Colombia

Overview –

Coffee! First and foremost we’ve got to mention the coffee, it’s to die for. We often drank it black, un tinto!

Empanadas! they love to fry everything in Colombia, the empanadas are no exception. Our favourites were in Medellin on the walking tour. Just off the plaza next to the Botero museum. You’ll also eat a lot plantain, arepas and frijoles. Plantain looks like a banana on steroids and comes in many forms, we loved all the forms! Arepas are corn maize pates and frijoles are the tasty red beans.

Bandeja Paisa is the traditional dish in the Antioquia region and consists of really a bit of everything; beans, meat, avocado, plantains etc etc. Also highly recommend the trout cooked in garlic in Guatape and/or Salento.

Fruit! So much and so delicious, there are many varieties of passionfruit, and we loved the juice made from Lulo! The avocados were huge and ripe – the dream.

Booze! Club Colombia was our go to beer. Or aguila beer (it’s 1000Pesos cheaper). Aguardiente – Colombia’s sambuca-like liquor..rank!

In general, we loved the food in Colombia, you can avoid plates of rice & chips if you look hard enough!

Fave restaurants –

Bogota – Gato Gris (traditional food), Chorro de Quevedo square (great coffee places), La Puerta Falsa (one of the oldest buildings in Bogota, had Tamal – a traditional breakfast & Panela – drink made from sugar cane and very common to put cheese in it), Crepes & Waffles
Medellin – Burdo (very buzzy, great music), Casa Clandestine (biggest salad ever), La Casa de Frente, El Alma (breakfast – huge bowl of granola), La Playa (breakfast at our hostel was great, took a while though!)
Guatape – La Parrilla the food is delicious, order Pollo Gratinado Bar Barbaroja great little bar in the centre.
Lataganga – Taco (fresh Ceviche!)
Cartagena – Gaucha (steak restaurant), amazing street food in Plaza Trinidad
Santa Marta – Caribbean Team
Special mention to Bon Yurt (yoghurt/granola pots from supermarkets) & Juan Valdez cafe for your banana bread and iced coffee!