Oct 30, 2024 鈥 9 min read
El Poblado's growing art scene is hard to miss 漏 Jesse Scott / 香港六合彩即时开奖
Dotted with towering brick buildings and a mountainous green backdrop, 惭别诲别濒濒铆苍鈥檚 El Poblado neighborhood is a picture-perfect postcard from any spot in the city.
Beyond its timelessly aesthetic appeal, the affluent barrio has established itself as party central in a city that is becoming more and more beloved as an international destination. Anchored by the effervescent hotspot of , cultural institutions galore and a growingly international culinary space, now is the time for a vivacious El Poblado adventure.
Drinking and dancing in Parque Lleras
Ask any 惭别诲别濒濒铆苍 local where to party and you鈥檒l certainly hear these spots: Parque Lleras, La Setenta, La 33 and Barrio Colombia. Parque Lleras, a stair-filled, tree-covered, tiny park in El Poblado, should always be listed first, as it is the wild epicenter of 惭别诲别濒濒铆苍 nightlife. Quiet by day and a sprawling, thumping zoo by night and through the early morning, the park is lined with restaurants, bars, clubs and everything in between.
For a truly cultural experience, you can鈥檛 go wrong with cracking open an Aguila (staple Colombian beer) or shareable bottle of Aguardiente Antioque帽o at a street-side liquor store. For that, is a prime central spot and its staff is super-welcoming.
When you鈥檙e ready to turn things up a notch (translation: you want a colorful and unique shot), and will get the buzz going. Each of the spots offers liquor shots bedazzled with colorful syrups, whipped cream, gummy animals, spices, creams and more. At Chupitos, while you鈥檙e waiting for your drink to be made, the bartenders like to have some fun, meaning you may be bonked on the head with an inflatable mallet or have a leaf blower blown in your face.
On the club front, is a multifaceted, multicultural gem. Inspired by the movie Scarface, Miami in the mid-80s as well as Cuban and Puerto Rican elements, Bol铆var has a vast dance floor, surrounded by lush greenery, white columns and windows and a retractable roof.
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A far-from-typical shopping experience
Malls are their own cultural experience in Colombia 鈥 in addition to regional and international brands, they are kept pristinely clean and there is typically a larger-than-life display or attraction to experience in each one.
In El Poblado, El Tesoro Parque Comercial and Centro Comercial Santaf茅 are the premier shopping destinations. El Tesoro has more than 400 stores, a massive Afterland arcade/theme park on its top floor and permanent amusement ride area for kids. Santaf茅 also has more than 400 shops, a retractable roof for enjoying the city鈥檚 year-round temps and, often, a central experience of some sort, which in recent times has included a massive ball pit and sandy beach-inspired area.
For local boutiques with goods from Colombian artisans and designers 鈥 spanning clothing, accessories and unique souvenirs 鈥 is the stretch. In addition to this tree-lined street (located one block west of Parque Lleras), you鈥檒l want to weave through the boutiques on the four streets west of Via Primavera for unique finds as well.
Foodie finds with local and international flair
No day in 惭别诲别濒濒铆苍 is complete without an arepa or empanada. And, for the most delightfully crispy empanada in town, is the unassuming destination. Around the clock, this El Poblado walk-up spot is lined with folks spanning full-on families to workers on motorcycles popping by for a bite. To add to the crisp, pile on its homemade spicy 补箩铆 sauce for an extra kick.
On the more elegant front, 惭别诲别濒濒铆苍 culinary institution Carmen celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2019. Offering contemporary cuisine inspired by Colombian ingredients, Carmen鈥檚 dishes feature the freshest of meats, vegetables and specialty cocktails, often incorporating a quaint flower or two on top. Its dark and modern layout make for the perfect date-night or fancy meal before a night out on the town.
For a post-dinner coffee (or morning coffee, for that matter), El Poblado is loaded with specialty coffee destinations offering pour over delights, lattes with Colombian pizzazz and locally curated bites. Memorable cups of joe can always be found at staples Pergamino Caf茅, and .
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El Poblado鈥檚 cultural destinations
From the booming confines of Parque Lleras, 惭别诲别濒濒铆苍鈥檚 hillside castle, Museo el Castillo is a 2.6km (1.6 miles) urban trek south. And, yes, it鈥檚 a literal castle planted in the middle of the city with Gothic architecture, stained glass and prized Colombian antiques throughout. Built in 1930, the castle is open for tours daily (which are in Spanish) and its vast, green grounds make for quite the scenic picnic afterward.
Tucked in the Northwest corner of El Poblado proper is the Museo de Arte Moderno (MAMM). In addition to the museum itself being a work of art 鈥 clad in a mix of concrete, rusted metal and the periodic green plant jutting out 鈥 it houses thousands of contemporary pieces, including more than 250 paintings from famed 惭别诲别濒濒铆苍 native, D茅bora Arango.
Post-museum hit the nearby Mercado del R铆o for a snack, pour over coffee at or full-on meal at one of its nearly 50 internationally inspired stalls, which include a tapas bar, Belgian waffle shop and Indian restaurant.
Tour companies throughout the city are offering more and more 鈥淕raffiti Tour鈥 excursions to 惭别诲别濒濒铆苍鈥檚 emerging hillside barrio, Comuna 13. While certainly a vivid spectacle and memorable trek in itself, there are streets fully painted with one-of-a-kind graffiti art to be found throughout El Poblado.
Among the most perfect streets for that next Insta shot is Carrera 43C between Calles 8 and 9. Your photo opps include a massive 鈥淐alles de 惭别诲别濒濒铆苍鈥 mural and larger-than-life cut-out of the word 鈥湶驯鸹灞鸨舯裘.鈥
Where to stay in 惭别诲别濒濒铆苍
The dark wood-clad Charlee Hotel towers 18 stories over Parque Lleras, offering expansive balconies that overlook the neighborhood, an open-air, first-floor restaurant with a colorful breakfast buffet, trendy rooftop pool/dayclub, and a modern gym on an upper floor that serves guests and health-conscious locals alike.
On the most raucous and loud Parque Lleras nights, you may need some earplugs to catch some z鈥檚, but in terms of location and amenities, Hotel Charlee remains a top choice.
For a slightly quieter upscale option in El Poblado, Click Clack is located three blocks north of Parque Lleras. Its first location 鈥 in Bogot谩 鈥 features a black, cube-y exterior with rooms spanning varying amenities and literal 鈥渟izes,鈥 from a snug XS to massive 2XL.
Its 惭别诲别濒濒铆苍 outfit, which opened in 2019, boasts a similar vibe, including four restaurant concepts spanning a North China street food counter () and the Mediterranean influenced bar.
Amid hostels galore scattered throughout El Poblado鈥檚 hilly confines, Los Patios is the party spot with a view. Its rooftop has panoramic vistas of the 惭别诲别濒濒铆苍 skyline and a popular bar for hotel guests and city-wide visitors. For laptop warriors, there is a coworking space, too.
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Getting to El Poblado
To get to El Poblado from Jos茅 Mar铆a C贸rdova International Airport (MDE), a four-person taxi will cost you approximately 70,000 COP. What was once an incredibly windy, 45-minute mountainous journey, now takes approximately 25 minutes thanks to the new 8.2km Tunel del Oriente that was carved through the mountains and opened in 2019.
Within 惭别诲别濒濒铆苍, El Poblado is accessible via the city鈥檚 sparkling Metro system. A one-way standard trip costs approximately 3,000 COP and connects you with all 惭别诲别濒濒铆苍 has to offer.
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