The uptown El Poblado neighbourhood is located south of Medellin’s city center on the eastern side of the Aburra Valley. It’s undoubtedly Medellin most wealthiest area close to the city center; and with a bit of money you can buy yourself a fancy lifestyle in here. Luxurious apartments with wonderful views are everywhere, and so are yoga studios, tranquil parks, lush avenues, vegan bars, plastic surgery clinics and doggy hairdressers.
Now if you’ve booked your ho(s)tel in here (and trust me, that’s a very fine choice if you like nice restaurants and drinks and want to get home safely), do remark that this area looks nothing like the real Medellin. So don’t stick around the entire time. For the evenings however, the Zona Rosa surrounding Parque Lleras is your absolute place to be with boutique shops, sky bars, cute restaurants and fancy bars. The list of places where to go is endless, but if need a bit of orientation here’s one for starters!
Naan
Personally I’m a great great fan of Indian food and therefore I couldn’t be happier when we discovered Naan. You might need to reserve a spot a day before you plan your visit, especially in the weekends, because this restaurant is packed with Indian food lovers. Dishes include masala, tandoori, samosa, butter chicken, lamb vindaloo and of course naan. You’ll be served several small plates, always a proof that they know what they’re doing in the kitchen.
Carera 35 and 37 for shopping
So this tip is an entire street, or two.. It’s too difficult just to pick out one boutique shop, but Carera 35 and 37 have several nice one’s next to one another. And benches outside for tired boyfriends or dogs. Go to Galeria Diseño for funky presents and clothes, Caduto for leather items, Agua Bendita for more clothes, Ceres, an organic market and health food store or Molina Galería for some art.
Cafe Velvet
Velvet: a comfortable, clean place with chalkboard coffee tables and a cosy atmosphere where they have marvellous coffee and well-trained barista’s. The owners are Belgium, what might explain the love for chocolate deserts and Stella Artois in this place. It’s not just sweet stuff you can get in here, they have a full menu of food as well. A great place to hang out if you’re a digital nomad.
37 Park
Lovely spot for a drink (in between the shopping). The garden is decorated with circus lights and trunk tables, which gives you the feeling you’re joining a picknick or a neighbourhood party. The free popcorn provided with your drink (you have to be lucky for that though) adds up to this feeling. It’s a great place to meet with friends or to enjoy a relaxing moment. They have a lot of comfort food dishes (wood oven pizza’s) and snacks if you don’t want to leave anymore. Dogs are very welcome too.
Burdo
My favourite hipster bar in the area was definitely Burdo. Is a good place to have a fun at any time of the day, for example in the very cozy back patio. They’ve thought about every single detail in here. Thus you’ll encounter a nice vibe, good service, great cocktail bar, excellent snacks (the guacamole!) and meals. All of this for reasonable prices too. What more can I say? This place is a gem.
Pergamino Cafe
A popular cafe amongst both locals and foreigners; Pergamino is your top-notch place if you’re in dire need of some caffeine and sugar. The have wonderful pies in here, so come with a bit of space in your belly to optimally enjoy this hang-out.
Chocolaterie or Me Late Chocolate
More sweets are to be found at both the Chocolaterie and Me Late Chocolate. Handmade truffles, brownies and cookies are seriously too tempting to resist. On a rainy day, what better way than to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and let the busyness of the area slide by in here.
Envy Rooftop Bar or the Delaire Sky Lounge
For post-dinner drinks, head towards one of the rooftop lounges. El Poblado has several, but the Envy Rooftop Bar and Delaire Sky Lounge are some good options. Chill out at the pool at the former or have a late night snack at the latter. Either way you’ll have a lovely evening of staring down on the sparkling lights of Medellin.
