Café
Café San Alberto
The Plaza Santo Domingo outpost of Café San Alberto, the multi-award-winning coffee estate from Buenavista in Quindío, serving its coffee and running tasting experiences.
Época
A specialty coffee shop on Calle del Arzobispado, just off the Plaza de la Proclamación, serving espresso drinks, house blends and seafood and meat dishes.
At a glance
- Type
- Specialty coffee and café-restaurant
- Area
- Ciudad Amurallada, Cartagena, Colombia
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
Good to know
- Specialty coffee
- Coffee bags to buy
- Lunch dishes
Why we recommend it
Época is a specialty coffee shop on Calle del Arzobispado, in the walled city, just off the Plaza de la Proclamación. Food & Pleasure included it in its 2024 selection of the five coffee shops in Cartagena that coffee lovers should know, and it has been on visitors' lists for years: kimkim's earlier guide to Cartagena cafés also featured it, describing fair-trade coffee sourced directly from small farms and drinks prepared at the table.
The coffee menu covers the classics: americano, espresso, latte, flat white and macchiato. Food & Pleasure reminds readers that Colombian coffee is grown at altitudes above 1,500 metres and is known for a soft-bodied bean, and Época is a good place to taste the difference. Época also sells bags of its own coffees in several varieties, with names such as Colonia Coco, Resistencia Tropical, Independencia Blend and Chiquito Honey, which make good gifts to take home. Kimkim also mentioned house specialities such as a smoked carajillo spiked with aguardiente and a spiced Campesino; ask whether they are still on the menu.
Unlike many coffee shops, Época also serves a proper menu of seafood and meat dishes, according to Food & Pleasure, so it works as a lunch stop as well as a place for coffee and a pastry; kimkim's guide also mentioned pastries and light lunches. That makes it a useful option in the middle of a day of sightseeing in the old town.
It suits coffee enthusiasts, couples and solo travellers looking for a calm place close to the main sights. Its position just off the Plaza de la Proclamación puts it close to the main squares and museums of the walled city; the Beyond Colombia free walking tour also meets on the Plaza de la Proclamación on weekday mornings, so it is a handy place for a coffee before setting off.
Opening hours are not published on an official website we could verify, so check locally or on the café's Instagram account, @weare.epoca, before you go. The phone number published by Food & Pleasure is +57 315 800 8072. Allow 30 minutes for a coffee, or an hour if you are staying for lunch.
Época FAQs
Where is Época?
On Calle del Arzobispado, Carrera 5 #34-52, in the walled city, just off the Plaza de la Proclamación.
What coffee drinks does it serve?
Americano, espresso, latte, flat white and macchiato, among others.
Can I buy coffee to take home?
Yes, Época sells bags of its own coffees, such as Colonia Coco and Independencia Blend.
Does Época serve food?
Yes, there is a menu of seafood and meat dishes as well as coffee.
What are the opening hours?
Hours are not published on a verified official site, so check locally or on Instagram (@weare.epoca).
What is nearby?
The Plaza de la Proclamación, where the Beyond Colombia free walking tour meets on weekday mornings, and the main squares and museums of the walled city.
Is there a phone number?
Food & Pleasure lists +57 315 800 8072.