vegan in cartagena
we had a beautiful time in cartagena with our girls trip, enjoying the turquoise waters of the rosario islands and the city’s historic cobblestone streets. our travel experiences aim to be as inclusive as possible and we were thrilled to have a super sweet vegan traveler, laura, join us. our first group trip in 2018 also hosted maria, another vegan angel and i am so impressed at how the city has evolved over the years to include delicious, traditional meals with no animal products- something quite challenging to find in colombia. scroll to the bottom for how to order vegan food in cartagena!
if you or a friend are planning a trip to cartagena and looking for vegan options, here are a few of our faves! too long to read? let us plan your trip instead :)
one of the world’s 50 best restaurants, celele is a can’t miss sustainable gastronomic experience with vegan options that work with colombia’s native ingredients. take pictures of everything and enjoy the technical marvels this cozy restaurant brings to the table: think lacto-fermented okra to serve as “pickled tuna”, plantain dumplings, orejero hummus (a seed native to colombia), and more. do not miss the dessert.
fragata
women-owned, fragata is a paradise in the famous rosario islands archipelago. the coast’s traditional lunch of fried fish makes finding delicious vegan meals on the islands hard to find, but fragata’s vegetable ceviche and “arroz de la huerta” makes up for it tenfold. pro tip: let the island know ahead of time you’re planning to come by.
crepes & waffles
any local knows - crepes is a staple. with a very long menu and a beautiful rooftop (only open at night), the crepes location in the walled city is a must visit, especially if you’re tired of scanning each menu with a magnifying glass to make sure what you’re eating is vegan. bonus: crepes & waffles only hires women head of households, usually single mothers.
alquímico
not only is this one of the best bars in the world, it also has an incredible menu of vegan tapas. its three stories each have different drink menus and work on different non profit projects, from creating farms that reforest colombia’s native ingredients to funding a school in cartagena that provides musical training to at risk kids. start or end your night here, just be ready to dance and know it gets pretty packed by 10 or so!
quero arepa
24 hour casual arepa place inside the walled city with vegetarian and vegan arepa options and the best fruit juices ever. Been coming here since 2018 and it just gets better!
candé
one of cartagena’s most famous and aesthetically impressive spaces, candé has delicious vegan options inspired by traditional colombian cooking. there are traditional dancers so highly recommend this for dinner before a fun night out.
la mulata
a cartagena mainstay, la mulata is famous for its fish, but thankfully has a few solid vegan options. if you have any fish eaters in your group, this is a great compromise!
verona
a solid italian spot in front of the plaza de fernandez madrid with gorgeous decor and very sweet service. no vegan menu, but you can modify their offerings and they’ll happily adjust!
worthy mention
please eat all the fruits when in colombia!
how to order
just ask for your meal “sin huevos o lácteos” - you might have to be specific sometimes, so mention “sin leche, crema, huevos, o queso” to really get the point across. better to be safe! enjoy!!!