5 Restaurants With Great Cocktail Menus in Medellin

TLDR? Locals in Medellin love partying, and this city has a long list of restaurants with delicious cocktail menus. 

Nightlife and partying are two must-try experiences in Medellin. And, when you visit the clubs, you’ve got to know what drink to order!

Alternatively, if you’re just after a sit-down place where you can enjoy some authentic Colombian cuisine, you might as well pair it with some authentic Colombian booze. 

To help you have the best night out possible, we’ve put together a guide to some of the best cocktail menus in the City of Eternal Spring. Here are some great places to get your night started!

Alambique

Alambique is a rooftop bar near Parque Lleras. It’s located right above an art gallery with a casual garden style and wooden interior. 

If you want to unwind and chill, Alambique is the perfect place to go. Its homey and cozy vibes make this rooftop bar a classic place for relaxation. 

Alambique serves different cocktails with outstanding flavors. Ask the staff for the menu, and you’ll be greeted by a wide range of options to choose from. Pair Alambique’s cocktails with their best-selling octopus carpaccio, roast potatoes, and pork with raspberries. 

In terms of what’s on the drinks menu, you can choose from a section of traditional cocktails such as martinis, mojitos, and margaritas. There’s also a section of house cocktails, such as the Aurora Boreal, Popol Vuh, and Medellin Guarapo.

I recommend taking a look at its variety of wines, sangrias, gin and tonics, beers, and different types of liqueur. They’re all perfect to pair with your main course.

What makes the cocktails in this rooftop bar unique are the flower garnishes. You’ll love the fragrant smell infused right in your alcoholic yet tasty drink! And if you visit Alambique on Thursdays or Saturdays, you can experience listening to live musical groups.

The only challenge you might face is finding the place. It’s located in a more secluded part of Medellin, and there are no signs or directions on the road. 

You’ll find small, light-blue double doors on a fairly busy street. Behind those doors is a staircase that leads to the art gallery. Take the stairs and go up some more until you reach Alambique. 

Address: Carrera 41 #10-6, El Poblado, Medellín

Website: http://www.alambiquemedellin.com/ 

Envy

Another famous rooftop bar that exudes luxury and elegance is Envy. You’ll find most of the Medellin A-listers partying their hearts out in this spot! 

The bar is located right in the middle of Parque Lleras, and it draws the attention of passers-by on the streets below. When you’re at Envy, it’s like looking down on the entire Medellin. After all, it’s 18 floors up!

Envy also features a neon-lit swimming pool to keep up with the rooftop bar’s vibes. And because it’s a bar, envy has a long list of cocktails you should not miss out on. 

Try out Envy’s unique twist to pisco sours and Manhattans. Or, be bold enough to try this bar’s own fusion of cocktail flavors with one of their house drinks.

If you want extra entertainment, Wednesdays are meant for salsa nights. They’re the best days to meet locals and make new friends! I also recommend you check their social media from time to time, where they announce their brunch days or special guests with special prices on their cocktail menu.

The best time to visit this place? Head over to Envy from sunset until dawn. You’ll admire the beautiful view of the Medellin sun setting. 

Just keep in mind that the use of the pool is exclusive for hotel guests. However, you can attend one of their brunch events or meetings where the pool is open to the public.

Address: Calle 9A #37-18, El Poblado, Medellín

Carmen Restaurant

While Carmen is famous for its tasting menu, it also offers a unique collection of handcrafted cocktails. This restaurant is right in the heart of El Poblado and has been Medellin’s best restaurant for more than ten years. 

The style of their dishes and cocktails is contemporary, and they use fresh ingredients from different regions of Colombia. All of this results in creative and delicious dishes that have made Carmen one of the favorite spots for foreigners to grab a meal or a drink.

Carmen features various dishes to satisfy your palette. And because it’s famous for its tasting menu, this restaurant guarantees each dish has locally sourced ingredients. Plus, these ingredients are combined using authentic Colombian culinary techniques. 

Its menu of seasonal cocktails is exotic and interesting. Some of its most popular cocktails are the Viejo San Rafa, Zombie, Pepino Vesper, and La Chicha.

My personal favorite, however, is El Puro. This drink is a blend of Chivas Extra 13, blended malt, Campari, orange marmalade, tobacco, and cocoa bitters.

Don’t forget to pair your cocktail with something from the appetizer menu. I loved the Coctel Cartagenero to accompany my El Puro cocktail. It’s a kind of ceviche made of octopus, shrimp, line-caught white fish, coastal palm berries, and rice “saltines.”

Address: Carrera 36 # 10A-27 El Poblado, Medellín, Colombia

Website: https://www.carmenmedellin.com/en/# 

Panorama

Another stylish rooftop bar with a view is Panorama. It’s right in Laureles and features a homey appearance with enough greenery to make the place look mysterious. There’s also a Panorama venue in Provenza, so you can choose the one closest to where you’re staying. 

If you check out this place on weekend nights, you can listen to live salsa music. Dance the night away while sipping this bar’s craft cocktails or sangria. Speaking of the sangria, Panorama serves sangria with a free popsicle inside the glass. It’s an entirely different drinking experience! 

On their menu, they offer signature cocktails, traditional cocktails, and cocktails without liquor. So, there really is something for everyone. If you want to try their signature cocktail, go for Panorama’s gin and tonic with fresh herbs on the side. 

Another recommendation is the Malawi. This is a refreshing cocktail with a tropical touch thanks to its mixture of wild turkey (whiskey), lemon, mint, blueberries, and lemonade.

Address: Carrera 73 con circular #3-8, Los Laureles, Medellín

Calle 9 + 1

Calle 9 + 1 is a hipster late-night bar that deserves a spot on your itinerary. It’s also right in the watering hole of Parque Lleras and always gets packed, especially around midnight. 

If you’re visiting this place, I recommend going at about 11 pm. In the covered courtyardm you can listen to various tracks, including the best funky and pop songs of the 1980s. 

The most you can hear on their party nights is underground house & disco music. Drag shows and DJ performances also make this nightclub a favorite spot for its chill atmosphere and diverse cocktail menu.

In Calle 9+1, you’ll find a cocktail menu for lower budgets, too. Try this bar’s signature cocktails, especially the best-selling frosty mojito, which they can also turn into a frappe.

Address: Cl 10 #40-10, El Poblado, Medellín, Antioquia

Tips on What to Drink in Medellin

In any of these places, the cocktail menu can be overwhelming. But, don’t let doubt stop you from a fun night tasting something new!

Here are a couple of drinks that you can order while in Medellin if you ever get stuck staring at the menu.

Colombia

This is a very patriotic drink since the cocktail has the colors of the Colombian flag. It’s also a pretty strong beverage! But, its fruity flavor mixed with vodka makes it pretty easy to sip on.

Refajo

This drink is a mix of aguardiente, beer, and Colombian cola. You can also decide to try the original recipe, which only is just a mix of beer and Colombian soda.

Canelazo

By far, one of the most typical cocktails in Colombia that you can try, with or without alcohol, is the canelazo. Its main ingredients are cinnamon, water, and sugar, but you can spice the things up with some aguardiente.

Some people also add more fruit or rum instead of aguardiente. It’s usually a hot drink, so it’s perfect for one of Medellin’s rainy days.

Aguardiente Sour

Similar to a pisco sour, an aguardiente sour is a softer cocktail that combines the acidity of lemon with ingredients such as gum syrup and egg white. It’s perfect for those who don’t like dry liquor.

End Your Day with the Best Cocktails in Medellin

After a long tiring day at work, you deserve some cocktails. Luckily, Medellin has famous bars and hang-out spots perfect for unwinding and grabbing some great drinks. 

Be sure to check some of these spots out and decide for yourself what the best cocktail bar is in the city!

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