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A Creative’s Guide to Medellín & Cartagena, Curated by Maud Pupato

My recent trip to Colombia unfolded like a creative reset. Taking holidays is always a struggle for me, balancing work in fashion with my artistic practice while actually allowing myself to properly rest. But Colombia felt different from the moment I landed. As someone who tends to travel through aesthetics and atmosphere as much as destinations themselves (cafés I return to every morning, bookstores and museums that shape my understanding of a place, long lunches that turn into dinner, hotels with a strong sense of identity) I immediately felt creatively energized there. I like to think of myself as a kind of “beauty extractor,” constantly searching for light, texture, and radiance, whether through photography, curating objects, or simply observing people and places. But in Colombia, it felt as though the beauty met me first. Everywhere I went, there was color, music, vegetation, craftsmanship, and an incredible visual richness that felt both inspiring and grounding at the same time. My trip spanned Medellín and Cartagena, two cities with completely different energies but a shared warmth and creative spirit. I visited everything from contemporary art spaces and Brutalist architecture in Medellín to boutique hotels, Caribbean cocktail bars, and beautifully made objects in Cartagena. Colombia is a destination that rewards curiosity and slowness, where the best moments often happen somewhere between plans.

Portrait of Maud PupatoMaud Pupato
A Creative’s Guide to Medellín & Cartagena, Curated by Maud Pupato

Stop 1: Medellín

Medellín feels layered in a way that’s difficult to explain until you’re there. The city balances greenery with Brutalist architecture, intensity with softness, and a constant creative energy. For first-time visitors, El Poblado and Manila are the easiest neighborhoods to base yourself in: walkable, full of cafés and restaurants, and well connected to the rest of the city.

Click Clack Hotel

Click Clack Hotel · Medellín

Where To Stay

• Click Clack Hotel: Sleek, social, and design-forward, with a rooftop pool that becomes essential after long humid afternoons walking through the city. Also, a very delicious breakfast! • Moabi Hotel: A great option for shorter stays. It’s quieter, more affordable, and has a great location.

Cafe Dragon

Cafe Dragon · Medellín

Where to Eat & Drink

The first thing I do in any new city is scout the coffee shop I will go to each morning. Even for three days, I like to create a habit. These were my favorite cafes and restaurants in Medellín, which has a particularly booming food scene right now. • Simón Coffee: A small, understated spot ideal for slow mornings and reading. This is where I spent an hour each morning (with a matcha latte… I don’t drink coffee, a frustration in Colombia!) • Hija Mia: Great for brunch. Perfect eggs! • Café Dragon: Another brunch favorite. I loved the beetroot salad with sesame crackers here. • Casa El Ramal: A top dinner rec for its candlelit interiors and beautifully executed, vegetable-forward dishes (fennel starter and chocolate cake dessert were my highlights). • Sambombi Bistro Local: One of the city’s top spots for seafood, with excellent ceviche and sashimi. • Carmen: The coolest see-and-be-seen spot right now. Refined, local food (the empanadas are the signature dish), great for a date or solo dinner at the bar. • Susurro: Super cool, dimly lit bar and restaurant. Ideal for drinks and snacks. • Mala Audio Bar: A nighttime stop for vinyl sets and mezcal cocktails. • Amor-Acuya Gelato: For ice cream!

Tigre de Salón | Medellín

Tigre de Salón | Medellín · Medellín

Where to Shop & Explore

Creativity feels embedded into everyday life in Medellín. These were the spots I loved the most: • Medellin Modern Art Museum: My personal favorite, combining sharp contemporary architecture with a strong curation of artists. • Tigre de Salón: A beautiful stop for locally made clothing, accessories, and objects crafted from raw natural materials. • The Museum of Antioquia: Essential for understanding Medellín’s cultural history, particularly its Botero collection and the monumental sculptures surrounding Plaza Botero. • NNT Lab: For fragrances inspired by Colombia’s landscapes (the Bogota and Rose scents were my favorites).

Stop 2: Cartagena

Cartagena feels completely different from Medellín—softer, slower, more Caribbean. Life spills into the streets here. Music drifts through open windows, dinners stretch late, and every building feels impossibly colorful.

Hotel Boutique Patio Corao

Hotel Boutique Patio Corao · Cartagena

Where To Stay

• Patio Corao: Beautiful, central stay with colonial architecture. It’s intimate and calm despite its central location. • Sofitel Santa Clara: For something more grand (and less intimate). Worth visiting for drinks or dinner in the courtyard even if you’re not staying there.

Restaurante Juan del Mar

Restaurante Juan del Mar · Cartagena

Where to Eat & Drink

• La Manchuria: For coffee! • La Cevichería: A seafood classic. Go for lunch and don’t skip the lobster ceviche. • La Cocina de Pepina: The place to go for deeply comforting Colombian cooking. And excellent fruit drinks—the coconut and passion fruit smoothie was incredible. • Salón Tropical: This lively dinner spot serves Argentinian meat and has a vibrant Caribbean energy. • Juan del Mar: Ideal for a group dinner with live music. Order the octopus! • El Barón: A top pick to experience Cartagena’s rich nightlife, with the best craft cocktails.

Monumento Torre del Reloj

Monumento Torre del Reloj · Cartagena

Where to Shop

There are lots of places to browse, but these were my top spots for souvenirs to bring home: • Artesanías de Colombia: For woven raffia pieces, baskets, fans, and locally made objects. • Torre del Reloj: This city-center square has many bookstores to browse for titles on Colombian architecture, photography, and literature.

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