Hatoviejo Centro

Hatoviejo has been serving traditional Antioquian food in Medellín since 1982, and after more than 40 years it remains one of the names locals recommend for a classic paisa meal. The group describes its cooking as traditional gastronomy that honours its roots with every dish. The downtown branch, on Avenida La Playa at the corner with Sucre, about 100 metres from the Coltejer building, is listed by the newspaper El Colombiano among the classic places to eat in the city centre.

The dish most people come for is the bandeja paisa, the region's famous platter. Hatoviejo's version, as described by CNN, brings together beans, beef, chorizo, fried egg, fried plantain, pork rind, rice and avocado, and it has won a devoted following. Other house specialities include ajiaco, the cazuela paisa, tamales antioqueños and sancocho de gallina, a hen soup. The menu is firmly focused on Colombian classics, so it is the place to try regional food rather than international dishes.

The restaurant suits families, groups and visitors wanting a first taste of Antioquian cooking in a traditional setting, and the central location makes it an easy lunch stop during a day in the old centre.

Hatoviejo has several branches, which helps if you are staying elsewhere. Hatoviejo Palmas is at Calle 16 No. 28-60 on Avenida Las Palmas, opposite the Hotel InterContinental, and shares its address with La Fonda Hatoviejo. There are also branches in the Oviedo shopping centre in El Poblado and in Viva Envigado. Each branch has its own extension on the central phone line, +57 604 322 8998 (extension 2 for Centro), its own WhatsApp number and its own email address.

Reservations can be made online through the booking link on the official website, and the group also offers home delivery and quotes for events. The downtown branch can be contacted at [email protected]. The Centro branch sits in the old centre of the city, the same area as Plaza Botero, the Museo de Antioquia and the Junín passage, so it combines naturally with a day of sightseeing downtown. Hatoviejo also publishes its menu on its website, which is useful for checking dishes in advance.