The best restaurants in El Poblado, within walking distance
Our picks for where to eat in El Poblado, from Provenza to Manila and Astorga, grouped by type of food.
By the Haven concierge·
Where to eat
Best restaurants in El Poblado: how to choose
The hard part about picking among the best restaurants in El Poblado is too much choice, not too little. Here's our shortlist, grouped by type: chef-driven, Colombian, international, vegetarian and brunch. Almost all of them are within a 15-minute walk of Haven, spread across Provenza, Parque Lleras, Parque El Poblado, Manila and Astorga.
If you only care about Provenza, we have a separate page with more detail. This one widens the map to the whole neighborhood and adds the places worth a short cab ride.
Our guide has 22 restaurants, cafés with kitchens and dessert spots within 15 minutes of the hotel. This isn't all of them. It's the ones we'd send a friend to.
Chef-driven
Chef-driven: the top tier in El Poblado
In Provenza, Carmen and Sambombi Bistró Local are our two strongest recommendations. Toward Manila and Astorga, about 13 minutes away, you'll find Idílico, from chef Yeison Mora, who trained at Elcielo, and Elcielo itself, Juan Manuel Barrientos's flagship.
Idílico has a seven-course tasting menu and a lunch service that's calmer than dinner. Elcielo is for a special occasion. Ocio, from chef Laura Londoño, is up on the Loma de El Poblado: it's close on the map, but the hill is steep, so take a cab.
Colombian
Colombian restaurants in El Poblado
Classic Antioquia cooking
Mondongo's, three minutes away, is the institution for bandeja paisa and mondongo tripe soup. Over in Manila, Hacienda Manila is the calmer, home-style alternative. Ajiacos y Mondongos, near Parque El Poblado, serves lunch only and just three soups: ajiaco, mondongo and beans.
Modern Colombian
Alambique, across from Parque El Poblado, is a bohemian dining room full of plants and old books, with plates to share. Mar y Fuego and Boro, in Provenza, round out the list.
Beyond Colombian
International, vegetarian and brunch
International
Cuon, in Manila, is mid-range pan-Asian food made for sharing. Osso brings Renzo Garibaldi's Lima butcher-and-grill to Provenza, and Don Diablo is the Carmen group's formal steakhouse.
Vegetarian and vegan
Paloma in Provenza, Helecho Vegan Sushi near Parque El Poblado, and Café Zorba, a creekside terrace with thin-crust vegetarian pizza that's an evening spot.
Brunch
Floretto Brunch & Coffee is two minutes away; Ganso & Castor, in Manila, is fourteen. The second is worth the walk for a quiet morning on a terrace.
Our list
El Poblado restaurants we recommend
In order of recommendation. Each card shows the walk from Haven and what to order.
Carmen
1 min walk
Provenza · $$$$
Medellín's modern classic: chef-driven cooking celebrating Colombian biodiversity in an intimate garden setting, steps from the hotel.
Our tip: Book dinner and start with a cocktail at the bar. Closed Sundays.
Some of the most talked-about plates in the area are farther away. Marzzano, an Italian spot that makes its own dough, is up on the Loma de El Poblado. El Trifásico is the pioneer of La Buena Mesa, the dining strip in Envigado. Bistró El Mordisco is Peruvian food hidden inside La Mayorista, the wholesale market in Itagüí.
For all three, take a cab or an app. They make great weekend lunches; Bistró El Mordisco is open for lunch only.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What are the best restaurants in El Poblado?+
For chef-driven cooking, Carmen, Sambombi Bistró Local, Idílico and Elcielo. For Colombian food, Alambique and Mondongo's. All are within a 15-minute walk of Haven.
Where can I get bandeja paisa in El Poblado?+
At Mondongo's, three minutes from Haven, or at the quieter Hacienda Manila, about fourteen minutes away.
Are there vegetarian restaurants in El Poblado?+
Yes: Paloma, Helecho Vegan Sushi and Café Zorba, all within 11 minutes of the hotel.
Do I need reservations?+
For the chef-driven places, yes, especially Thursday through Saturday. For the classic Colombian spots and brunch places, we don't usually book.
Which El Poblado restaurant is best for a special occasion?+
Elcielo, with its long menu, or X.O., the Carmen group's tasting counter in Provenza. Mention any allergies when you book.
