Best Restaurants in Medellín (2026)

Medellín's dining scene works on two levels. For traditional Antioquian food, Mondongo's has served its tripe soup since 1976, Hatoviejo has been cooking bandeja paisa, ajiaco and sancocho since 1982, and Salón Versalles on the Junín passage has offered empanadas and milanesas since 1961. These are casual, affordable places, and Mondongo's in particular has customers queuing every day, so go early.

At the other end, El Poblado has become one of Colombia's most interesting places to eat. Carmen, opened in 2009, and its sister XO, ranked on the Latin America's 50 Best list in 2023, cook with Colombian biodiversity in mind, while Elcielo, the restaurant of Michelin-starred chef Juan Manuel Barrientos, serves long tasting menus inside its own hotel. Sambombi Bistró Local changes its menu every week, Ocio is known for slow-cooked sharing plates, and Café Zorba serves vegetarian pizza with live music on Wednesdays. In Situ, inside the Botanical Garden, is a good lunch stop in the north. Book the tasting-menu restaurants well in advance, and check opening days, as several close on Sundays or early in the week. Dinner in El Poblado can easily be combined with drinks in Provenza afterwards.

10 places · Updated October 27, 2026

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1. Carmen

Contemporary Colombian$$$$El Poblado

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 creative bar.

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2. Elcielo Medellín

Colombian tasting menu$$$$El Poblado

Chef Juan Manuel Barrientos's flagship in his home city, serving multi-course tasting menus inspired by Colombian biodiversity inside the Michelin Key-rated Elcielo Hotel in El Poblado.

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3. Ocio (Oci.Mde)

Contemporary Colombian sharing plates$$$El Poblado

Chef Laura Londoño's El Poblado restaurant, known for slow-cooked sharing plates that blend Asian techniques with Colombian produce, and one of the most-booked tables in the area.

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4. Sambombi Bistró Local

Farm-to-table bistro$$$Provenza (El Poblado)

Chef Jhon Zárate's Provenza bistro, ranked in the extended Latin America's 50 Best list in 2025, cooking a weekly changing menu from local farms and its own garden.

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5. Mondongo’s

Traditional Antioquian$$El Poblado

A family-run Medellín institution since 1976, famous for its mondongo tripe soup, ajiaco and Antioquian platters, with branches on Calle 10 in El Poblado and Carrera 70 in Laureles.

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6. Salón Versalles

Argentine-Colombian café, bakery and restaurant$La Candelaria (Centro)

A downtown restaurant and bakery on the Junín passage, founded in 1961 by Argentine Leonardo Nieto and still serving empanadas, milanesas and pastries at budget prices.

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7. XO Medellín

Colombian tasting menu$$$$El Poblado

Grupo Carmen's tasting-menu restaurant in El Poblado, opened in 2020, which takes diners on a culinary route through Colombia's regions and ranked 27th in Latin America in 2023.

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8. Hatoviejo Centro

Traditional Antioquian$$La Candelaria (Centro)

A traditional Antioquian restaurant group founded in 1982, known for bandeja paisa, ajiaco and sancocho, with a classic downtown branch near the Coltejer building.

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9. In Situ

Contemporary international, garden setting$$$Zona Norte (Jardín Botánico)

The restaurant of Medellín's Botanical Garden, a bright dining room designed by Santiago Caicedo with doors opening onto the garden's lagoon and palms.

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10. Café Zorba

Vegetarian pizzeria and bar$$El Poblado

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.

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