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My guide on where to eat in Cali, with profiles on restaurants and cafés we’ve visited on our many trips to the city.
Overview of Cali’s Culinary Scene
While Bogotá and Medellín usually steal the spotlight, Cali has quietly and confidently built a culinary scene that’s just as impressive. Chefs who aren’t afraid to innovate blend Pacific flavors, Afro-Colombian traditions, and modern creativity into dishes that feel deeply connected to the region. Fresh seafood from the coast, bold spices, and tropical ingredients often play a key role.
It may still be under the radar internationally, but if you know where to look, Cali is one of Colombia‘s best kept secrets and most exciting places to eat — no reservations hype required.
Where to Eat in Barrio San Antonio, Cali
Barrio San Antonio sits at the heart of Cali’s culinary revolution. The first restaurants arrived in the early 2000s, when the neighborhood was still mostly residential. Their numbers grew steadily over the following decade, and by 2019, San Antonio was widely recognized as the city’s gastronomic center. With well over 50 restaurants and cafés today, it’s the area foodies should focus on during their trip to Cali.
Domingo
Domingo is one of the best dining experiences we’ve had, not only in Cali but in all of Colombia. Set in a beautifully decorated space that makes you feel like you’re in a tropical rainforest, chef Catalina Vélez creates dishes using ingredients from forgotten zones of Southwest Colombia, many of them marked by armed conflict. Reservations are highly recommended for dinner.
The menu lists the origins of all the dishes, and the servers enthusiastically answer any questions you may have about the more unusual ingredients, many of which are sourced directly from some of Colombia’s most remote regions. Portion sizes are small and prices are relatively high, but it’s well worth it for a memorable experience. The combination of flavors and texture, along with the presentation, is unlike anything else in the city. It’s Michelin-star worthy.
Dishes at Domingo
We started off with the bahia, a dish from Tumaco made with raw shrimp, leche de tigre of yacón (a sweet Andean root of a species of daisy), citrus juices, and hibiscus flower salt. It left us wanting to sop up every last bit of the juices.
Marisol’s main course was the encocado — shrimp, pata de burro (a panela-based sweet), coconut emulsion, refrito pacífico (a seasoning of fresh herbs from the Pacific coast), and fufú de plátano verde (a traditional Afro-Colombian green plantain mash from the Pacific region). The dish originated in Guapi, a town on the Pacific coast of the Cauca department.
My main course was the guamuez — slow-cooked pork roasted over wood fire with a spicy tomate de árbol sauce, served with lapingacho, a mashed potato patty encrusted with peanuts and topped with chicharrón. You finish it off by pouring a broth over the pork medallion. This dish is from Laguna de la Cocha in the Nariño department, also known as Lago Guamuez.
The desserts really complement the meal and are a big reason you won’t mind that the portion sizes are on the small side. The turrón is a rich dark chocolate ganache made with 80% Tumaco chocolate and borojó (an earthy Amazon–Pacific fruit), layered with a macambo ganache — an Amazonian seed related to cacao — infused with coca leaf and roasted cashew.
The vainilla is ice cream flavored with local vanilla, topped with a vanilla-infused oil, and set on a bed of caramel sauce made with goat’s milk and titoté (the browned solids left after cooking coconut milk). It’s finished with cacao nibs.
Cocktails at Domingo
You can’t enjoy a meal at Domingo without trying one of the signature cocktails. Our server recommended two made with viche, a sugarcane spirit from Colombia’s Pacific region — achú and tierra.
The achú is a medicinal-inspired drink made with viche, fresh lime juice, and an herbal syrup infused with eucalyptus and thyme.
The tierra blends mushroom-infused viche, mezcal, thyme syrup, fresh lime juice, and activated charcoal — a dark, smoky drink with a dramatic appearance and a flavor as earthy as its name.
Valle Pacífico
Founded by Melissa Marinez, Valle Pacífico focuses on preserving the gastronomy of the Afro-Colombian communities of the Pacific region. The menu leans heavily toward fish and seafood, with a smaller selection of meat and chicken dishes. The restaurant supports traditional fishing, working with suppliers in Buenaventura and Tumaco to ensure fresh, quality products, and incorporates local ingredients like chontaduro.
We started with the rollitos chonta, crispy spring rolls filled with chontaduro and queso costeño, served with honey. For drinks, we ordered a viche fresa (a sugarcane spirit with strawberry), mango and strawberry juice, and limonada de naidí (açaí lemonade).
My main course was the arroz timbal celestial — rice with shrimp, lobster tail, squid, octopus, clams, mussels, sautéed bell peppers, and carrots, prepared in a Pacific sofrito. Marisol had the cazuela de mariscos — a seafood stew of squid, smoked fish, shrimp, clams, octopus, and mussels, served with coconut rice, salad, and patacón. As the name suggests, every bite was heavenly.
Thankfully we saved room for dessert. The tentación de coco — a cocada (traditional coconut sweet) topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce — was the perfect way to finish up our meal. Overall, service is excellent, and we’ll definitely make another visit.
Criollan Lovers
Criollan Lovers is a lively spot serving Colombian Pacific and Peruvian fusion dishes. Service is friendly, and they often have live music.
We started with the ceviche mixto, a traditional Peruvian ceviche with shrimp and fish. I had the cazuela pacífico, a stew of fish, shrimp, squid, and mussels in a coconut cream base made with a sofrito typical of the Chocó department. Marisol tried the arroz chaufa — rice sautéed in a wok with ginger, pepper, onion, and pieces of chicken, pork, and shrimp, served with potato wedges and an egg tortilla. We were both very happy with our meals.
The signature cocktails are also appealing. I had the caldera, made with viche, smoked chili syrup, berries, lime juice, and ginger beer, while Marisol tried the inti, a mix of pisco, red fruit liqueur, and lime juice.
Amasijo
Amasijo serves traditional Colombian dishes with a gourmet twist, honoring the country’s roots and culture by using organic ingredients from small providers. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We visited for breakfast.
I tried the huevos napolitanos — three fried eggs submerged in a Neapolitan sauce with black basil, organic spinach, and aged cheese, accompanied by sourdough bread. It was a perfect start to my day.
Marisol ordered the bowl altiplano — scrambled eggs with hogao, pork chorizo, fresh avocado, and an arepa boyacense filled with cuajada and organic greens. She wasn’t too keen on it, but I thought it was good.
Our little one had the pancakes de choclo — Andean maize-based pancakes topped with homemade mascarpone, banana, and agraz (Andean blueberry) jam from the town of Silvia, Cauca. He was the happiest of the bunch.
Although our server was a bit inexperienced and slow, we had a good experience overall. I would go back to try some of the lunch and dinner specials.
Simbas
An authentic Indian restaurant with home-cooked meals, Simbas is a great choice if you’re looking for something different from Colombian food. We stopped in for dinner and had a wonderful experience.
After starting with some incredible samosas, we enjoyed our main courses. I had the butter chicken tikka masala, while Marisol tried the slow-cooked lamb. Both dishes were phenomenal, and the hospitality of the owners made the meal even better.
Café Sorbo de Ángel
Café Sorbo de Ángel is a cozy spot with friendly service. We shared a slice of cake and each had an americano. The coffee, grown on their farm in San Lorenzo in the Nariño department, was good, though we’ve had better.
Café Macondo
On the next corner, Café Macondo was a much better experience. Inspired by One Hundred Years of Solitude, it’s a pleasant space where visitors can enjoy jazz, cinema, and literature. We really enjoyed the coffee prepared in a V60 and would like to go back to try some of the breakfasts and burgers.
Patti
Patti is an Italian gelato shop that’s been around since 1961. They brought machinery all the way from Italy, through the port of Buenaventura, and opened a factory on their family dairy farm in Rozo where they’ve been producing delicious treats ever since.
You’ll find traditional gelato flavors such as stracciatella, chocolate, hazelnut, and tiramisu, along with tropical flavors like mango, passionfruit, and açaí. What sets Patti apart are the healthier sugar-free options, available in both popular and local flavors. Try them in a cup or cone.
Where to Eat in Barrio Granada, Cali
Barrio Granada has some great dining options. One of the two restaurants we visited has since moved to the south of Cali, leaving just the other in this section for now.
The Market
Dinner at The Market, located inside the Marriott Hotel, is a good experience. The casual dining room has a nice ambience and offers a huge selection of international cuisine. Much of it is “build your own”, including burgers, pasta, pizza, sandwiches, and wraps. We’ve eaten there three times and were very happy with the food, though the service always seemed to slow near the end the meal.
The only starter we’ve tried is the Greek salad. It’s good but not authentic. Pass on it.
For our first dinner, I built my own burger with cheddar cheese, tomato, guacamole, barbecue sauce, sautéed onions, and sautéed mushrooms. It was great. Marisol had the encocado de mariscos, which she enjoyed very much. The seafood was cooked perfectly, and the sauce was delicious.
On our second visit, Marisol had ceviche, and I built my own pasta bowl. I tried fettuccine mixed with shrimp, calamari, basil, garlic, mushrooms, and green olives, topped with arrabiatta sauce. I chose three cheeses — feta, parmesan, and mozzarella — which came on the side. Again, everything was great.
On our third visit, Marisol stuck with ceviche again, and I built my own pizza. I had a thin crust with garlic tomato sauce, mushrooms, olives, cheddar, feta, parmesan, salami, pepperoni, and chorizo. We had company this time, and they built their own burgers and sandwiches.
As for dessert, we’ve only had room on one of our visits. We tried the crème brûlée, which was very good.
Where to Eat in Barrio San Fernando, Cali
Barrio San Fernando has a handful of good restaurants, and we were fortunate enough to try one of them.
Amasa
Amasa is a bakery and brunch spot connected to Domingo. In fact, the chef at Domingo was the one who told us about it. We visited for breakfast on a Sunday morning and were blown away by the quality and freshness.
For my breakfast, I had the cazuela, yogur y berenjena — an egg casserole with spicy yogurt, smoked eggplant, avocado, and greens. Marisol tried the cazuela de papas crocantes y chorizo — an egg casserole with crispy potatoes, chorizo, mushrooms, roasted onions, and a grilled tomato salsa. Our little one had the granola artesanal — nuts, oats, seeds, honey, and Greek yogurt with fruit. We were all happy with our choices.
Surrounded by fresh bread and pastries, we decided to finish off our meals with some treats. We shared a slice of carrot cake while Marisol enjoyed a mimosa.
One of the best things about Amasa is the bakery. Our server patiently explained all of the fresh breads available that day and pointed out a few cakes and cookies as well. We took home a couple of loaves of bread and some amazing cookies.
Where to Eat in Barrio El Peñón, Cali
Barrio El Peñón, north of Barrio San Antonio, has a few decent restaurants. We didn’t try any of them this time (maybe next visit), but we did pop into a couple of spots for a quick bite.
Clowns Deli
Clowns Deli has three locations in Cali. We visited the one attached to La Tertulia Museum. They have a decent menu, but we only tried a fresh grape smoothie. It was pretty good, though the service was very slow.
Crepes y Waffles
Not technically in El Peñón, this branch of Crepes y Waffles on the ground floor of the Hampton by Hilton Cali is a popular spot for locals. The restaurant has a huge menu with a wide variety of dishes — think the Colombian version of Cheesecake Factory.
We stopped in twice after very long, tiring days, looking for something light for dinner. The vegetable soup and Mexican soup are both good options, while the Caesar salad also fits the bill. The Valparaíso salad, with salmon, quinoa, greens, and an avocado-tomato mixture, is another delicious choice.
Where to Eat in the Historic Center of Cali
There are lots of restaurants in the historic center, but we didn’t notice anything special. That being said, we stopped into two spots out of convenience.
Tarantella
Tarantella is a café on the east end of Bulevar del Río. They serve decent coffee drinks and pastries, along with cold drinks, waffles, and sandwiches. Service is friendly, but it can be a little slow when it’s crowded.
La Plazoleta
Located on Plazoleta Jairo Varela, La Plazoleta is a collection of restaurants, bars, cafés, and sweet shops offering a wide variety of foods.
We sat outside on the ground floor, thinking we could order from any restaurant in the building, but the server could only show us menus from the two restaurants in that section. Already settled in, we decided on a couple of meals from Chiisy. It was a huge mistake — probably the worst spicy chicken sandwich I’ve ever had. Hopefully, there are better restaurants in the building.
Where to Eat in the South of Cali
There are a few decent dining options on the south side of the city.
Litany
Litany is an authentic Lebanese restaurant that brings all the flavors of the Middle East to Cali. We had an excellent meal and were very happy with the service. (Note: Litany has moved from Barrio Granada to the south side of Cali. All photos below are from the former location in Barrio Granada.)
We sat in the cozy dining room, which was quite full. The server happily explained some of the dishes to Marisol, who didn’t have much experience with Lebanese cuisine at the time. There was a great variety of dishes to choose from, which made it difficult to decide what to have for dinner.
After thinking long and hard, we decided to order a bunch of dishes to share. We settled on a kebab plate, chicken and sumac rolls, and a sampler plate that came with fried kibbe, tabbouleh, fattoush salad, falafel, rice, hummus, and stuffed grape leaves. Everything was delicious and full of flavor. The baba ganoush was a bit different than expected — very good, but not what I’m used to, since it was the version made with a tomato base. I had never experienced that before.
We topped off the meal with knafeh and Arabic coffee. It wasn’t like the künefe I’m used to in Turkey, but it was still good.
Llanera & Carbón Parrilla Gourmet
Also on the south side of the city is Llanera & Carbón Parrilla Gourmet, which specializes in carne a la llanera. It’s a lively spot with good service.
We ordered a picada, which featured a mountain of ribs, beef, chorizo, and morcilla (blood sausage) topped with plantain chips and served on a bed of potatoes and yucca. For dessert, I had a brownie with ice cream, which wasn’t anything special.
Sushi Green
Sushi Green is located in the food court of the Jardín Plaza shopping center. They have very good sushi at reasonable prices, but the service was terribly slow — it took over an hour to get just five rolls.
Simón Parrilla
Simón Parrilla serves very good steaks and traditional Colombian food. There are two locations, and we visited the one in the south of the city. The restaurant is in a large wooden building and featured a live band to entertain the diners, starting at around 9pm.
I had a baby beef steak, and Marisol had a churrasco. We both enjoyed our meals very much, but this location is a bit out of the way. It might be worth trying their branch in the northern part of the city, closer to the action.
Where to Eat Elsewhere in Cali
We’ve visited a few spots in the city center, on the east side, and along the road to Dagua.
Mezzina Café
Mezzina Café has no fixed location — the owner sets up at different spots around the city. On most weekends and holidays, you’ll find her at the top of Cerro de las Tres Cruces, serving excellent coffee to hikers. That’s where we got to try it, and it was a rewarding end to a tough hike.
La Cabaña
La Cabaña is a long drive up into the mountains on the road to Buenaventura, but it’s a great place to escape the city’s heat. This traditional Colombian restaurant serves excellent meat and fish dishes at slightly high but reasonable prices. Marisol enjoyed her ajiaco, while I had a succulent baby beef. They also have amazing chorizo.
Epa la Arepa (Permanently Closed)
One night, we had dinner at Epa la Arepa near Marisol’s sister’s house. The menu was full of arepa and patacón dishes, among others. We tried the patacón con todo (patacón with everything), which has several types of meat, guacamole, and salsa. It was delicious, though the patacón was a little overcooked. The restaurant is far from anything worth visiting in Cali, so you probably shouldn’t bother going.
Unique Fruit Drinks in Cali, Colombia
On any visit to Cali, you have to try the city’s unique fruit drinks. You’ll find stands selling them in many plazas and parks, and some are popular all over Colombia as well.
Lulada
Lulada is a popular drink made from the pulp of lulo, a regional fruit that’s very sour but delicious. The drink originated in Cali, though you can find it all over Colombia.
Champús
Champús (or shampús) is another drink made with lulo, along with pineapple, panela, cinnamon, and corn, often topped with a drizzle of condensed milk. It’s popular in southwest Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, though each country has its own variation. It’s quite a combination!
Cholado
Cholado, also called raspado, is a traditional drink that originated in the nearby town of Jamundí. It’s essentially a fruit salad mixed with crushed ice and topped with condensed milk. It can get a little too sweet, but it’s a great treat on a hot day.
