Looking for the best restaurants in Laureles?
Whether it’s the best international or Colombian restaurants in Laureles, in this article, we cover all the good places and recommend the food you might want to order.
In the first part of this article, we cover Colombian restaurants, and in the second part, we cover all the other restaurants.
Feel free to navigate to your preferred section by tapping on one of the green links.
With that being said, let’s jump to our recommendations.
The best Colombian restaurants in Laureles are:
1. Mondongo’s
Listed in many other articles we wrote, including the best restaurants in Medellin, this place is perhaps the most famous restaurant in the city.
As the name suggests, it’s specialized in serving Mondongo, a typical soup from Antioquia, of which Medellin is part.
There are two branches to be found and one is a restaurant in Laureles.
Compared to the one in El Poblado, this branch attracts slightly fewer foreigners.
As mentioned, it is a famous restaurant.
In fact, both branches have a Wall of Fame, full of pictures of Colombian and international celebrities who sometimes just travel to enjoy the soup.
You can imagine that this place is always busy, but luckily, the staff is well-trained and even though you might have to wait in line, you will have a table within ten minutes and have your food in front of you not much longer.
Highlights are the previously mentioned Mondongo (26,000 + COP), which is a must-order, but the Ajiaco (29,500 + COP), another typical Colombian soup, is excellent as well.
It is perhaps the tastiest soup I’ve tried in Medellin.
Another bestseller is their version of the Bandeja Paisa (39,500 COP), and contrary to many other places, the Paisa platter is not that huge.
It’s still enough to fill an adult’s empty stomach, but I’ve seen much bigger Bandeja Paisas.
Simply put this way: when you visit Medellin, you must visit Mondongo.
You can find Mondongo’s listed in our article about the best Mondongo in Medellin as well.
Mondongo (26,500 COP)
Ajiaco (29,500 COP)
Tipico Antioqueño (39,500 COP)
2. Restaurante El Mejor Sabor del Cariben
For those who did not notice, Colombian gastronomy is pretty heavy.
Large plates full of meat, high in carbs such as white rice and roast potatoes, and the snacks are often deep-fried.
One part of Colombian cuisine is not so heavy, the Caribbean region, and in Laureles, you can find an authentic, local restaurant that serves that typical coastal food, which is perfect when you want to eat something lighter.
There are two dishes in Caribbean cuisine that we love and these classic dishes can always be found at Colombian coastal restaurants, namely the Pescado Frito (50,000 COP) and the Cazuela de Mariscos (40,000 COP).
A Pescado Frito is a deep-fried fish served with typical Caribbean coconut rice, Patacones and a salsa.
The fish is carved in a way that you can eat the fish the Colombian way: with your bare hands.
Don’t try to eat it with a fork and knife because other guests will stare at you.
The Cazuela de Mariscos is a seafood casserole, richly flavoured with coconut cream.
At Restaurante El Mejor Sabor del Cariben, the Cazuela de Mariscos is served au gratin, which is a version that you sometimes see at seafood restaurants.
Restaurante El Mejor Sabor del Cariben is also listed in our article about the best Colombian coastal restaurants in Medellin.
Pescado Frito (50,000 COP)
Cazuela de Mariscos (40,000 COP)
3. Mi Arepa
Arepas are one of the major parts of Colombian gastronomy.
It’s eaten every single day as a side dish or stand-alone dish.
Each region uses its own local ingredients to create its version of the arepa, some with success, some are slightly boring and bland.
When that’s the case, you can always fall back on restaurants like Mi Arepa, who bring arepas to the whole next level.
The large arepas are used as pita bread and then stuffed with all the deliciousness they can get their hands on.
And as we are in Medellin, we should order the Arepa A La Casa (16,500 COP), which is packed with typical Paisa ingredients such as Chicharron (pork belly), shredded meat, and beans along with avocado and a homemade dressing.
For meat lovers, check out their Arepa Ranchera (14,500 COP), which is stuffed with all sorts of sausages, Chicharron and that heavenly homemade sauce.
Mi Arepa is a perfect example that good food does not always have to costs much and that there are plenty of not-too-fancy restaurants in Laurels to be found.
This restaurant is also listed in our article about the best Arepas in Medellin, where you can find another great Arepa restaurant in Laureles.
Arepa Ranchera (14,500 COP) & Arepa A La Casa (16,500 COP)
Arepa Ranchera (14,500 COP)
4. Empanadas Boomerang
Empanadas Boomerang is another affordable restaurant in Laureles that has quite the fame.
It is the most popular empanada shop in the city.
The menu is limited as it offers a handful of typical Colombian snacks.
Aside from their tasty Empanadas (2,100 COP), which are richly filled with shredded meat and perfectly seasoned, the Pastel de Pollo (3,000 COP) is highly recommended as well.
What sets the Empanadas apart from other restaurants is that the Empanadas are perfectly crisp, not too greasy and the filling is spot on.
Also, the Aji, the dip with which Empanadas are served, is pretty spicy.
That is something we really appreciate, although there are plenty of other non-spicy sauces to choose from.
Empanadas Boomerang is also listed in our article about the best Empanadas in Medellin, for obvious reasons.
Empanadas only cost 2,100 COP per piece.
Pastel de Pollo (3,100 COP)
Spicy Aji, to make the Empanadas even tastier!
5. Narcobollo
Narcobollo is quite an interesting place to discover typical coastal dishes.
It’s mainly a restaurant to get coastal breakfast and many fried dishes are available such as empanadas, caribañolas, and arepas.
You can also choose typical food at the counter, which is a form of menu del dia (food of the day).
The food from the counter changes regularly, so it’s a bit difficult to recommend specific dishes.
But you simply choose what you’d like to have on your plate.
You can also choose from a small selection of a la carte options.
Typical rice dishes such as Arroz con Pollo are available but also soups and sanchochos.
As you can expect, there are several seafood dishes available, of which most of them are fried fish or fish in cream sauce.
For me personally, the Posta Cartagenera (26,000 COP) was a super tasty option and it’s one of the few typical coastal dishes that’s made from beef.
If you’re up for something unique, go for the Cayeye (8,000 COP).
This is a sweet breakfast option typical from the coast and is made from banana and butter and cheese is added to it.
Overall, Narcobollo is considered a budget-friendly restaurant.
Thanks to its prime location and its reasonably-priced food, it’s a tremendously popular place, especially in the morning.
You can find Narcobollo in the heart of Laureles.
Cayeye (8,000 COP)
Posta Cartagenera (26,000 COP)
The best international restaurants in Laureles are:
6. Rocoto
Rocoto is a trendy restaurant in Laureles that serves exciting Peruvian food.
The Peruvian gastronomy is known for its sourness with Ceviche as one of the stand-out dishes.
Visiting Rocoto is a real treat for your taste palette and contrary to Colombian gastronomy, the food is much lighter and therefore a great alternative.
The menu of Rocoto is extensive and when you don’t have the knowledge, it might be a bit challenging to find a dish that suits you.
And honestly, the dishes displayed on the menu all look spectacular and tasty.
Luckily, we have plenty of recommendations for you to try out.
Exciting Peruvian food at Rocoto.
One of the best dishes they serve at Rocoto – in our opinion – is in fact a starter, namely the Tiradito Furikaka (21,500 COP).
Slices of fresh fish are covered in homemade citrus mayonnaise and – this is the best part – topped with crispy salmon skin.
Like many dishes at Rocoto, this starter is high in sourness, but the mayonnaise does a great job balancing it.
Tiradito Furikaka (21,500 COP) with cocktails
There are several types of Ceviche available, and one of the bestsellers is the Tradicional de Maricsos (38,900 COP).
Chunks of fresh fish, squid, and prawns are bathed in sourness and accompanied by mango, onion, and avocado.
To give it some crunch, some crispy calamari is added to it as well.
Simply flawless.
If you want to try something completely different when it comes to Ceviche, we recommend you try the Ceviche Saltado (41,900 COP).
A plate with chunks of white fish, calamari, and mussels served in a creamy sauce accompanied by yucca, avocado and Peviuvian creole sauce.
This is a much heartier Ceviche than what we’re used to.
Again, the sauce is high in sourness but seriously tasty.
Ceviche Saltado (41,900 COP)
Ceviche Tradicional de Maricsos (38,900 COP)
If you’re more into savoury and don’t appreciate the sourness that much, the Arroz Norteño (35,900+ COP) is a tasty option.
A plate full of sauteed rice, veggies and coriander sauce.
You can choose between prawns and chicken.
It’s a very comforting dish that has some similarities with Paella.
Make sure to leave some room for dessert.
The Spring Rolls (18,000 COP) is tasty and are a dessert that everyone loves (the spring rolls are filled with chocolate).
For a lighter, more exciting dessert, go for the Supriro Rocoto (14,500 COP), which is a cream that’s based on Arequipe accompanied by meringues and strawberries.
There is also a cocktail available Chicha Morada (14,000 COP), which is a typical, non-alcohol Peruvian drink made with a certain type of corn that’s imported from Peru.
Rocoto is the only restaurant in Medellin that serve it with Peruvian corn.
The stunning-looking dishes, the quality of the ingredients, and the fact that the food is not crazy expensive make it one of our favourite restaurants in Medellin.
Arroz Norteño (35,900+ COP)
Spring Rolls (18,000 COP)
Supriro Rocoto (14,500 COP)
7. Delirio Exquisito
This restaurant is absolutely worth considering as it serves quite some unique dishes that you won’t find elsewhere in the city.
Delirio Exquisito namely serves Mexican and Asian fusion dishes, although there are several classic Tex-Mex dishes available on the menu as well.
This is quite a unique combination, bringing these two popular cuisines together.
When visiting the restaurant, the majority of the customers do opt for classics like nachos and burritos, however, we believe that you should go out of your comfort zone and choose the more unique dishes available on the menu.
I mean, you can get nachos everywhere in the city, but there are some options that are one of a kind.
There are twelve different types of tacos on the menu and the Tempura Tacos (33,900 COP) caught my attention from the start.
Two seaweed tacos are covered in Parmesan tempura and stuffed with deep-fried tilapia.
Then, guacamole, sour cream, and teriyaki sauce are added and the result is one super crispy taco with a Mexican and Asian flavour explosion.
The signature Delirio’s Quesadilla (36,900) is yet another example of what fusion dishes can do.
Flour tortillas are stuffed with salmon and sauteed shrimp and covered in an Asian curry sauce.
Absolutely divine.
There is a section with so-called bowls, which vary from typical Mexican bowls to fusion bowls with creations that go beyond imagination.
But if you’re looking for classic Mexican dishes or classic Asian dishes, they are available too.
The Salmón Garrapiñado (44,900 COP) for example, is highly recommended too!
Delirio Exquisito has two branches in Medellin, namely one in Laureles and the other one in Provenza.
The restaurant is a more upscale concept, especially compared to the other restaurants recommended in this article.
But in return, you will taste food that you won’t taste elsewhere in Medellin.
Tempura Tacos (33,900 COP)
Delirio’s Quesadilla (36,900)
Salmón Garrapiñado (44,900 COP)
8. La Pampa – Parrilla Argentina
La Pampa is a successful company with several restaurants in the city.
Within the company, there are several different types of restaurants.
La Pampa – Parrilla Argentina is one of these types and serves authentic Argentinian food with two restaurants in Laureles, namely one near Segundo Parque and one at Av Jardin.
In our article about the best restaurants in Medellin, we dive much deeper into the food, but obviously, we will tell you a bit more about the recommendations.
Impressive food at La Pampa Parrilla Argentina
When you visit an Argentinian restaurant, one of the no-brainers is to order loads of meat.
We highly recommend you order either the Bondiola (48,500 COP), which are two 24-hour slow roast pork steaks, or the Churrasco (48,500 COP), which is a super tender beef steak served with chimichurri.
The ribs, which are called Las Mejores Costillas de la Pampa (48,000 COP), are seriously tasty as well.
All these recommended dishes are huge and served with plenty of crispy fries.
Do try to save some room for Argentinian dessert though and go for their Alfajor Argentino (9,400 COP).
The dessert is made with a typical Argentinian cookie.
There is a good reason why La Pampa – Parilla Argentina always has customers, even on a Monday afternoon, and that’s because they serve good quality, tasty food that won’t break your bank as a foreigner.
Bondiola (48,500 COP) left, Churrasco (48,500 COP) right
Chimichurri
Las Mejores Costillas de la Pampa (48,000 COP)
La Pampa – Parrilla Argentine has two restaurants in Laureles. You can find more information on their official website.
Promotion: by showing this page to one of the branches of La Pampa (either El Piqueteadero de La Pampa, La Pampa Parilla Argentina and Kabuki) you receive a 10% discount on your bill.
Valid from Thursday to Sunday.
9. Olivia Pizzería – Laureles
Olivia Pizzería is yet another popular franchise with a restaurant in Laureles.
Similar to the other franchise restaurants, Olivia deserves the credit as it does a few things very well.
First and most important, the food is excellent.
When you’re craving Italian food, always keep Olivia in mind as an option as well.
Secondly, the restaurants look beautiful and inviting, an excellent place to dine with family and friends.
Lastly, the staff does an excellent job so you have an amazing afternoon or evening.
The menu at Olivia is huge, as you can basically order any type of Italian food.
From antipasto to pizzas, pasta, lasagnas and risottos, there is a tasty option for any type of eater.
The pizzas, which is one of the reasons why people come to dine here, can be ordered with three different pizza bottoms, namely Napolitana, Romana and Keto and there are plenty of toppings to choose from ranging between 25,000 COP and 40,000 COP.
For us, there was one that completely stood out from the rest: Burratta & Tomates Confitados (39,900 COP).
Olivia is also listed in our article about the best Pizza in Medellin.
Aside from Pizza, we recommend you try their Lasagna Mix with Pesto Bread (25,900 COP), Galetta Macadamia (13,900 COP) and Espinaca y Ricotta (17,900), but we are sure there are many other tasty Italian dishes to discover.
Espinaca y Ricotta (17,900)
Lasagna Mix with Pesto Bread (25,900 COP)
Burratta & Tomates Confitados (39,900 COP)
10. El Piqueteadero de La Pampa
As mentioned earlier, within the La Pampa franchise, there are different cuisines to be found.
Another highly recommended restaurant in Laureles is El Piqueteadero de La Pampa.
While La Pampa – Parrilla Argentina solely focus on authentic Argentinian dishes, El Piqueteadero de La Pampa serves fusion Argentinian dishes as well as burgers, Tex-Mex and Italian comfort foods.
Think of tacos, nachos, Italian meatballs, but also Argentinian dishes that are mixed with Colombian ingredients.
With this approach, El Piqueteadero de La Pampa offers a broader menu that’s ideal for the Western taste palate.
But signature meat dishes such as the Churrasco (48,500 COP) and Bondiola (48,500 COP) are still available.
Food that everyone just simply loves!
So, what do we recommend you try?
First of all, the Tacos el Aventurero (32,400 COP) are a great way to start your dinner.
The pork belly is nicely sweet and salty and the tacos have a slightly sour salsa.
Another amazing dish to try is the Ceviche de Chicharron (19,300 COP), which is a nacho dish with Colombian Ceviche de Chicharron (deep-fried pork belly).
Something completely different, but perhaps the star of the show: Albondiguitas de Lomo de Cerdo (17,200 COP), which are Italian meatballs in tomato sauce.
The meatballs are crispy on the outside and well-flavoured.
Albondiguitas de Lomo de Cerdo (17,200 COP)
Tacos el Aventurero (32,400 COP)
Ceviche de Chicharron (19,300 COP)
For meat lovers, there is a signature pork dish that’s only available at El Piqueteadero de La Pampa: Cochinillo a Las Leñas (48,500 COP), which is a 10-hour slow roast suckling pig from the firewood.
As you can see, there is a tasty option for every type of eater.
Cochinillo a Las Leñas (48,500 COP)
Promotion: by showing this page to one of the branches of La Pampa (either El Piqueteadero de La Pampa, La Pampa Parilla Argentina and Kabuki) you receive a 10% discount on your bill.
Valid from Thursday to Sunday.
11. Chef Burger – Laureles
Listed in several of our other articles, including the best restaurants in Poblado, Chef Burger is an institution when it comes to burgers.
The reason why Chef Burger is listed in other articles is that this burger company has sixteen locations, meaning that they do something extraordinarily well.
What we like about Chef Burger is that the burgers they serve are not too complicated and most of the focus lies on the juicy, 150-gram, thick patty.
Guests can choose whether their burger should be medium or well-done, which is a good detail.
One of our favourite burgers is the La Sailor (29,900 COP), which is basically luxurious cheese and bacon burger with caramelized onion and special barbecue sauce.
For a more classic approach, order the Cheese and Bacon (25,900 COP), as you can’t go wrong with that burger.
My personal favourite is the Blue Cheese (27,900 COP), especially when the patty is cooked medium-rare, and the blue cheese sausage with the caramelized onions and champignons comes to its right.
One last piece of advice: as a side dish, stick to the rustic fries.
These are much tastier than regular fries.
Chef Burger is obviously listed in our article about the best burgers in Medellin as well.
Cheese and Bacon (25,900 COP)
La Sailor (29,900 COP)
Blue Cheese (27,500 COP)
12. Sushi Light – Laureles Branch
Sushi lovers, pay attention. Located right in the centre of Laureles at Segundo Parque de Laureles, you can find one of the better sushi restaurants in town, namely Sushi Light.
The menu is broader than Japanese food alone, but the main reason why people visit one of the branches, including the one at Laureles, is because of the sushi.
Large rolls go for around 30,000 COP, which is the standard price in Medellin, but they do have some sweet promotions during the weekdays and if you check their social media accounts, you might be right on time for an all-you-can-eat promotion.
The branch in Laureles is located inside a larger building where other shops and restaurants are located and even a hotel.
The restaurant has all the modern looks and the staff is adequate and friendly.
But most importantly, the sushi rolls taste excellent.
While a Japanese might have doubts about the authenticity, which applies to sushi restaurants in Medellin, you will leave this restaurant completely satisfied.
Our personal favourites were the Urano Roll (31,900 COP) and Salmon Crunch (29,900 COP).
When ordering the latter, the staff will use a blowtorch to grill the cream sauce and top this deliciousness with a good shot of soy sauce.
For me personally, the Epi Tempura (30,900 COP) was excellent, although I wished they had a version with tuna in it.
Sushi Light is an excellent place for sushi lovers!
13. Ammazza
Ammazza is a popular up-scale Italian eatery with three different branches in the city, including one restaurant in Laureles.
The restaurant has a trendy interior and is your go-to for a good variety of typical Italian dishes, although the menu is not as extensive as the previously recommended Olivia’s.
Ammazza is particularly known for its pizzas and risottos, although pasta is quite popular as well.
What makes the pizza so special is that the pizza has a thin and super crispy crust, something we haven’t seen before.
For that specific reason, and of course that the pizza tastes delicious, we also added Ammazza to our article about the best pizza in Medellin.
During our visit, we opted for the Pizza Jamón y Pimientos Asados (36,500 COP), which tastes absolutely tasty.
All the popular pizza toppings are available and guests can expect to pay between 30,000 and 40,000 COP per pizza.
There are two other dishes that we highly recommend you try.
The first one is a starter, namely the Albóndigas Italianas (26,900 COP), which are three large Italian meatballs covered in tomato and cheese sauce.
The meatballs are served with bread, which you can dip in the sauce.
Don’t be afraid to order some extra bread as the sauce comes in large portions.
The other dish we recommend is a risotto, namely Risotto Solomito y Vino Tinto (43,500 COP), which is a rich risotto finished with red wine and served with mushrooms, a variety of nuts, and of course entrecote.
The beef is cooked to your preference and in our case, it was well done.
The quality of the beef was excellent and beef lovers will surely enjoy a medium-rare version of it.
Pizza Jamón y Pimientos Asados (36,500 COP)
Albóndigas Italianas (26,900 COP)
Risotto Solomitoy Vino Tinto (43,500 COP)
Risotto Solomitoy Vino Tinto (43,500 COP)
14. Bárbaro Cocina Primitiva
Bárbaro Cocina Primitiva is your go-to restaurant when you’re craving meat and fries.
Although the menu is more extensive than that, the main reason why people visit this place is because of the meat.
Ribs that fall right off the bone are accompanied by perfect fries with plenty of sauces.
Or a steak that’s cooked to perfection and seasoned flawlessly.
If that sounds delicious to you, then Bárbaro Conina Primitiva is probably the best option you have in this part of Medellin.
Nachos Pulled Pork (37,900 COP) and Pork Belly Rostizado (36,900 COP) are examples of popular starters while the Costillas Bárbaro (61,900 COP) and Bife al Barril (62,900 COP) are popular mains.
It doesn’t make any sense to visit this place if you don’t like meat.
If you don’t like red meat, though, there are definitely alternatives including their Suprema de Pollo (43,900 COP).
Aside from a restaurant in Laureles, they also have a branch in Provenza and that’s always a good indication that the restaurant is doing a great job.
Costillas Bárbaro (61,900 COP)
Bife al Barril (62,900 COP)
15. Milagros
Laureles is home to many Mexican restaurants and one of our personal favourites is Milagros.
This beautifully decorated restaurant serves Tex-Mex food and attracts many customers on a daily basis.
Especially during the weekends, this place is completely packed.
It’s an ideal place for food sharing, sipping Margaritas, and having quality time with friends and family.
Popular options such as Chili Con Carne (27,900 COP), Philly Cheese Burrito (47,900 COP), and Callejero Tacos (33,900 COP) are ordered frequently, but most visitors try one of their sharing platters where you can build your own tacos.
Sharing platters for two persons start from 64,900 COP while the sharing platters for five persons start from 153,900 COP.
Milagros is also listed in our article about the best Mexican restaurants in Medellin.
Sharing platters at Milagros.
Further relevant food articles about Medellin:
This article will be updated in the upcoming weeks and many more of the best restaurants in Laureles Medellin will be added soon.