One of the most recommended local favorites is a no-frills bastion of Cartagena cuisine built on the impressive research and skill of chef and culinary historian María "Pepina" Yances. Although Doña Pepina passed away in 2014, her energy and recipe book have been carried forward by her family, and the restaurant remains a must-visit for those keen to sample local classics. The blackboard menu changes daily, although staples like the mote de queso (a soup of yam, coconut milk, and local cheese) and cabeza de gato (balls of mashed plantain and yam with a zingy tomato-onion relish) will always be on hand.

On a narrow, blocklong side street, La Cocina de Pepina is a pink-and-orange-walled six-table dining room run by a local food historian and her nephew, who speaks fluent English. The restaurant celebrates Colombian coastal cuisine with a chalkboard menu of dishes like ajies rellenos (roasted, stuffed chiles, 16,000 Colombian pesos, $8.50 at 1,880 pesos to the dollar), sopa Caribe (a Caribbean seafood soup; 38,400 pesos), an appetizer of cabeza de gato (balls of yucca, cassava and plantains with a roasted red pepper sauce, 13,000 pesos) and the hard-to-find Colombian craft beer Apóstol (8,000 pesos).

Another essential lunch spot in Cartagena is La Cocina Pepina, which offers up traditional Colombian dishes that are immensely popular with locals—since it doesn’t offer reservations, going here for lunch is a great hack to ensure you get a table. Kiosko El Bony is where to go for simple, delicious traditional Caribbean plates, like tostones, fried fish, and Sancocho.

Un ícono de la cocina caribeña y más específicamente de Montería, Córdoba. Es el legado de su fundadora, la antropóloga y cocinera María Josefina Yancés, ahora a cargo de su sobrino Christian Sepúlveda con la sazón de Rosi (Celfida Rosa Basilio), cocinera legendaria del restaurante. Boronía (puré de berenjenas con plátano dulce), ajíes rellenos de carne molida, cabeza de gato (plátanos verde y dulce, yuca y ñame machacados con guiso), ceviches, camarones en salsa, mote de queso y gallina monteriana, ‘enyucao’ y flan de ahuyama, hacen parte de una carta tan valiosa como la diversidad biológica y cultural que representa.

El lugar al que ir a probar la buena cocina tradicional caribeña y cordobesa es el restaurante La Cocina de Pepina. Ubicado en una casa antigua del histórico barrio de Getsemaní, este espacio gastronómico con apenas ocho mesas es el resultado de las investigaciones de su creadora, María Josefina Yances Guerra, más conocida como Pepina, sobre la cocina cordobesa y caribeña. Su trabajo centrado en la gastronomía, la sociología y la historia ha sido plasmado en libros, estudios y conferencias que son hoy la base de la carta de este restaurante que también tiene sede en Bogotá.

Es una creación de María Josefina Yances, o Pepina, quien fue una investigadora culinaria y experta en los sabores de la región Caribe. Después de su fallecimiento, sus sobrinos continuaron su legado brindando una experiencia gastronómica, donde la berenjena, el coco, el ñame y el plátano son los protagonistas. Este santuario de la comida tradicional del Caribe, como le llaman algunos, se ha vuelto un escenario de encuentro para participantes de eventos por su cercana ubicación al Centro de Convenciones Cartagena de Indias, en el Callejón Vargas de Getsemaní.

Named for the charismatic chef and sociologist Maria Josefina "Pepina" Yances, Cocina de Pepina gives a colourful home to traditional recipes learned from her journeys throughout the coastal region between Cartagena and Monteria. The restaurant itself is unpretentious, charming and tiny (tables fill up fast), the space dominated by a giant chalkboard menu of items that your host (probably Pepina's nephew, Cristian) will patiently explain to you. My favourite is the Copa Si si si and to get the mixed board of appetisers.

A great spot to enjoy what the locals know and love, La Cocina de Pepina serve costeño classics packed full of flavor. The menu is written on the blackboard in the main dining room, prices are fair, and you’ll be eating with as many Colombians as gringos. The most popular choices include coconut rice, patacones (fried plantains), ripe avocado, ñame (yam), robalo asado (grilled bass), mote de queso (yam, sour cream and cheese soup with eggplant), and posta cartagenera (beef steak cooked in red wine and onions).

A simple, straightforward restaurant that is one of the best places to experience traditional Colombian and Caribbean fusion, a signature of Cartagena’s cuisine. The offerings include farm fresh egg plant, tomatoes and lemon blended with fish and meats and local tropical fruits. Located in a side street of Cartagena’s neighbourhood of Getsemaní, the restaurant receives clients on a first come, first served basis given that the small venue cannot accommodate more than a dozen guests per sitting.

La Cocina de Pepina is a restaurant where the Cordoba and Colombian Caribbean culture is savored in all the dishes. The food of the houses is appreciated in dishes as traditional as the Mote de queso, the Posta cartagena, the Cabeza e’ gato and the Boronía among others. La Cocina de Pepina opens its doors to diners so that they can learn first-hand about the ancestral legacies of the Caribbean and the Colombian savannah, embodied in the ingredients of this region so rich in flavors.

La Cocina de Pepina is a restaurant where the Cordoban and Colombian Caribbean culture is savored in all the dishes. The food of the houses is appreciated in such traditional dishes as the Mote de queso, the Posta cartagenera, the Cabeza e’ gato and the Boronía among others. La Cocina de Pepina opens its doors to diners so they can learn first-hand about the ancestral legacies of the Caribbean and the Colombian savanna, reflected in the ingredients of this region so rich in flavors.

La Cocina de Pepina is the epitome of authentic and unassuming Cartagenian cuisine, offering a heartwarming homage to the city’s culinary traditions. Here, you’re treated to a menu that is steeped in history, serving dishes crafted with love and a genuine touch of home-cooked goodness. This charming eatery, with its unpretentious ambiance, invites you to experience the true soul of Cartagena through its flavorful and comforting meals.

The whistle-stop tour includes Cocina de Pepina, the mothership of fresh Caribbean cuisine, and legendary mixology spot Alquimico. We asked Cristina Consuegra, co-founder of Galavanta, Colombia’s top trip planner by a mile, for her Cartagena faves as well. She recommends staying at Casa Pestagua, a 16-room boutique hotel in the Old City, and a day of sand and sun at the Sabai Beach Club on the beachy outlying island of Barú.

My favourite Cartagena restaurant: just eight tables, lots of locals and a portrait of Gabriel García Márquez (a long-time regular) on the wall. It began with María Josefina Yances Guerra, one of the country's great chefs and restaurateurs, who believed in keeping traditional cooking alive. Now run by her nephew, this is a place with few pretensions and stunning food (Caribbean soups, swordfish ceviche, mote de quesa).

In La Cocina de Pepina you will be delighted by excellent caribbean dishes. You will take pleasure trying the dishes with local flavors, the desserts made using tropical fruits and the traditional drinks such as the chicha, beverage made using corn, and drinks made with fruits unique from the area such as mamón and corozo. This restaurant is located in Getsemaní, in Vargas Alley, between el Arsenal and the Calle Larga.

La Cocina de Pepina es famosa por su deliciosa comida casera y tradicional colombiana. Es un lugar popular para probar platos típicos del Gran Caribe Colombiano. Aquí no te puedes perder la Bandeja de Entradas, se trata de pequeños pero increíbles bocados: ají dulce relleno, escabeche de berenjena, boronía, camarones en salsa de aguacate y ceviche de pescado, acompañados de casabe, suero costeño y chocho de ají.

La Cocina de Pepina is famous in Cartagena as the place to find creative interpretations of Caribbean dishes. Grab one of the six tables and order up vibrant sweet and sour corozo juice made from seasonal palm fruits, fish stew rich with coconut milk, refreshing ezcapacio (chunks of fresh tuna pickled with carrots and peppers), and more all served in a brightly painted space down an unassuming side street.

This small neighbourhood gem is a great place for lunch in the Getsemaní district. It offers visitors the opportunity to eat their way through decades of Caribbean culinary traditions. Originally led by the late Maria Josefina ‘Pepina’ Yances, a local legend and chef who lived her life as if it were one long festival, La Cocina’s carnival spirit is still kept alive by the current owner.

La Cocina de Pepina - Este es un restaurante sin pretensiones pero abundante en tradición y sabores locales. Están orgullosos de especializarse en los estilos más clásicos de la cocina caribeña/colombiana. Este es un restaurante casero y el ambiente está dirigido a que sus comensales se sientan como si estuvieran comiendo en una típica casa costeña colombiana.

People looking for an authentic Cartagena de Indias cuisine experience should look no further than La Cocina de Pepina, a favorite among the locals. I’m thrilled to bring this place to your attention. The traditional dishes of the Colombian Caribbean coast are underrated, and finding an excellent place to get them is challenging, even right in Cartagena!

We ate two meals at Cocina de Pepina and would go back for more if we lived in Cartagena. Both times we just walked in and the tiny space wasn’t very busy, and we were treated like honored guests. With a recent rave review in the New York Times, little Cocina de Pepina, with its earthy stews and great craft beer choices, is probably extremely busy now.

La Cocina de Pepina - This is a restaurant without pretensions but abundant in tradition and local flavors. They are proud to specialize in the most classic styles of Caribbean/Colombian cuisine. This is a homestyle eatery and the atmosphere is aimed at making its patrons feel as if they were eating in a typical Colombian Costeño household.

A tiny gem hidden in Getsemaní, La Cocina de Pepina is a must-visit for traditional home-style Colombian food. The cozy space features just a few tables, and dishes rotate based on seasonality and market availability. Try the lentejas con cerdo (lentils with pork), ajíaco, or guandú con coco—all priced around COP 25,000–35,000 (€6–8).

📍 Callejon Ancho 9A-06 Why You’ll Love It: This intimate spot in Getsemaní is where Colombian heritage shines. The decor is colorful and homely, perfectly matching their soulful dishes. Order the posta negra, a rich beef dish slow-cooked in a dark, sweet sauce, or their mote de queso, a cheesy soup that’s pure comfort.

Where: Callejon Vargas Entre Arsenal y Calle Larga Getsemani, Calle 25#9a-06 Local 2 Casa Amarilla, Cartagena 13001 Colombia. If you want a truly authentic Columbian experience, head to La Cocina de Pepina. This old school diner serves up traditional dishes that manage to be big on flavor and small on price.

For those seeking an authentic and unpretentious experience, La Cocina de Pepina is a hidden gem. This small, cozy restaurant specializes in homemade Cartagena food, offering traditional dishes passed down from generation to generation. It’s the perfect place to savor the true flavors of the region.

This lively, family-run restaurant is known for its delicious seafood dishes like the standout pescado frito, which is a fried whole fish. The decor features bright colors, handmade pottery and an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs cook, making it a great environment to bring your kids.

This treasure trove of soulful cooking in the heart of Getsemaní is the kind of place where you feel like (or yearn to be) a regular. One of Colombia’s most cherished chefs, María Josefina Yances (aka Pepina) devoted herself to creating Colombian and Caribbean specialties faithful to…

La Cocina de Pepina is the perfect restaurant when you’re craving seafood. It shows the Caribbean cultural and biological diversity while utilizing local ingredients such as plantain, cassava, beef, chiles, eggplant, pork, hens, fish, and ducks. The must-try dishes are the following:

La Cocina de Pepina is a little restaurant tucked away in the Getsemani neighbourhood. They do traditional, family-style Colombian food which is absolutely delicious. The restaurant space is small and cosy, they don't accept bookings so you can only walk in and hope for the best.

Follow local foodies to La Cocina de Pepina where you’ll have a hard time choosing between traditional foods like ceviche, soups, empanadas, stuffed peppers, plantains, coconut rice, and more.

There is no need to look any further than La Cocina de Pepina. This cozy eatery is located in the heart of Getsemani and offers hearty Colombian dishes that will warm the heart and soul.

Mar de Leva: A full-of-life hangout with a vibrant atmosphere and live salsa band, guaranteed to get the party started with a menu consisting of all the traditional Cartagena top eats.

If you’re looking for restaurants, try Celele or La Cocina de Pepina. For an inexpensive cafeteria-style eatery, visit Espiritu Santo. For snacks, try La Esquina del Pan de Bono.

Cl. 25 ##9a-06 local 2, Cartagena de Indias, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia. Address Website WhatsApp. Verify Not verified This business has not been claimed.

La Cocina de Pepina - located in Getsemani, this simple and small restaurants serves up some of the most authentic, delicious food you will find in Cartagena.

We visited Demente with the chef and owner of La Cocina de Pepina when his restaurant was closed for the day.