Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
old-fashioned, luridly decorated trolley that takes you on
a late-night city tour fuelled by rum or red wine, fried
regional finger foods, and
vallenato
music.
Chivas
depart
at 8-8.30pm from Bocagrande locations such as
Hotel
Capilla del Mar,
at Cra 1 No. 8-12 (
T
5 650 1500; rides
around COP$30,000, return at midnight).
Café Havana
C de la Media Luna, at C del Guerrero,
Getsemaní. You'll be transported to Old Havana at this
packed Getsemaní spot, where black-and-white photos of
Cuban music legends line the walls and thumping live
Cuban beats get the crowd's hips swinging. Excellent
mojitos (COP$14,000). Thurs-Sun 7pm-4am.
Café del Mar
Baluarte de Santo Dominigo, Old Town.
Perched on the city's stone fortress walls, with spectacular
360-degree views of the Caribbean and the Old City's
elegant colonial buildings, this is the perfect spot to
lounge on an open-air couch with a sunset martini
(COP$14,000) surrounded by cool locals. Food is served
until 1am and DJs take over from 10pm. Dress nicely.
Mon-Wed & Sun 5pm-3am, Fri & Sat until 5am.
Donde Fidel
Portal de los Dulces No. 32-09, Old Town.
These outdoor tables, between the city wall and the Plaza
de los Coches, are the place to people-watch over a beer.
Pounding Cuban music from the owner's extensive salsa
collection is the soundtrack to which couples get romantic.
Open until 2am.
Mister Babilla
Av del Arsenal No. 8B-137, Getsemaní.
The tacky jungle-themed decor aside, this massive multi-
floor club will get you dancing to at least one of its music
genres, be it salsa, rock or house. The party usually extends
until the wee hours of the morning. Entry COP$12,000.
Tues-Sat 7pm-4am.
Tu Candela
Above the Portal de los Dulces No. 32-25, Old
City. One of Cartagena's wildest and most popular clubs,
frequented by tourists and Colombian jet-setters, who
dance the night away predominantly to salsa, though
reggeaton,
merengue
and other guests creep onto the
playlist. Entry COP$13,000. Daily 8pm-4am.
5
Ì
TREAT YOURSELF
El Coro Lounge Bar
Santa Clara Sofitel
,
C del Torno No. 39-29, San Diego
T
5 650
4700,
W
www.sofitel.com. Lounge on a
luxurious white leather sofa with an
exclusive cocktail at this hotel bar. Housed
in a former monastery dating from 1621,
El Coro
(the Choir), named after its original
use where nuns performed their daily
chanting, is a chic bar where you can
immerse yourself in the architectural
splendour of the city. The room itself
evokes the sense of a grand library,
with a majestic vaulted ceiling and giant
wooden doors, and is the perfect place to
curl up with a book during the day. At
night, trendy locals arrive for the quality
live music from Thursday to Saturday and
regular house DJs. Expect to pay around
COP$23,000 per cocktail.
Ì
Ganesha
C de la Bóvedas No 39-91, San Diego. Do
your tastebuds a favour and treat yourself to authentic
southern Indian food at this appealing courtyard
restaurant. Veggie options - such as
chana masala
and
vegetable
chettinadu
- abound, and if you order the
beautifully flavoured fish
chettinadu
, you will find yourself
in spice-tinged heaven. Mains from COP$19,000. Daily
noon-3pm & 7-10pm.
I Balconi
C del Guerrero No. 29-146, Getsemaní. At what
may be the best pizza place in Colombia you'll find
woodfired pizzas topped with the likes of mozzarella,
anchovies and other hard-to-get ingredients that the
Italian owner insists on having. Mains around COP$16,000.
Daily noon-3pm & 7-11pm.
Restaurante Café Oh! lá lá
C de Ayos Cra 5 No. 4-49.
Attentive Colombian/French couple Carolina and Gilles
serve fresh, innovative food that reflects their respective
cultural backgrounds, including imaginative soups and
the likes of slow-cooked ribs. Mains COP$15,000-33,000.
Closed Sun.
Tabetai
C Segunda de Badillo No. 36-63. Perch yourself
on a low seat in this thimble-sized sushi joint and order
some freshly prepared, imaginative sushi rolls, melt-in-
your-mouth sashimi, or crispy tempura. Best Japanese
food in the city. Mains from COP$19,000. Daily noon-3pm
& 7-10pm.
DIRECTORY
Banks and exchange
Several banks with 24hr ATMs
and casas de cambio are on the Plaza de la Aduana
and adjoining streets, as well as along Av San Martín in
Bocagrande.
Embassies and consulates
Canada: Cra 3 No. 8-129
(
T
5 665 5838); UK: Edificio Inteligente Chambacú,
Cra 13B No. 26-78 (
T
5 664 7590); US: Centro, Cra 3
No. 36-37 at C de la Factoría (
T
5 660 0415).
Immigration
For visa extensions, DAS has an o
ce in
the airport and at Calle Gastelbondo near the ramparts.
Otherwise dial
T
153 for any immigration-related
emergencies.
Medical
Hospital Bocagrande on C 5 and Cra 6 (
T
5 665
5270).
DRINKING AND NIGHTLIFE
A concentration of tourist bars and dance clubs above the
Portal de los Dulces overlooks the Plaza de los Coches;
most charge a small cover. Locals gather at the cheaper
clubs in Getsemaní along Calle del Arsenal. Another option
for a night out is a
chiva
ride - essentially a party bus in an
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