Restaurant
Carmen
The El Poblado restaurant opened in 2009 by Carmen Ángel and Rob Pevitts, serving contemporary dishes built on Colombia's biodiversity, with a tasting menu and a…
Café Zorba
A long-running El Poblado pizzeria serving one-size vegetarian pizzas from a brick oven, with craft beer, botanical cocktails and live music on Wednesday nights.
At a glance
- Type
- Vegetarian pizzeria and bar
- Area
- El Poblado, Medellín, Colombia
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Official site
- cafezorba.com.co
Good to know
- Vegetarian menu
- Brick-oven pizza
- Craft beer
- Cocktails
- Live music on Wednesdays
Why we recommend it
Café Zorba is a relaxed El Poblado pizzeria that has built a loyal following since it opened around 2010 or 2011. It is easy to miss: the entrances have no sign, and on the Parque Presidente side you reach it up a flight of stairs. Inside there is an open kitchen and a ceiling lined with Colombian bamboo, and a small outdoor patio on the park side. Time Out included it in its 2024 list of the best restaurants in Colombia, noting the vegetarian pizzas, craft beers, botanical cocktails and outdoor setting.
The menu is built around vegetarian pizza. Pizzas come in a single size, cut into six slices, and are baked in a brick oven. There are two families: red pizzas on a tomato base, such as marinara, basil, spinach and rocket, and white pizzas on extra virgin olive oil, such as onion, asparagus, kale, sweet cucumber and chimichurri. You can add or remove ingredients and order different toppings on each half, which makes it easy to share. There are a few starters and a salad, and for dessert the brownie with ice cream is a long-standing favourite.
Drinks go well beyond soft drinks. Expect craft beers, wine by the glass or bottle, jugs of sangria, cocktails, coffees and hot and cold infusions, which makes Zorba as much a bar as a restaurant in the evening.
Wednesday is the night to aim for if you like music. Live sets normally start at about 21:00, ranging from jazz and Latin jazz to flamenco, world music and tango, with a small cover charge that has traditionally gone straight to the musicians. Café Zorba is popular, and there has normally been a wait for a table in the evening, especially at weekends, so arrive early; a 2026 guide reports that it does not take reservations, so check the website's reservations section before relying on a booking.
It suits vegetarians, groups of friends, couples and anyone wanting a casual dinner. The restaurant is at Calle 8 No. 42-33, across from Parque Poblado and next to Parque Presidente, about three blocks from Parque Lleras. From Poblado station on Metro Line A it is roughly a 15-minute walk uphill. Check the opening times page on the official website before you go, and follow @cafezorba on Instagram for music line-ups.
Café Zorba FAQs
Is Café Zorba vegetarian?
Yes. The pizzas on the menu are vegetarian, with red tomato-based and white olive-oil-based options.
How big are the pizzas?
They come in one size with six slices, and you can choose different toppings for each half.
Is there live music?
Live music normally takes place on Wednesdays, from jazz and flamenco to world music and tango.
Do I need to book?
It is popular, especially in the evenings and at weekends, and a 2026 guide says reservations are not taken, so arrive early.
Where is Café Zorba?
At Calle 8 No. 42-33 in El Poblado, across from Parque Poblado and next to Parque Presidente.
How do I get there by metro?
From Poblado station on Metro Line A it is about a 15-minute uphill walk.
What drinks are served?
Craft beers, wine, sangria, cocktails, coffees and infusions.
Is it easy to find?
Not always. The entrances have no sign, and on the Parque Presidente side it is up a flight of stairs.