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.
La Cocina de Pepina
A small Getsemaní restaurant founded by culinary researcher María Josefina Yances, serving traditional dishes of Colombia's Caribbean coast and Córdoba.
At a glance
- Type
- Traditional Caribbean home cooking
- Area
- Getsemaní, Cartagena, Colombia
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
Good to know
- Traditional regional dishes
Why we recommend it
La Cocina de Pepina is the place to try the home cooking of Colombia's Caribbean coast as it is made in family kitchens rather than reinterpreted for fine dining. It was founded by María Josefina Yances, described by Portafolio as one of the most important culinary researchers in Colombia, who has written books and given talks on the cooking of her home region. The restaurant takes its name from her nickname, and its menu has deep roots in the department of Córdoba, where she is from.
The restaurant is in a yellow colonial building in Getsemaní, according to two.travel's 2026 guide. For a while it also had a branch in Bogotá's Zona G, but that closed in March 2025; the restaurant said at the time that it would continue to serve its customers in Cartagena, and recent 2026 guides still list the Getsemaní restaurant.
A hand-painted sign at the entrance promises that there is no bad dish here. The dishes are those of the region. Colombia.com's 2026 guide picks out boronía, a purée of plantain and smoked aubergine; yuca balls; mote de queso; gallina montereana; and shrimp with avocado. Two.travel adds the three-tier Copa Sísísí ceviche, a coconut seafood stew, farmhouse hen and salted beef, and notes that vegetarians can order cabeza de gato, boronía, patacones, coconut rice or mote de queso without cheese. It describes the food as Caribbean and Colombian home cooking at mid-range prices. A book titled La Cocina de Pepina 15 aniversario was published to mark the restaurant's 15th anniversary.
It suits travellers who want to understand the everyday flavours of the coast, and it makes a good contrast with more creative places such as Celele nearby. Both guides note that the space is small, and two.travel says reservations are not taken, so arrive early and expect a short wait at busy times. Opening times are not published on an official website we could verify, so check locally before you go.
The restaurant is in Getsemaní, a few minutes' walk from the Plaza de la Trinidad and the Torre del Reloj. Combine lunch with a walk through the neighbourhood's murals, or with an afternoon on the walls nearby. Allow about an hour for a meal.
La Cocina de Pepina FAQs
Who founded La Cocina de Pepina?
María Josefina Yances, a culinary researcher from the department of Córdoba, whose nickname gave the restaurant its name.
What food does it serve?
Traditional Caribbean and Córdoba home cooking, with dishes such as mote de queso, boronía and gallina montereana.
Is there a branch in Bogotá?
Not any more. The Bogotá restaurant in the Zona G closed in March 2025.
Is the Cartagena restaurant still open?
Yes. Its Bogotá branch closed in March 2025, but the restaurant said it would continue in Cartagena, and 2026 guides still list it.
Where is it?
In Getsemaní, in a small yellow colonial building near the Plaza de la Trinidad.
Is it expensive?
No, it is mid-range for Cartagena.
Is there a cookbook?
Yes, a book was published to mark the restaurant's 15th anniversary.