Juan Del Mar Restaurante — Restaurant in Cartagena

Juan Del Mar was a major let down. We made our reservation for 7:30 on a Monday night. We ordered the grilled octopus with the avocado hummus sauce as our app. That was cooked perfectly and the flavor was incredible. That dish is the reason why they earned the three stars and not 0. Reasons why we were disappointed:

Wine: We tried to order a white wine to pair with our seafood, and asked the waitress if it was possible to try a taste of the wine before we ordered a bottle. That was not possible, so we asked for the bar tenders recommendation on his driest white wine, he recommended a Marques de riscal Sauvignon blanc. Super fruity and sweet.

For our entree we ordered arroz caldoso con langostinos. The lobster was extremely over cooked. Rice lacked flavor and the fried plantains did not pair well with the dish.

Restaurant is split- Italian outside, seafood inside. Both areas have different live music playing on each side so it’s hard to hear one clearly.

Service was not good. Besides the fact that we couldn’t get a good recommendation before buying a 150,000 bottle - our waitress was not very attentive. We barely saw her, i understand it was busy but we took two bites of our dish and she never asked us if there was anything wrong.

We made the best of the night and the squid was delicious. I’m just sharing my experience so future guests can have better experiences. We had better meals at much cheaper restaurants! I.E. Porton de San Sebastián & La Covina de Cartagena were much much...

Juan Del Mar Restaurante – A Vibrant Culinary Experience in Cartagena

Nestled in the heart of Cartagena’s historic center at Plaza San Diego 8-12, Juan Del Mar Restaurante is a standout destination that blends Caribbean flair, fresh seafood, and a lively atmosphere into a memorable dining experience. As one of three establishments under the Juan Del Mar brand (alongside a gourmet pizzeria and a Peruvian mesa), this restaurant focuses on seafood and Caribbean-inspired cuisine, housed in a beautifully restored 19th-century republican house. My visit left me with a mix of impressions—mostly positive—but there’s plenty to unpack for anyone considering a meal here.

Ambiance: A Feast for the SensesStepping into Juan Del Mar feels like entering a living piece of Cartagena’s history. The architecture retains its original charm—think exposed brick, high ceilings, and tiled floors—while eclectic decor adds a playful, artistic twist. Metal fish sculptures hang above the courtyard, and marine-themed artwork peppers the space, evoking the nearby Caribbean Sea. The open-air courtyard, where the kitchen buzzes with energy, is the heart of...

Everything we ordered was delicious, especially for seafood lovers, and the pastas were lovely as well, with good portion sizes. We enjoyed the food so much that we went back the next day! The only negative would be that it can be very crowded and noisy at night sitting outside for dinner, and with street performers and some vendors coming up to the table, it’s not so relaxing. The service was also slower as there were so many customers (I recommend booking a table, we were lucky to get one in the evening walking in). However when we went for lunch the next day, the service and wait for food was so, so quick! The atmosphere was also nice and peaceful. I particularly recommend the octopus carpaccio, I love octopus but in many restaurants it’s not cooked so well, here it was delicious. We did try a pizza and it was good (I enjoy thin and crispy pizza but if you prefer a thick base, it won’t be for you) but the pastas/orzo were better in my opinion. The raw tuna and crab claw appetisers were also particularly good. If we are able to visit Cartegena again, we will stop...