Food and drink in Salento
There is no shortage of restaurants in Salento. Whether you want traditional Colombian food, international, vegetarian or vegan, there is a lot to choose from. One of the local specialties served in almost all restaurants in Salento is trucha (salmon trout), which is prepared in a variety of ways: with garlic, stewed in coconut milk, baked with mushrooms and cheese and more.
Here you will find our tips for the best restaurants in Salento, the nicest cafes for a cup of coffee and the coziest places to have a drink.
Our tips
Traditional Colombian food
BALCONES DEL AYER
Cl 6 #5-40
Very good restaurant of the eponymous hotel Balcones Del Ayer. Ons favoriete gerecht hier is de gestoofde forel, die wordt afgebakken met champignons en kaas in de oven. Ook kun je hier terecht voor een goed ontbijt, zoals de American pancakes met fruit. Toen wij hier wilden lunchen, was er net een grote tourgroep in het restaurant en moesten we later terugkomen voor een tafeltje. We besloten te blijven en een biertje te bestellen, want er was live muziek en de sfeer was geweldig met opzwepende muziek en dansende toeristen!
CASA WILLYS
Cra. 7 # 5-17 (Plaza de Bolívar)
This spacious restaurant has a patio where you have a nice view of the mountains. We had delicious Trucha here and Mojarra eaten. The fish was served with salad and a large patacón (made of banana). The portions were giga, especially the Mojarra. Yet we paid only COP43,000/€11 for this huge fish!
LA FONDA DE LOS ARRIEROS
Cra. 6 #3-21
You would come here for the beautiful murals alone! La Fonda de los Arrieros is a traditional Colombian restaurant, serving fish, meat and chicken dishes and Colombian specialties such as Bandeja Paisa.
International restaurants
BRUNCH DE SALENTO
Cl. 6 #3-49
Brunch de Salento opens as early as 6 a.m. for the early birds. You can also bring a specially prepared packed lunch for your hike to the Valle de Cocora (also vegetarian and vegan). Furthermore, you can go there throughout the day for dishes like nachos, burgers and much more. The portions are large and the service is very friendly. Using a map with the hikes there are around Salento, the staff is happy to explain the routes to you.
MIRADOR DEL QUINDÍO CAFÉ RESTAURANTE BAR
Cra. 7 #4-09
One of the cozy places where you can have something to eat and drink while enjoying the view is the Mirador del Quindío restaurante bar. This café-restaurant is located in a quiet street next to hotel Salento Mirador. Er is van alles te krijgen, van hotdogs tot rijstgerechten en later op de dag is er ook pizza verkrijgbaar. Er zijn ook vegetarische opties en er kan ook rekening gehouden worden met allergieën.
LA CASA DE LAS RUIZ CAFÉ BISTRO
Cl. 7 #5-44
A café bistro in a nice setting, among the murals. Nice if you want to eat something different from traditional Colombian food, with dishes like Mexican bowl and Ramen.
Vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Salento
BUMI COCINA NATURAL-YERBATERIA
Cra. 5 #9-33
This restaurant serves vegan and non-vegan dishes and tasty, healthy drinks. It uses local vegetables and fresh herbs from its own garden. The dried herbs are also for sale.
BARROCCO 1842
Cl. 4 #6 55
The restaurant serves a daily veggie menu and alongside this, Barrocco 1842 is known for its delicious coffee and tea.
SERENDIPIA, VEGGIE FOOD AND PIZZA BAR
Cra. 6 #2-45
With dishes such as the Portobello burger and the Berenjena Toscana (eggplant dish) and different types of pizza, you have more than enough choices of vegetarian dishes here.
Cafes
We would love to try all the cafes in Salento, because the drinks (and goodies) are generally so delicious and the atmosphere so cozy! Here are a few of our favorite cafes in Salento.
CAFE CASA WILLYS
Cra. 7 # 5-17 (on the square)
Below the restaurant Casa Willys is a cute little cafe with a fun, creative interior.
What immediately stands out are the many delicious cakes and muffins on display. There are several kinds of coffee and hot chocolate, but you can also go there for a craft beer or mojito. Highly recommended: the chocolate caliente with marshmallows. Yummie!
CAFÉ JESÙS MARTÍN
Cra. 6a #6-14
For a special coffee, cocktails made with coffee and infusions. Dit cafeetje is net een museum, met allerlei decoraties die met koffie te maken hebben. Wij hadden een erg lekkere infusion van passievrucht en gember en een ijskoffie met Baileys. De huiskat maakte de huiselijke sfeer compleet. Je kunt er ook koffiebonen en gemalen koffie meenemen voor thuis.
CAFÉ QUINDÍO
Cra. 6 #510 (on the square)
One of our favorite cafes for a good cup of coffee, cakes and other goodies.
This is one of the few things that sell Nespresso capsules to take home. The other cafes or “roasters” usually only sell coffee beans and ground coffee.
Bars
CANCHA DE TEJO LOS AMIGOS
(a 3-98,) Cra. 4 #32
This is the place in Salento to play Tejo, a typical Colombian game accompanied by lots of beer drinking. Tejo is similar to bowling in terms of throwing, but more exciting -:) Namely, you have to aim at bags of gunpowder! Also a nice place to meet other travelers.
CAFE DANUBIO
Cra. 4 #30 Calle Real
It couldn’t be more local in Salento: a large café, where locals gather to play billiards.
EL TEJADITO DE SALENTO
Cra. 6 #3-30
The cafe is small and cozy with only a few tables. You can go there for a beer, a glass of wine or a Mojito.There is regular live music.
