Colombia

Medellin

Food

The TraTraTrax co-founder comes through with a list of recommendations on where to eat in the capital of Colombia's Antioquia province.

DJ Lomalinda is one third of the ascendant Colombian label TraTraTrax. Founded alongside Nyksan and 

 in 2020, the breakthrough imprint champions a spectrum of cutting-edge electronic sounds from diasporic Latin American artists; think guaracha and reggaeton or dembow via cumbia, perreo and funk mandelão. Their first compilation, entitled 

was released in 2022 to critical acclaim and featured tracks from the likes of raptor house pioneer DJ Babatr alongside Nick León, Luca Durán, Bitter Babe, Safety Trance and more.

This month, they've released the second instalment of their phenomenal compilation series. Entitled 

it features 18 explosive cuts from a slew of TraTraTrax mainstays and a roster of new additions from beyond the diaspora, such as Surusinghe and WOST. The aim of the compilation is to build "sonic bridges from and to Sur América".

Aside from releasing new music, DJ Lomalinda (real name Daniel Uribe) helped us to curate our 2024 cultural calendar, 

, which features our top picks of the most innovative and scenic events around the world. He also put together this list of food recommendations for Medellín, including restaurants located in the outskirts and traditional joints. If you're in the Colombian city or planning a trip, add these to your itinerary.

This food cart has been located on the same area/corner in Envigado as far as I can remember and serve the most outrageous yet delicious perras, which is our version of a hot dog where the sausage gets replaced with bacon and cheese, then topped with coleslaw, crushed crisps and loads of sauce. Medellín Street Eats 101.

When in Medellín you should always take a trip to one of our plazas or markets to get a more real image of the city. But, more importantly, you also get a wide option of small traditional restaurants and going to La Floresta’s plaza will get you off the beaten path. Look for Menu del Día and you will get a lovely Colombian meal for a reasonable price.

This one is for the sweet tooth. This cosy wooden shack at the top of Medellín’s Hills serve, as you can imagine, grotesque, coma-inducing traditional desserts. Go for the strawberries with cream or oblea con todo, which is a tortilla shaped wafer sandwich with cream, dulce de leche, cheese, blueberry jam, strawberries. You can also add extra toppings, not that you need it.

This is one of Medellín’s best hidden spots. Specialising in the Pacific Coast cuisine, El Barco (the boat) is packed with ocean décor resembling a wooden ship inside serving traditional dishes. I always recommend the fish soup (better if you have a hangover) but they serve whole fried fish with plantain chips, coconut rice and salad. The legend says the owner has his own cargo jet and he gets fresh fish for the restaurant. No miss here.

Located in the outskirts with a stunning view of the city, Donde Estela is the staple Paisa (individual belonging to Medellín) establishment. A place for hard liquor (Aguardiente is the way to go) and an assembly of pork belly, chorizo, pork belly, arepas and plantain chips. Just figure out the size, portions are generous, and off you go.

I am a pizza enthusiast and although I would make my pizza at home, Pizza Centro is my go-to option when friends are visiting. Located in downtown Medellín, this pizzeria serves an OK pizza (I got to be honest), but being in a historical, traditional neighbourhood downtown elevates the experience.

Chitterlings, chitlings or chunchurria, as we call it, is a love or hate dish in Medellín, responsible for many discussions – normally in the company of Aguardiente. When poorly done, avoiding it is a must, but the one from del Mocho is among the best if not the best in the city.

Medellín is not great on breakfasts or baking, but buñuelos (deep fried cheese balls) are among the best bites one gets around in most bakeries. Buñuelo Supremo located at the heart of Poblado will cover your daily dose. They serve a range of full breakfast options (arepas, eggs, chocolate, etc.) but I would suggest exploring our most common fried bites (empanadas, buñuelos, pastel de pollo, etc.).

There is something about naming traditional food joints as the owner, just like Donde Estela, La Gloria de Gloria in Envigado is the go-to place for our most known and important dish: la Bandeja Paisa. If you suffer from the heart, avoid it (I mean it), this plate comes with our traditional thick bean soup, rice, minced meat, salad, fried chorizo, plantain, egg, avocado, fries and a massive pork belly (yes, you guessed right, also fried). Sharing between two is my recommendation.

Although this is located around 30 minutes from Medellín, it gets a mention as I always paid a visit when cycling outside the city (pretty much every weekend). Ricas Arepas serve, in my opinion, the best, sweetcorn arepas in the country – yes, the country! They grind the corn daily and are baked in a clay oven. These arepas are split open, smothered in butter and fresh cheese – a match made in heaven. A bonus here is that you are close to Scarab Cycles and Torrealta Cerveceria, two local artisans making bespoke Colombia bicycles and beer.

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TraTraTrax Co-Founder, DJ Lomalinda, Selects His Top 10 Food Joints in Medellín

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Hailing from the energetic streets of Medellín, producer Verraco's sound takes from his heritage and turns it on its head by challenging western perspectives of Latin American music. As an artist clearly proud of his roots, his knowledge and enthusiasm for his city shines through in this guide to the 'City of Eternal Spring'.

Salón Málaga is a long-lived bar full of history and oldster local music. It's perfect to get a taste of what the old city used to be, while you drink some aguardientes (schnapps). This place is downtown so then take the opportunity to go through it.

Easily the best place in the Aburrá Valley to eat typical Medellín food. It’s hardcore, watch out.

If you are looking for proper local heavy sweaty ‘bellaqueo’, this is paradise. My favorite reggaeton club in town. Berlin has Berghain, but Medellín has Perro Negro.

In addition to having a fresh program, movies, installations, and restaurants, hanging around the Medellín Modern Art Museum is pure bliss.

A small taste of Colombia's vast biodiversity. Don't miss out on the ‘Mariposario’. It is located right next to the aquarium (also don’t miss there the Amazonas king: the Pirarucú) and the planetarium.

As a teenager, football was my whole life and it allowed me to get out of my neighborhood and discover the city in depth. I have a lot of memories of this field, especially when it was made of sand and not synthetic grass. If you like the game and want to get out of the ordinary-tourist common places, here you will find high football matches to watch while feeling Medellín’s real heat.

This is one of the few electronic music clubs left in the city. There we have had memorable parties, especially the Medellin Rave Society — Insurgentes showcase back in 2018. Calle 9+1 resists in spite of the fact that we have a government that does not allocate any kind of aid to the arts and culture sector in the midst of the pandemic.

Go up to this beautiful eco-park and enjoy the best panoramic view of the city from the metro-cable.

One of the most important museums in the country, beautiful collections and library focused on plastic arts.

This is our meeting place before starting the nights. You have all the alternatives nearby: decent bars, delicious restaurants, multiple clubs, and it is also perfect if you want to just sit on the street, drink, and watch the city go by.

La Gloria de Gloria

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