The relaxed yet refined restaurant at Casa San Agustin is a must visit. Begin your night in the picturesque courtyard or eclectic dining room with a libation from the creative gin and tonic menu. Afterwards, savor the excellent ceviche and other Colombian specialties. The top-notch food and drinks are matched by the impeccable service, and there is live music at dinner from Wednesday to Sunday.

Café del Mar is a lounge on the top of the Old City’s muralla. Great drinks are served, complemented by music and the occasional dancer. It’s spacious so during the high season (December) you can either relax or get in on the party.

This local favorite is one of the top spots in Cartagena for ceviche. The charming restaurant, with only 16 seats, puts an upscale spin on the South American classic, infusing their ceviches with ingredients like tamarind and coconut, while also serving such elevated dishes as grilled octopus with a light potato foam. One of the owners, Oscar Colmenares, even trained at the Michelin-starred Martin Berasategui in the Spanish Basque country.

For those who remember Harry’s Bar in Venice or Mortimer’s in New York back when neighborhoods had watering holes that operated as informal eating clubs for café society, La Vitrola will feel familiar. Opened in 1994, La Vitrola is now a favorite haunt of a who’s who of Colombia’s elite who table hop between courses or get up to merengue to the Cuban house band.

Though the quality of the food can vary, the restaurant remains an institution. With tiled floors, a long mahogany bar and overhead fans, La Vitrola (named for the old Victrola that commands a central spot) harkens back to an earlier era, as does the menu. Starters include grilled calamari, smoked salmon and carpaccio, which can be followed by grilled fish, lobster, mini hamburgers or an inventive salad like lettuce heats topped with blue cheese and a slice of pear perfectly poached in red wine. Don’t miss the homemade coconut cake for dessert.