The best restaurants in Cali, Colombia

Travel Guide Cali

The best restaurants in Cali

Here you will find the best restaurants in Cali Colombia, for every taste and budget. On the culinary front, you won’t have to bore yourself in Cali. The selection of international restaurants is not as large as in Bogotá and Medellín, but there are good restaurants and bars for every taste and budget. Since San Antonio is the most popular neighborhood with travelers and many locals, most of the restaurants and bars can be found here. The neighborhood of Granada, is considered a foodie neighborhood, due to its many good restaurants and also in Ciudad Jardín you will find a wide choice of (more expensive) restaurants. Want to dance after dinner in one of the many salsa clubs and bars? Check here the best salsa clubs of Cali.

 

Our tips

ZAHAVI GOURMET

San Antonio

Considered by many to be the best bakery in Cali. Its specialty is the Pandebono. Also a popular place for brunch.

ZEA MAIZ

San Antonio

For Cali’s best arepas, which you eat in a colorful setting. Also gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options. From 4000COP/$1 for a small arepa.

MACONDO CAFÉ

San Antonio

Macondo café, named after the fantasy village from Gabriel García Marquéz’s novel “100 Years of Solitude,” has long been a favorite in Cali. Not only for the good coffee and delicious desserts, but also for the free movies shown every day. Each month there is a particular movie theme.

EL BUEN ALIMENTO

San Antonio

A vegetarian/vegan restaurant, which has been serving up the most delicious dishes for over 10 years. You can choose from a very wide menu, from falafel, to lasagna and Colombian specialties like Ajiaco soup.

TIERRADENTRO

San Antonio

A nice terrace in a beautiful green setting for a nice cup of coffee or a good glass of wine

LA COLINA TIENDA TERTULIADERO

San Antonio

The oldest bar in San Antonio and you can feel it in the atmosphere when you enter. In 2022, the bar already celebrated its 80th anniversary. A good place to have a good beer with a tasty snack, while enjoying old salsa music.

RINGLETE

Granada

An icon in Cali! Here typical dishes from the Valle de Cauca, are prepared in a culinary way and presented in an original way. The building in a bright pink color is not to be missed.

EL TEATRO MÁGICO DEL SABOR

San Antonio

Not a regular restaurant, but a live cooking show, where chef Michael explains the menu and prepares the food à la minute. Best described as a combination of food and stand-up comedy. The restaurant is set up like a “theater,” with tables overlooking the kitchen. This is fun to do if you want something different. Expect about 3 hours for the entire experience. Check out here for more info.

TRILOGIA

San Antonio

A trilogy of wine, art and gastronomy. The restaurant describes its menu as “Euro-pacifico.” This colorful restaurant regularly hosts live performances and salsa shows.

LA TRATTORINA

Ciudad Jardín

In Ciudad Jardín there are all kinds of trendy and expensive restaurants. So you can also have culinary experience here. You can eat out in the $$$$ category at La Trattorina; expensive by Colombian standards, but very affordable for North American and Northern European travelers.  

ANTIGUA CONTEMPORANEA CAFÉ

San Antonio

This attractively decorated restaurant, feels like a piece of Bali in San Antonio. You can choose from a menu of international and local dishes. Also a favorite with locals, who like to come there to celebrate and take beautiful pictures.

 

RESTAURANTE PLATILLOS VOLADORES

Centenario

This “upscale” restaurant in Cali, has branches near Centenario shopping center and Ciudad Jardín. The cuisine is Fusion, with Colombian and Asian dishes beautifully presented. Main courses cost between 30,000COP/$7.50 and 80,000COP/$20.

Bonus Tip:

Tip #1
In Food Cali you can read more about the food and drink in Cali and Southwest Colombia: traditional dishes, snacks and street food.

Tip #2
Join a guided street food tour
Try the best street food, while you learn about Cali’s food culture and get tips about the best places to eat in Cali.

Tip #3
Take a trip to Restaurante las Neblinas por lo alto
The typical Colombian restaurant Las Neblinas is located on KM18 and – besides the beautiful view – is famous for the “patacón gigante,” the giant patacon. A kind of crispy “cookie” made of banana, which is served with various toppings, such as chicken, pico de gallo, beef and hogao, a tomato-onion sauce. The patacón is so big, you can share it with the whole family -:)

 

ColombiaMyWay

What to do in Cali, Colombia

Travel Guide Cali

What to do
in Cali

There is much to see in Cali and its surroundings. Be surprised by Colombia’s swinging city, which has so much more to offer besides its famous nightlife.

ColombiaMyWay

14 tips on fun things to do

1. Go salsa dancing!

Throw your hips into battle on the dance floor! Dance schools, salsa bars and hostels are happy to give you your first salsa lesson. With a salsa tour and workshop, you are immediately initiated into the secrets of salsa. Ready to start dancing in Cali’s salsa hotspots? Check here the best salsa clubs of Cali! If you really want to experience salsa then visiting the annual Feria de Cali in December is a must: the whole city is completely in salsa atmosphere with a parade of dancers and performances in the center. Bring earplugs because the sound is at >100 db. At the Museo De La Salsa in Barrio Obrero, you can learn all about the history of salsa in Cali and the world. It is the oldest salsa museum in the world. Read about our own experience with salsa dancing in Cali.

2. Enjoy the atmosphere in the San Antonio neighborhood

San Antonio is Cali’s oldest neighborhood, with colonial architecture and narrow streets. Parque San Antonio is hugely popular with tourists and locals. If you are lucky there are street musicians. There is also a little church on the hill here and you have a great view of the city. The park is especially a hot spot on weekends, when the Caleños come here to relax. The park is also famous for its “cuenteros,” storytellers who draw a large crowd. On Saturday mornings there is a small organic market, where you can also have breakfast and buy tasty juices. Tip: spend the night at Magic Garden house, across from the park.

3. Take a guided tour!

Dutchman Niels fell in love with Cali and set up a travel agency together with Colombian Vanessa in 2016. Their mission: showing travellers during their guided tours that Cali is more than just salsa! You can choose from the free walking tour in the city center (based on tipping) or the street food tour; a fun way to get to know the city and visit places you wouldn’t normally visit easily.

4. Go to the Cristo Rey for a great view of the city

Outside Cali on a mountain is the huge 31-meter-high statue Cristo Rey (statue of Christ just like the one in Brazil). Great for a day trip outside of Cali. Then you have a great view of the whole city. A cab will cost you approx. COP50,000/$12.50 round trip. You can also visit Cristo Rey with a city tour, where you also visit other attractions, such as Parque El Gato De Tejada. You can book the city tour here.

5. Insider tip! Grab a bite to eat at KM18

KM 18 is a very popular neighborhood among Colombians to go out for lunch or dinner at night. It is located high on a mountain (1800m) and is full of hotels and restaurants with stunning views of Cali. Definitely highly recommended! You can get here by taxi (about 30 minutes), but the area around KM 18 is also beautiful to explore by rental car. The nearby rainforest is an important bird area with great biodiversity.

6. Spot birds in hummingbird "paradise"

If you go to KM18 and drive 10 minutes further, you can spot many hummingbirds and other birds in “El Paraíso de los Colibries” at Finca Alejandria. As many as 347 bird species are found here. Entrance to “El Paraíso de los Colibries” costs COP20,000/$5.

 

7. Take a walk along the Bulevar del Río

Along the river you will find plenty of choices for snacks and drinks, there is street art and you can see Cali’s main attractions such as El Parque de los Poetas, La iglesia de la Ermita and Parque de los Gatos, a park with statues of cats created by various Colombian artists. Especially nice in the afternoon, at night it can be a bit skechy. During Christmas, the Bulevar del Río is spectacularly lit up and you’ll find the finest Christmas atmosphere in all of Cali.

 

8. Act like the locals and visit Alto Pance

This is a beautiful green area and is known for the Pance River. Every week hundreds of Colombians come to the river to swim and picnic with the family. A lot of food is brought from home or they are barbecuing. It has a very special atmosphere and is beautiful to see. Highly recommended. Adventurous travelers can hike from Pance to the Pico de Loro in the Parque Nacional Natural Farallones de Cali. This is an intensive hike, so good fitness is required!

There are minibuses going to Pance, for about COP2500. You can also stay overnight in one of the vacation rentals in Pance and surrounding areas.

10. Visit the beautiful neighborhood of Ciudad Jardín

Ciudad Jardín is a very nice neighborhood to see and is located in the south of Cali. It is a lot quieter than San Antonio and is surrounded by some beautiful parks (including Humedal La Babilla). Two well-known shopping centers, Unicentro and Centro Comercial Jardín Plaza, are also located near Ciudad Jardin. Moreover, if you drive towards the famous Pance River, you will undoubtedly pass through this neighborhood. Furthermore, you have all kinds of trendy restaurants in this neighborhood, that are in the higher price range.

12. Take a day trip to Lago Calima

A beautiful piece of nature with an (artificial) lake is Lago Calima. The lake is 70 km above Cali and as the crow flies next to Buga…the place with the basilica and many church stores. It is like Switzerland there, the mountains…the houses with their half-timbered facades. There is a modern swimming pool with slides and also some water sports. But the area is so special because of the idea that you are like you have arrived in the Swiss hills. This is a popular vacation spot with the locals, so there are many places to stay overnight in Lago Calima. Because of the winds that blow there all year round, Lago Calima is also a hot spot with kite and windsurfers.

9. Shop in the impressive malls

Jardín Plaza with all its brands is an upscale shopping mall. Other shopping malls include Unicentro Cali, Pacific mall, Cosmocentro and Centro Comercial Chipichape. Parque Artesanal Loma de la Cruz (across from Topa Tolandra) is one of the best local markets where you can buy artesanía from all over Colombia (besides the “made in China” souvenirs). Every Thursday around 7 p.m., people gather here to dance together.

11. Visit the Cali Zoo

The Cali Zoo is also very nice to see. Perhaps somewhat of a different class than Artis but good value for money. Admission costs COP35,000/$9 for adults and COP 24.000/$ for children (2025) Especially nice to get an idea of the animals found in Colombia and South America, but there are also animals from other parts of the world.

13. Explore the jungle around San Cipriano

The picturesque town of San Cipriano is located in the middle of the jungle and is a perfect base for activities like tubing, kayaking and hiking through the jungle. The easiest way to do these activities is as part of a tour, such as this day tour to San Cipriano.

Bonus tip

14. Spend a night in the rainforest

Need to escape Cali’s hot climate for a while? Then book a few nights in a glamping or nature reserve outside the city, such as at Bosque de Niebla birding and nature, 18 km. from Cali. With a rainforest setting, here you can enjoy the cooler climate and spot various bird species.

5-Star Tours (Highly Recommended)

How to get to Cali Colombia?

Travel Guide Cali

How to get to Cali,Colombia?

Airplane

How to get to Cali, Colombia?
Here you can read about the different modes of transportation to Cali, Colombia, of which traveling by plane is a popular option.

Flights from North America

  • Miami, daily with American Airlines, and Avianca
  • Fort Lauderdale from June to November with budget airline Spirit Airlines
  • New York  from June to August with Avianca,  3 flights per week

Flights from Europe

  • The only direct flight from Europe to Cali is through Madrid, with Avianca,  3–4 times per week.
  • Alternatively,  you can take a direct flight to Bogotá and continue your journey from there. There are direct flights from Paris (Air France, Avianca), Frankfurt (Lufthansa) Barcelona and London (Avianca) Madrid (multiple airlines, such as Avianca and Ibera).
  • Airlines that fly to Bogotá with a stopover in Cartagena are KLM (from Amsterdam) and Edelweiss air (from Zurich)
  • From Bogotá there is a direct flight to Cali, that takes about an hour. You can buy a ticket from $50 in low season. Furthermore, there are good connections within Colombia, with flights from Medellín, Cartagena and Santa Marta, among others. 

Transportation from the international airport

Transportation from the airport to downtown Cali

Aeropuerto Internacional Alfonso Bonilla Aragón (CLO)

The Cali airport is located in the city of Palmira, about a 20-minute drive from (north) Cali and 30-40 minutes from downtown Cali.

The city center of Cali can be reached from the airport by cab or bus.

  • A cab ride to the city center takes about 40 minutes and typically costs between 55.000 COP (14$) and 80,000 COP ($20). The official airport cabs are from the company Asotaba.
  • Furthermore, minibuses and regular buses run between the airport and Cali from Expreso Palmira and Rápido Aeropuerto, among others. You can buy a ticket starting at COP7000/$1.75. You’ll find the buses outside the arrivals hall of national flights.
  • The most relaxing way to get to the city center, we find, is a private transfer from the airport. You book and pay for these in advance online and the driver will be waiting for you in the arrival hall. No unnecessary delays and the driver already knows where to drive.
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Bus Transportation

By bus to/from Cali

From Bogotá
You can also travel from Bogota to Cali by bus, in about 10 hours. From COP70,000 /$17.50 one way/Salitre terminal. among others. Bolivariano & Expreso Palmira

From Medellin
You can also travel from Medellin to Cali in about 9 hours, from COP 80,000 / $20. You can opt for a night bus with sleeper seats (double-decker bus). Keep in mind that this is a ride straight through the mountains.

From Salento
A visit to Cali can also be combined very well with the coffee triangle. In about 3.30hours you travel from Armenia (near Salento) to Cali, for example. Tickets from COP45,000/$11 one way, with companies such as Expreso Palmira & Expreso Trejos.

From Popayán
Travelers touring Southwest Colombia often combine a visit to Cali with Popayán. The ride takes about 4 hours. Tickets start at COP25,000/$6 one way, with companies such as Coomoto and Transporte Puerto Tejada.

Pacific
In about 3 hours,  you can travel by bus to Buenaventura. Tickets from COP35,000/$9 one way, with Corredor del Pacifico. 

Tips:

  • A cab from the bus terminal to the San Antonio district costs about COP15,000/$3.75
  • Always check the actual safety situation, when planning a bus trip. It might be safer to travel by plane than overland.

 

Travel Guide Cali

Cali & SW Colombia, Travel Guide Cali

Cali – A travel guide

In this travel guide Cali, you will find everything you need to know for your trip to Cali.

With a mix of Spanish, African and Native American traditions, Cali is an interesting city to visit. The is the 3rd largest city in Colombia, with over two million inhabitants. Cali is also one of the oldest cities in Colombia, having been founded in 1536.

Cali is located in a valley. If you were to compare the city to Bogotá or Medellín, then Cali is a lot less touristy. Tourism is still in its infancy. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful and very pleasant city. Cali is also called “the city of salsa”. Every week there are salsa parties in various places and you can dance the night away.

Frankly, Cali is a bit less endowed in terms of beauty and architecture. On the other hand, Cali is probably much more adventurous than neat Medellín and breezy Bogotá. Western tourists therefore often find Cali more exciting or rugged than these two cities.

If you leave the city, you will be right in the middle of nature and can hike in national parks, spot birds in the rainforest and kayak on the river. A visit to Cali is great to combine with a tour of the archaeological sites in San Agustín and Tierradentro, the Tatacoa desert and the city Popayán or a trip to the coffee region. Given its proximity, Cali is also good to combine with a visit to the Pacific.

Check out some Travel itineraries in Colombia that include Cali and Southwest Colombia.

Would you also like to visit this special city? Check out our travel guide Cali with the best things to do, the best salsa clubs, great hotels and hostels and useful tips & tricks for your trip to Cali!

All about Cali

How to get to Cali?
What to do in Cali?
Hotels and hostels in Cali
Restaurants in Cali
Transportation in Cali
Cheap Flight Tickets
Practical info about Cali
Shopping in Cali
Frequently asked questions about Cali

Salsa dancing in Cali

Travel Guide Cali, Travel Stories

Home 9 Category: Travel Guide Cali ( Page 2 )

Want to learn to dance salsa in Colombia? There is no better place to dance salsa than in Cali! Here you can read about our own salsa adventure in Cali.

At the end of the evening there was a kind of dance battle between the best couples of the evening. Everyone gathered in a circle around the dancing couples.

Salsa bucket List
Like many other travelers, Cali was on our bucket list because of salsa dancing. We stayed at The Pelican Larry hostel, where they also offered salsa lessons. From beginners to advanced, everything is possible and any shame and insecurities can be thrown overboard before you step into the door. Amazing!

I’m not kidding when I say you literally step into a dance scene from Dirty Dancing II. Well, after first having a beer at the bar and watching all those people dancing, we too felt like throwing our Dutch hips into the “battle”.

Patient teachers
We didn’t have to wait long, because before we knew it, we were being asked to dance by two Colombian boys. Still somewhat shy, we hesitated for a moment, but both of us quickly decided that we were going to make a bold move. With endless patience, fun and passion for salsa, the boys taught us the basics and we were soon in the middle of the crowd.

After about three songs, it was time to hydrate, because man…. all those dancing people made for a high temperatures in the room. Not much later, the next Colombian guy approached us and asked if we wanted to dance. This way you switch dance partners several times during the evening (also nice for the locals not to have to dance all the time with a beginner -:)). Yet they don’t say a bad word about it and teach you with the biggest smile!

Dance battle
At the end of the evening, there was a sort of dance battle between the best couples of the evening. Everyone gathered in a circle around the dancing couples (a bit like what happens in Step Up when people are challenged to a dance battle). Yelling, screaming, whistling: everyone was totally absorbed in what was happening on the dance floor. Then a winner of the evening was chosen and the evening came to an end.

Amazing atmosphere
It was enchanting. My travel companion and I both didn’t bring a phone (unfortunately), so we have no images of the evening itself. Maybe that’s why we were totally immersed into the dancing and atmosphere.

In our opinion, your trip to Colombia is not complete without immersing yourself in salsa culture!

Written by Mellijn
Travel date January 2018

photos @La Topa Tolandra and The Pelican Larry hostel)

#ColombiaMyWay Tips
(Updated August 2025)

Read more about Cali in our travel guide Cali.

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We do not take payments from tour operators or hotels for our reviews and we pay for our own stay and tours.

Jeanette and Shelly

Writers and Travelers, Colombia My Way