Teatro El Mulato Cabaret — Restaurant in Cali

⭐☆☆☆☆ Beware Before Prepaying — Great Show, Poor Business Practices

Our visit to El Mulato Cabaret in Cali started off beautifully but ended with a disappointing and frustrating experience due to shady billing practices.

We booked a prepaid package directly from their website via WhatsApp, which included salsa lessons, pre-selected dinner, non-alcoholic drinks, and reserved table seating for the show. Due to payment issues with their links, we eventually paid via PayPal and received confirmation, wristbands, and were seated at our chosen table with our selected meals and bottled water—everything seemed perfect.

The show itself was amazing—great energy, dancers, and entertainment. We ordered and paid for three bottles on-site, which we expected and were happy to do.

However, at the end of the night, the staff tried to: • Re-charge us for the meals we already paid for • Claim our payment only covered “entry,” then change the story to “appetizers” (we had no appetizers) • Charge us for bottled water, which had been included

Even after showing receipts and WhatsApp confirmations, they continued to insist—until we mentioned writing reviews. Only then did they back down and remove the false charges (except for the bottles, which we paid for as expected).

As a visitor celebrating a special birthday, this left a terrible impression. The dishonesty felt coordinated, not accidental. If you’re planning to visit, exercise caution—especially when prepaying via WhatsApp or third-party links.

Amazing show. Terrible end. Proceed with...

Such mixed feelings, but overall the worst rip off of my 8 months travelling Latin America.

We contacted Mulato as a large group. We wanted to book tables on the floor but there wasn't availability so they seated us upstairs.

We each paid COP30,000 entrance then COP40,000 for the tables and drinks, COP70,000 total each person. They said it cost more because that night there was a live orchestra.

The "drinks" were one bottle of aguardiente, one jug of lemonade, 4 small bottles of Coca Cola and a few small bottles of water.

For 22 people.

The table beside us got a bottle between 5 people. The maths doesn't add up!

When we complained we got another bottle of aguardiente and later another jug of lemonade, but we were also told that basically it is what it is, we get what we get.

Additionally, we came to see a salsa show, but the salsa was only a few dances. The orchestra was not to accompany the show, it was the show.

This would have been OK (even though we believed we came to watch a dance show) but because we were seated upstairs we weren't permitted to go down to the dance floor so we could basically just watch people dancing from above. I actually tried to go to the dance floor and security stopped me.

Overall this was the most nonsensical, frustrating experience and while I'm sure the experience could he good if you are allowed on the dance floor DO NOT LET THEM SELL YOU SEATS UPSTAIRS, rather go and dance...

Service very poor. You have to go directly there to buy tickets. The lady selling them is very rude. She did not care to provide the necessary information. She only said to arrive at 8 pm (for a show which actually start at midnight, information she did not mention ) Once arrived at the venue, they direct you to your table. Unfortunately you won't have a good view of the scene from all tables. It was the case for us. The good point is that they agree to give use another table with a much better view. regarding dinner experience, the waiter told us that there is no menu (the link to qr code is damaged?!?) after insisting to have a list with price, he came back with the qr code (Christmas exist!!) the waiter was very nice with us. He has to serve many tables and was always in a rush but always managed to take care of our orders. Last point but not the least the show. If you want to see only the show don t come too early as we arrived at 8 and it started at midnight . Otherwise if you like dancing salsa, that s a good place for you to show your skills. The first part of the show last 20-25 min. Then you have to endure again another break of 1 hour!!! The second part of the show last less than 20 min as well. The dancers of the show were great but music was...