and Saturday. There is no lunch service on Monday or Tuesday.
Reservations can be made online through the booking link on the website, by phone or WhatsApp on +57 310 394 9344, or by email at [email protected]; for events, a separate address is published. Two.travel describes reservations as essential, especially for dinner in the busy season from December to April.
Calle del Santísimo is inside the walled city, and many of the old town's bars, including Alquímico on Calle del Colegio, are within walking distance, which makes it easy to continue the evening on foot. Allow two hours for a relaxed dinner.
Carmen FAQs
What kind of food does Carmen serve?
Contemporary cooking inspired by Colombia's biodiversity, with a focus on Caribbean products and flavours.
What are the opening hours?
Lunch Wednesday to Friday 12:00 to 15:00 and weekends 12:30 to 15:30; dinner 18:30 to 22:00 Sunday to Thursday and to 22:30 on Friday and Saturday.
Is Carmen open for lunch on Monday?
No. Lunch is not served on Monday or Tuesday, but dinner is.
How do I book?
Online through the booking link on the website, by phone on +57 310 394 9344 or by email at [email protected].
Does it have a bar?
Yes, Carmen is known for its craft cocktail menu.
Where is it?
At Calle 38 # 8-19 on Calle del Santísimo in the walled city.
Is it expensive?
It is at the upper end of Cartagena restaurant prices.