Santa Marta is growing it’s culinary offering every moment and we believe the best flavours in Santa Marta now rival some of the greatest restaurants in Bogota and Cartagena. Our guests are always asking us for dining recommendations in Santa Marta, so we decided to create our own list of our top restaurants in Santa Marta, based on our personal experiences.

Eli’s at Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina

Of course Eli always comes first, it’s just very hard to beat! For an exclusive or totally relaxed dining experience, we believe there is nowhere better than Eli’s. When you fancy staying in your swimming shorts by the pool and grabbing something to eat without moving, Eli’s lounge menu offers something for everyone, including our hugely popular Carolina Burger (beef and veggie options available). If you are looking for something more elegant and exclusive, our full dining menu offers exquisite-tasting and beautifully presented gourmet dishes, with options to eat on our beautiful terraces, in our main restaurant, by the pool, or at our private romantic rooftop pergola.

Menu: Eli’s Menu
Phone: 4233354
Address: Calle 12 #3-40

Ouzo

Ouzo is our out and out personal favourite in Santa Marta (except for Casa Carolina’s own restaurant, Eli’s of course!) and we never hesitate to send our guests there who always return delighted. Ouzo’s diverse menu of tasty Greek and Mediterranean-influence dishes; pastas, fresh seafood, delicious brick-oven pizzas features a great choices for vegetarians, fish lovers as well as carnivores.

Ouzo Restaurant has a number of tables beside Parque de los Novios (Park of the Sweethearts), a great place to enjoy your meal as the world strolls by and street-musicians entertain the diners. Alternatively choose a more romantic table in the secluded back courtyard or main restaurant. The staff are very friendly and provide great service, the owner and head-chef Mike has worked in numerous prestigious New York restaurants.

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, as well as peak season, we would definitely recommend reserving. Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina’s concierge service will be delighted to take care of this for you. Ouzo is probably best suited to couples / adult groups, and perhaps less ideal for younger kids.

Ouzo is just a pleasant five minute walk from Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina.

Web: www.ouzosantamarta.com
Phone: 4230658
Address: Cra. 3 #19-27

Lulo Cafe + Bar de Jugos

Just four streets from Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina, we love Lulo for their original and thirst-quenching juices, fresh and healthy eating options. The speciality is “Arepa” (local corn flour patties) with local white cheese, topped with any number of delicious vegetarian and meaty combinations. Caribbean and Colombian foods are spiced up with Lulo’s artistic flair, turning something simple into something delicious. We are regular visitors for Sunday brunch with freshly brewed organic coffee topping things off!

Lulo is just a few minutes walk from Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina.

Web: www.lulocafebar.com
Phone: 4232725
Address: Cra. 3 #16-34

Sauté

Sauté offers a well-priced fusion menu with Asian influences and Caribbean flavours. We love this restaurant as an informal option, great for kids with a huge and enclosed internal courtyard for them to run around, and different seating options (lounge sofas, bar stools, garden tables). For a more lively evening, sit in the pedestrian street where many nights of the week an excellent group of local musicians and street acts entertain to the guests’ delight. You can even get up and dance some salsa between courses as some locals do! With the best bread and butter pudding this side of Yorkshire, we return to Sauté time and time again. Sauté is located a few doors down from Lulo, in the pedestrian avenue “Carrera Tres”, between streets “Calles” 16 and 17. This is less than a five minute walk from Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina, on the way to Parque de los Novios.

Web: www.lulocafebar.com
Phone: 4232725
Address: Cra. 3 #16-34

Di Vino

For an excellent alternative, and fine dining experience in Rodadero, we were really impressed by Di Vino. The Italian owners of Di Vino certainly offer some of the best Italian dishes that you can find in Santa Marta and have hard earned their number 1 spot on Tripadvisor. Di Vino, formerly known as a La Bodeguilla del Rodadero, is an outstanding restaurant not only for the quality of the food, but exceptionally professional service as well. Di Vino does stand out as being a very classy place to eat.

The menu has a variety of choices from pastas and pizzas to seafood and steak. A small selection of wine but with good options to chose from and small dessert menu. Be sure to order the House Sangria. Not as fruity as most sangrias but possibly the best sangria you will find outside of Spain. The seafood at Di Vino is always fresh and prepared perfectly and tender. The steaks are some of the best meat you will find. The Fettucine Marinara con Mariscos seems to be the most popular dish. A fettuccine pasta cooked in a tasty marinara sauce served with fresh and tender seafood all to perfection.

With the wide selection of menu options, it can be difficult to decide what to order. Not to worry, because as part of their friendly service, the owner greets each table and gives out his recommendation on which dishes to try.

Di Vino is located a few meters away from Rodadero beach and is comfortable and air conditioned. Just a 15 minute cab ride from Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina, enjoy this wonderful and exclusive fine Italian-dining experience.

Facebook: Di Vino
Phone: 4213735
Address: Calle 6 # 1 – 26 Rodadero

Restaurante-Bar Burukuka

While you can find better food in Santa Marta, Burukuka’s menu is good enough and the location and overall experience are great, so we have been back plenty of times. Perched a few hundred metres up on a cliff above the town of Rodadero, a 15 minutes cab from Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina in Santa Marta’s historic centre, the view and atmosphere are breathtaking. Whether watching the sun set or enjoying the cooling night breeze, Burukuka is a very comfortable restaurant, which becomes a bar and club later in the evening. This is definitely where Santa Marta’s young (rich) and cool hang out. There is often live music, and a choice of seating between the large outdoor terrace or main air-conditioned restaurant. This is a place to spend the whole evening. Go for sunset cocktails, some appetisers and then a meal, stay on for more drinks and the club atmosphere starting around midnight.

Web: www.burukuka.com
Phone: 4380388
Location: Via al Edificio Cascadas del Rodadero

Entre Cuates (formerly Chavela) and Coco Marina

Both restaurants have us going back for more.

Entre Cuates offers a cool and original atmosphere, just off the Parque de los Novios, with excellent gourmet Mexican food. Great Margaritas, good service, nicely presented and tasty tacos. The gigantic guacamole pot is a delicious starter and serves an entire table of four or more…

Coco Marina offers another nice and alternative atmosphere, directly in front of Santa Marta’s International Marina. With a boaty feel and fresh breeze passing through, Coco Marina’s menu has a healthy and natural bias, and the quality is second to none. An excellent wine list, perfect espresso, and professional service, no wonder it attracts Santa Marta’s yachting elite!

Entre Cuates
Phone: 313 6566272
Location: Cl. 20 #3 – 10

Coco Marina http://www.cocomarina.co
Phone:  4208560
Location: Cra. 1 No. 22 – 93. Local 1