I spent the entire month of March in my hometown, Barranquilla, and it was amazing. While I go back often (sometimes twice a year), it is always around the holidays, a season that is always hectic and packed with activities. This time around, however, I was able to flow every day and actually have quality time and deep conversations with some of my dearest friends.
When talking with these friends, we often got to the topic of telework and how it could feel very isolating at times, even though life has mostly gone back to normal. That feeling, added to the amount of new places that have opened in Barranquilla, led me to think that it would be great to break my friends' routines for a bit and take them to work with me all over the city. The idea was to visit cafés that were relatively new or unknown and see if they worked for a busy afternoon of to-dos (and catch up).
So, without further ado, these are the places we discovered together to much (positive) surprise:
1 - Maglia Rosa: This small café in the Northern part of the city owes its name to the pink jersey worn by the winner of the Giro d'Italia. So, if you look carefully, you will find subtle references to Italy and biking, from posters to tiny decor items referencing this sport.
The furniture is beautiful and inviting, and although the place is small, it does not get packed in the afternoons. In addition, other things that made an impression were its fantastic soundtrack and the high-quality internet.
When it comes to food and coffee, the place does not disappoint. Me and my friend ordered the "cappuccino escarchado", which had an oreo and arequipe (our version of dulce de leche or caramel) rim, allowing for a crunchy and sweet addition to the drink. We also tried the "deditos de queso" (cheese fingers), which we found very tasty.
2- La Casa en el Cielo: This place surprised me greatly, as I went without references or expectations, and ended up discovering the best café in Barranquilla.
It is located inside a pretty house and, from the outside, we could not make up a picture of how the place looked. So, once someone let us in, we were surprised by a minimalistic and sober ambiance that truly invited us to be productive: the music was not too loud, the wifi worked perfectly, and there were other people working but it was super quiet (this changed as the afternoon progressed, in a good way).
I was surprised further when I saw the menu and found the most extensive list I had seen in my city, which featured coffee from different regions and in a wide range of preparations. I went for the crema de café, a drink I had only ever found in Italy, and I was ecstatic when the flavor was as smooth and delicately sweet as the original. My friend ordered a cappuccino that she also raved about. In short: don't walk, run to this place!
3- El Diario: El Diario is a rather recent addition to the Barranquilla coffee scene, and one I was dying to visit since I first saw it on Instagram, probably back in 2021.
I really liked the decoration on the indoors area, which featured plenty of plants and details reminiscent of the Colombia coffee region. Outside, there is a big terrace with plenty of shade, perfect for meetings or more private conversations once the sun is coming down.
One thing that surprised me is that this place was the only one I visited - in Barranquilla or in any other place in US - that charged for "teleworking". They had a rule about the minimum amount you had to order in order to be exempt of that charge, which is definitely disruptive and compromises the amount of time you are willing to spend there.
On a positive note, I must mention that I tried the "Deditos Olaya" and they were fantastic. One takeaways from this café-hopping experience is that definitely deditos are the best afternoon snack.
4- Meira: This café is located in the gorgeous and relatively new Marriott Hotel, and it was named after Meira del Mar, one of the most famous poets in Colombia. I had visited before for leisure, and I remembered thinking it would be a great place to work. It has plenty of room, with fun seating to change things around a bit. It is spacious and quiet, and it has fantastic service.
I ordered the almond milk latte, which made me realize I have rarely seen latte art in my city. Afterwards, we all split the red velvet dessert, which was so good, perfectly balancing sweetness and tanginess.
While I had a good experience with the wifi, one of my friends could not join the network. However, this fact was evened out with the fact that she had to take many work calls and she was able to do it in an environment that was not too loud or stressful.
5- La Ganache Café Bistro: Lastly, La Ganache has been around for about a decade, and it has undergone multiple changes in location and branding. I had visited its most recent location, which opened circa 2020, and loved its cozy environment and inviting terrace. However, I wanted to see how fit it was for remote work.
I visited with my friend on a Wednesday afternoon, and not only did I see enough young people working, but also older ladies playing cards and chatting. It was a fun contrast.
This time, I ordered the chamba chai with almond milk, an item that is not on the menu, but that I discovered when talking to the server on a different occasion. It was foamy, delicious, and the perfect option for a day when I was feeling hyper caffeinated. My friend was craving actual food, so she tried the chicken sandwich and loved it! Lastly, La Ganache has a wide selection of macarons, out of which I recommend the lavender flavor. You will not be disappointed.
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And this concludes my hometown's café tour! I hope you enjoyed it and found good tips. Most importantly, if you know any other places worth checking out, please let me know!
And a big thank you to my friends for joining me on this idea :)
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