La Mulata

Dessert: Sweet, cold treats can be an all-day affair in the sticky heat of Cartagena. There’s always time for a fresh smoothie or juice, and you can find great options for these on just about every corner. But if you're looking for some really fantastic dessert options, some of the best spots start with La Paletteria, a Colombian paleta chain offering what can only be described as gourmet popsicles.

There's also sancocho, which is a stew cooked in a pot with vegetables, plantains, potatoes, corn, yuca, and fish or beef." (Pro-tip: Roche recommended dining at La Cocina de Socorro, La Picúa, Kiosko El Bony, and La Mulata to explore Afro-Colombian cuisine.)

Don’t miss popular mainstay restaurants like Celele, Alma, La Cevicheria, Carmen, and Donjuán Cartagena. In 2023, chef Heberto Eljach, the brains behind Alma, debuted Ánima in Casa Pestagua, focusing on the ancestral traditions of Colombian cuisine. “Ánima’s relationship with Colombian cuisine is focused on ancient techniques of traditional cooking — this includes preservation methods (cured, salted, fermented, canned, smoked, pickled), the use of local products, artisanal fishing, organic products from the Montes de Maria, Amazon, and other regions of Colombia,” Eljach told T+L.

A couple of blocks east of Plaza Fernandez de Madrid, La Mulata is a stylish take on the traditional Latin American set lunch, serving a rotating menu of four entrees, six days a week (closed Sundays). Saturday’s quartet includes cazuela de mariscos, a stew of coconut milk, octopus, shrimp, calamari and fish, served with patacones (twice-fried plantains) and coconut rice (20,000 pesos), and camarones al ajillo — a generous serving of shrimp, cooked in white wine, garlic and olive oil and served with fried plantains and seafood chowder (13,000 pesos).

I visited Cartagena for the first time two years ago, and one memory that still is as strong as if it happened yesterday is my dinner at La Mulata. Back then, I went with a group of about 10 people and the food was so good that someone still always mentions it if we’re talking about that trip. This is where I fell in love with Limonada de Coco (an addicting Caribbean drink that you’ll find around Colombia, that is extra common along the coast) for the first time.

Even after a recent price hike, La Mulata is serving up the best value lunch (and, now, dinner) in Cartagena in a stylish setting to boot. Local workers and tourists looking for an affordable meal fill the place for seafood, pork, beef and chicken dishes served up with Caribbean style and sass. All meals are prefaced with a soup (for around 15,000 COP or about US$6) and should be washed down with one of La Mulata’s three varieties of ice cold, homemade lemonade.

A hidden gem in the upscale San Diego district, La Mulata serves delicious costeño food for those who want to discover the local cuisine. With linoleum tiles and coastal-themed bric-a-brac adorning the walls, its atmosphere matches the excellent dishes on offer. Start off with a fiery habanero and mango shrimp appetizer, then order the shrimp paella or the catch of the day, usually a choice of bass, crappie, sawfish, or snapper, served with coconut rice.

In this restaurant you can find a great offer of typical food from the coast of Colombia. If you are looking not only for a gastronomic experience but also for a visual one, in this restaurant you will see the culture of cartagena represented in its walls, you will see pictures of great artistic figures from Cartagena and the world. You could be excused for thinking you were in an art gallery with all the interesting pieces they have on display.

While brunch might be more of a foreigner thing, the food served up at La Mulata shows off classic, local Cartagena cuisine. I recommend checking out their original location on Calle Quero, where there is a rotating menu every day, although the smaller, set menu at their newer location by Exito San Diego is also good. La Mulata is the perfect opportunity to grab a lunch and try some of Cartagena’s traditional foods, at reasonable prices.

Although I didn’t have the chance to dine at La Mulata myself, it comes highly recommended by, seemingly, everyone. The ceviche in particular receives rave reviews for its freshness and flavor, as does the posta negra cartagenera—beef cooked in a dark, semi-sweet sauce. If you get the opportunity to dine here during your trip to Cartagena, drop a comment below and let me know what you thought!

For a place that offers a genuine taste of Colombian fare, with dishes packed full of Cartagena’s tropical flavors at affordable prices, head to La Mulata. Specializing in coastal cuisine, La Mulata’s signature dish is the sancocho de pescado con coco or fish stew with coconut milk. The atmosphere is cozy and charming with antique floor tiles, shuttered windows and whirring ceiling fans.

Located in the San Diego neighborhood, La Mulata is a lively and colorful spot serving elevated Caribbean dishes at approachable prices. It’s especially popular with locals and travelers seeking an affordable, sit-down experience with great service. Dishes like catch-of-the-day with coconut rice, shrimp curry, and empanadas range from COP 30,000–50,000 (€7–12).

Some family-friendly restaurants I recommend are Club de Pesca for great gourmet seafood on top of an old fort, the food trucks at Terraza Municipal which has variety and a great outdoor space on the waterfront, La Mulata for local fare at reasonable prices, Cuzco for Peruvian, and Crepes and Waffles for good food and great ice cream for dessert.

La Mulata holds a special place in my heart, and is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants in Cartagena for authentic colombian flavors . This charming spot is lively, vibrant, and the perfect introduction to authentic Caribbean and Colombian flavors. The moment I walked in, I was greeted with the aroma of fresh seafood and local spices.

La Mulata actually specialises in fish, but it has one vegan dish on the dinner menu – a coconut rice with vegetables and plantain. I honestly didn’t expect much seeing as we were ordering a veggie dish from a fish restaurant, but it was so incredibly tasty. In fact, I think it was my favourite meal of the entire trip!

📍 Calle Cochera del Hobo #38-26 Why You’ll Love It: Stepping into La Mulata feels like being embraced by Cartagena itself. Known for its eclectic decor and warm atmosphere, this spot serves quintessential Caribbean comfort food. Think coconut rice, fried plantains, and succulent fish fillets bursting with flavor.

A bustling eatery, next door to a hostel, that has a very vibrant atmosphere, it is young and hip, a lunch break favourite for working Colombians and tourists alike. They keep things casual and good with four daily main courses serving breakfast and lunch only. There is a pleasant patio in the back.

La Mulata is a place well known to the traveler in Cartagena, but judging by the ratio of diners during our visit, it’s also a favorite of locals. You’re on the coast, remember, and seafood is the way to go here. I’d never tasted fried fish this fresh or juicy before, and oh my gosh the avocado.

Location: Walled CityPrice Category: ModerateNeed Reservations: No. La Mulata isn’t only one of the best Cartagena, Colombia restaurants but has one of the best limonada de cocos around too. La Mulata is also one of my go-to recommendations when people ask me about places to eat in Cartagena.

La Mulata is the Afro-Caribbean mermaid whose portrait presides over this hipster haven in the old town. The fun, low-key space is also decorated with colorful murals, painted fish, and other works of art as well as found objects such as green beer bottles repurposed as lighting…

La Mulata is a friendly, casual Caribbean restaurant with a seafood-heavy menu. We shared garlic shrimp and posta negra, which is beef cooked in a dark sweet sauce. Like many dishes at restaurants in the city, both came with plantains, coconut rice, and avocado.

La Mulata is a hipster vibe restaurant serving local comfort food dishes. It’s open daily from breakfast to lunch and is perfect for locals and tourists with flexible working schedules. All dishes in this restaurant are made with locally sourced ingredients.

La Mulata: An exclusive and popular place because of its honest kitchen and its good quality for a reasonable price. Here you can find delicious dishes with fish, seafood and the typical coconut rice. Location: Calle Quero 9 58 Sandiego, Cartagena

La Mulata is the perfect place for a breakfast or lunch break while you’re out walking in the city – or before a big day on the beach. The fare is delicious Colombian home-cooking. It features ingredients source only from small local vendors.

We found La Mulata on our own, but it was also suggested to us by our Airbnb host. On top of that, it was recommended to us by an Instagram follower as well. With so many endorsements, a good meal at La Mulata was pretty much guaranteed.

Where: Hotel Santa Clara and La Mulata were our favorites, and Cafe del Mar serves limonada de coco with the best view -by far. But honestly there is amazing limonada the coco to be found all around Cartagena.

La Mulata (Calle 37 between Carrera 9 and 10) is the best restaurant to try local Colombian food with a Caribbean twist. Their set lunch menu changes daily and is inexpensive (including a vegetarian option).

For more traditional Colombian and Cartagenera fare, La Mulata, Cande, and Alma are among our favorites. And of course, there is great seafood everywhere, but especially at La Cevicheria and Club de Pesca.

La Mulata: located in the historic center, this restaurant offers typical Colombian dishes in a cozy atmosphere. They have options for children and adults, such as tray paisa and fried fish.

Located in the vibrant old walled city, La Mulata is a traditional Colombian restaurant where you will find hot soups, fresh fish, and other specialties which make it a local favorite.

Thanks to my tour guide, the first restaurant I came across was La Mulata. She didn’t know that I’m a vegan. I was just hoping to order salad, some plantains & mango juice for lunch.

Craving some authentic Caribbean seafood between knocking off all these photo spots in Cartagena?!. Head on over to La Mulata — the food is simple with soulful flavors in a fun space!

La Mulata is a great spot for a casual lunch, with a mix of locals and tourists, and the daily set menu with a coconut lemonade on the side is outstanding.

Sin duda es muy rico, pero los horarios y la disponibilidad de platos deja mucho que desear, en la noche no ofrecen cazuelas ni pescados fritos y los...

Lunch-time is the most local time, but La Mulata is also now open nights (with a slightly different menu -- I would recommend lunch though).