Manglar Bar de Selva y Mar — Restaurant in Cartagena

From the moment we walked into Manglar Bar de Selva y Mar, we knew we were in for something special. The ambiance is a perfect blend of jungle charm and coastal elegance, lush greenery, warm lighting, and the sounds of Cartagena flowing through the space. It strikes that rare balance between relaxed and refined. What truly elevated our night was the exceptional service from our waiter, Maryuris. She was not only attentive and kind, but genuinely passionate about the food and experience. Her recommendations were spot-on, and her care and energy made us feel welcomed and taken care of from start to finish. She’s a star. And then, the seafood. Every dish was a celebration of freshness and flavor. The oysters were huge and brimming with ocean essence. Perfectly prepared fish, vibrant ceviche, and thoughtful pairings made every bite memorable. You can taste the quality and heart in everything that comes out of the kitchen. Manglar is easily one of the best dining experiences we’ve had in Colombia. If you’re in Cartagena, don’t miss it, and if you’re lucky enough to have Maryuris as your waiter, you’re in for a truly...

The expectations for this restaurant were high, but in the end, we left feeling a bit disappointed. Here are my honest reasons:

The live music, although amazing, was too loud and made it impossible to have a conversation. The service started very slow, and the wine list was very limited. We had to choose three different wines before we finally got a bottle, as many were unavailable. Unfortunately, by that time, the food had been sitting on the table for a while.

After being served by four different staff members, a fantastic female server took over and cared for our table until the end. She was the positive surprise of the restaurant experience.

Overall, the food was good and solid, but the octopus had too many ingredients, which overpowered its pure flavor. We did really enjoy the texture and taste of the shrimp dish.

In conclusion, we were disappointed. I think it’s a great location for a cocktail, but that’s about it. The restaurant’s design, however, is a 10/10.

I hope to see some improvements on our next visit to the bar for some...

We had high expectations for this restaurant given the great reviews, but unfortunately came away feeling very disappointed! Our chicken 'satay' starter (with no satay to be seen) was served cold. When we complained about this, there was a long wait as they reheated the same plate. It still wasn't hot and we were then only served two skewers, one of which was very fatty and quite unpleasant. After complaining further we were told that we'd already consumed the plate and therefore nothing could be done. Various waiters, although polite, came to speak to us but we then had the impression that they were avoiding a difficult conversation as we were then left waiting for quite a long time for our main. The mains were fine, flavoursome but not worth the price. The music was extremely loud and although the building was very attractive the overall experience was incredibly disappointing. When the bill came all they could offer us was to remove the service charge. Safe to say we will not...