The best restaurants Popayán

A nice change from traditional local cuisine. It was set up by Chantal Guerin, a friendly Swiss-born chef who has lived in Popayán for some twenty years. The welcome is warm and the service excellent. Chantal makes her own soups, sauces and pastas, using only the freshest ingredients grown by Cauca farmers. On the menu, pasta, lasagne, pizzas, rare meats (at last!), and everything is good! There's even fondue if you fancy.

Awarded with the Silver Toque of Colombia, it is unofficially the best restaurant of Popayan. The food is more expensive than elsewhere (while remaining very reasonable when you come with your euros), but also more refined and you can feel an effort in the service. The European opinions are however mixed, except for the delicious beef which is cooked as requested (rare in Colombia), and the ceviche style trout filet. The choice of wine is rather meager. The setting is rather kitsch, with its well-waxed parquet floor and its chandeliers and gilding on the walls.

A vegetarian restaurant without much charm, but which attracts a lot of locals, because it offers a healthy and tasty home cooking for a very low price. You can choose seven small dishes (to be noted on a piece of paper) with in bulk, vegetable soup, quinoa, integral rice, tofu, potatoes with peanut sauce, fruit cake, fruit juice... Beware, the restaurant is a victim of its success, and the choice is reduced after lunch time.