Last updated: October 7, 2026
To eat cheaply in Getsemaní, do what locals do: fresh fritters in the morning (an arepa de huevo from COP 3,000), a set lunch at a neighborhood spot like El Coroncoro, and pizza or arepas on Plaza de la Trinidad at night. With COP 40,000-70,000 (≈ USD 12-22) you can eat well all day.
Quick facts
- Location: Getsemaní, just past the Clock Tower; budget food clusters around Plaza de la Trinidad, Calle Larga, Carrera 10 and Calle de la Media Luna.
- Getting there: a 3-5 minute walk from the Clock Tower. By taxi, the 2026 minimum fare is COP 12,250 (≈ USD 3.80).
- Best time: 6-10 a.m. for fritters, noon-2 p.m. for set lunches, and from 6 p.m. on Plaza de la Trinidad.
- Approximate budget: fritters COP 2,000-6,000 (≈ USD 0.60-1.90); local lunch COP 15,000-35,000 (≈ USD 4.70-10.90); a full day COP 40,000-70,000 (≈ USD 12-22).
- Time needed: one fritter breakfast, one lunch and one evening on the plaza.
Approximate conversion: USD 1 ≈ COP 3,210 (official TRM rate, October 6, 2026).
How much does food cost in Getsemaní?
Getsemaní is a five-minute walk from the walled city, yet its street stalls charge prices much closer to neighborhood rates. These are the reference ranges published in 2025-2026 for what you’ll order most. For the rest of the city, see our Cartagena food prices 2026 table.
| Item | Price in Getsemaní (COP) | ≈ USD | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arepa de huevo (egg-stuffed corn fritter) | 3,000-6,000 | 0.90-1.90 | Nomado Travel; El Universal (Jan 2025) |
| Carimañola (yuca fritter) | 2,500-5,000 | 0.80-1.60 | Nomado Travel; El Universal (Jan 2025) |
| Empanada | 2,000-4,000 | 0.60-1.20 | Nomado Travel |
| Sweet anise arepa | 2,500-3,000 | 0.80-0.90 | El Universal (Jan 2025) |
| Set lunch (Media Luna area) | from 15,000 | from 4.70 | El Universal (Feb 2025) |
| Fried fish with coconut rice and patacón (local area) | 20,000-35,000 | 6.20-10.90 | Exoticca (Aug 2026) |
| Fresh juice or coconut lemonade (local area) | 3,000-6,000 | 0.90-1.90 | Exoticca (Aug 2026) |
Where can you eat cheaply in Getsemaní?
We picked places with consistently strong Google and Tripadvisor ratings, local cooking or prices clearly below the tourist average. For sit-down dining, see our 10 best restaurants in Getsemaní.
| Place | Cuisine | Price | Address | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plaza de la Trinidad fritters | Coastal fried snacks | $ | Plaza de la Trinidad and Calle Larga | Freshly fried arepa de huevo |
| El Coroncoro | Home-style coastal | $ | Cra. 10 #31-22 | Set lunch and fried fish |
| Getsemaní Pizzas | Neighborhood pizza | $ | Calle 29 #9-107, Plaza de la Trinidad | Big pizza to share on the plaza |
| Arepas Colombitalia | Stuffed arepas | $ | Carrera 10, by Plaza de la Trinidad | Arepas grilled to order |
| El Bololó | Caribbean bowls | $-$$ | Calle San Antonio #25-185 | Healthy and vegan option |
| Café del Mural | Specialty coffee | $-$$ | Calle San Juan #25-60 | Properly made Colombian coffee |
| La Cocina de Pepina | Traditional Cartagena | $$ | Calle 25 #9A-06, Callejón Vargas | Posta negra and mote de queso |
Fritters on Plaza de la Trinidad and Calle Larga
The cheapest, most authentic way to eat in Getsemaní is standing next to a frying pot. Around Plaza de la Trinidad and along Calle Larga, stalls start frying early: arepa de huevo (yellow corn dough with an egg cooked inside), carimañola (yuca stuffed with meat or cheese), empanadas, papa rellena and the sweet anise arepa. Peak time is 6-10 a.m., when everything comes out hot.
Pick the stall with the most local customers: high turnover means clean oil and fresh food. Ask for your arepa to be fried to order and pair it with a fresh juice or a tinto (black coffee).
El Coroncoro: the classic set lunch
At Carrera 10 #31-22, El Coroncoro is the quintessential neighborhood diner: plastic chairs, ceiling fans, Cartagena families and generous portions. Lonely Planet describes it as an unpretentious spot where fried fish and a full plate are what count. It scores 4.3/5 on Google from about 2,800 reviews and 4.0/5 on Tripadvisor (Wanderlog, March 2026).
Order the menú del día (soup, rice, protein, salad and a drink) or fried fish with coconut rice and patacón. The latest published prices date from 2025, so check the day’s board before ordering. Go between noon and 2 p.m., when the kitchen is in full swing.
Getsemaní Pizzas: the family pizzeria on the plaza
Facing Trinidad Church (Calle 29 #9-107) is a business with a story: it was founded by Cledis Ortiz Machado, a local resident who about twenty years ago began selling slices with a soda for COP 1,500 on weekends, as El Universal reported in 2024. Her sons run it today, and the pizzas are named after neighborhood streets, such as Media Luna or Plaza de la Trinidad.
It opens daily from 6 to 11:45 p.m. and holds 4.4/5 on Google (Wanderlog). A large pizza easily feeds two. Arrive before 6:30 p.m. to grab an outdoor table and watch plaza life.
Arepas Colombitalia: arepas grilled to order
This stand on Carrera 10, steps from Plaza de la Trinidad, grills white-corn arepas and fills them with Colombian-Italian combinations, from coastal cheese to pizza-style versions. It has 4.3/5 on Google from more than 1,700 reviews and 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor (Wanderlog). It’s the perfect quick dinner before a night of salsa. See photos of the place.
El Bololó: healthy, affordable Caribbean bowls
For when your body wants something that isn’t fried. On Calle San Antonio #25-185, by the plaza, El Bololó serves bowls built on Colombian Caribbean ingredients: fish, jerk chicken, vegan versions and fruit bowls, plus sodas made with fresh fruit pulp. It’s one of the best-rated spots in the neighborhood: 4.8/5 on Google from nearly 900 reviews.
Published hours: Sunday to Tuesday 1-9 p.m. and Wednesday to Saturday 9 a.m.-9 p.m. (Wanderlog; confirm before you go).
Café del Mural: specialty coffee among the murals
On Calle San Juan #25-60, right on the street-art route, this tiny “coffee laboratory” roasts and brews Colombian coffee with real method. It’s known for its affogato with homemade ice cream and iced lemon coffee. It holds 4.7/5 on Google and 4.8/5 on Tripadvisor (Wanderlog). Open Monday to Saturday, 3-8 p.m.; in the mornings it runs tasting and roasting workshops by reservation.
Worth a small splurge: La Cocina de Pepina
It isn’t the cheapest place in the neighborhood, but it’s the best value for home-style Cartagena cooking: mote de queso (cheese and yam soup), posta negra and yuca balls. It’s at Calle 25 #9A-06 in Callejón Vargas, and mains run about COP 38,000-62,000 (≈ USD 12-19) according to The Cartagena Guide (2026). It scores 4.6/5 on Google and 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor from more than 1,400 reviews (Wanderlog). See photos of the place.
What should you order to eat like a local?
If you only have one day in Getsemaní, here’s the short list:
- Arepa de huevo: the city’s signature fritter. Eat it hot, straight out of the oil.
- Carimañola: yuca with a meat or cheese filling; great with tangy suero costeño.
- Sweet anise arepa: white corn, anise and sugar; perfect with coffee.
- Menú del día or “corrientazo”: soup, main and a drink at a fixed price; the most food for the least money.
- Fried fish with coconut rice and patacón: the coast’s defining plate.
- Fresh juices: corozo, níspero, tamarind or coconut lemonade.
- Something sweet: cocadas and alegrías; see our guide to traditional Cartagena sweets.
What time is best to eat out in Getsemaní?
- 6-10 a.m.: fresh fritters and coffee. It’s also the coolest time to walk around.
- Noon-2 p.m.: set lunches at neighborhood restaurants; after 3 p.m. many have run out of soup.
- 3-6 p.m.: coffee, juice or a raspao (shaved ice) to beat the heat.
- From 6 p.m.: Plaza de la Trinidad fills with stalls, music and neighbors; the best time for pizza or arepas.
What should you watch out for when eating cheaply in Getsemaní?
Street food in Getsemaní is safe and highly recommended if you follow a few simple rules:
- Ask the price before ordering. City Decree 003 of 2024 requires prices to be displayed in pesos, taxes included; you only pay what is advertised.
- Tipping is optional. The “suggested service” charge (usually 10%) can be removed if you ask.
- If you’re overcharged, report it to Titán Chat, the city’s WhatsApp channel, at +57 304 251 1127. Emergencies: 123.
- Hygiene: choose busy stalls and food fried to order; skip anything that has sat in the sun for hours.
- Carry small bills: many stalls can’t change COP 50,000 or 100,000 notes.
- Phone and jewelry: don’t leave your phone on terrace tables and avoid visible chains; gold-chain snatchings from tourists were reported on Calle Larga in 2026.
- Rain and heat: October is usually the rainiest month; keep an indoor plan for the afternoon and stay hydrated.
Before you go, read our complete Getsemaní guide and our pick of the 12 best restaurants in Cartagena.
FAQ: eating cheaply in Getsemaní
How much does it cost to eat for a day in Getsemaní?
Eating fritters, a set lunch and a casual dinner, COP 40,000-70,000 per person (≈ USD 12-22). At sit-down restaurants the bill can triple.
How much is an arepa de huevo in Getsemaní?
COP 3,000-6,000 at neighborhood stalls, versus COP 8,000-15,000 in more touristy areas.
Where can I get a cheap lunch in Getsemaní?
At neighborhood restaurants with a set menu, such as El Coroncoro (Carrera 10 #31-22), or at the diners on Calle de la Media Luna, where set lunches start at about COP 15,000.
Is street food in Getsemaní safe to eat?
Yes, if you choose busy stalls, ask for fritters fried to order and avoid food that has been sitting in the sun. Always ask the price first.
What can I eat at night on Plaza de la Trinidad?
Pizza from Getsemaní Pizzas (open 6-11:45 p.m.), grilled arepas from Colombitalia and fritters from the street stalls around the square.
Are there cheap vegan options in Getsemaní?
Yes. El Bololó on Calle San Antonio has vegan bowls, and many stalls sell carimañolas and arepas with cheese or no filling.
Sources
- Wanderlog – The 50 best cheap eats in Cartagena (23/03/2026)
- Wanderlog – El Bololó, Getsemaní Pizzas, Café del Mural
- El Universal – El legado de Cledis Ortiz Machado sabe a pizzas en Getsemaní (07/03/2024)
- El Universal – 5 fritos cartageneros (27/01/2025)
- El Universal – Cómo disfrutar Cartagena con poco presupuesto (21/02/2025)
- Nomado Travel – Cartagena Street Food Guide
- Exoticca – Cuánto cuesta viajar a Cartagena (05/08/2026)
- Lonely Planet – Restaurante Coroncoro
- Mochileando por el Mundo – 7 restaurantes donde comer en Cartagena de Indias (02/2025)
- Cartagena Explorer – Café del Mural (16/08/2024)
- Practical Wanderlust – What and Where to Eat in Cartagena on a Budget (08/2025)
- The Cartagena Guide – Best Restaurants in Cartagena (2026)
- Semana – Decreto de la Alcaldía de Cartagena contra cobros abusivos (02/01/2024)
- El Universal – Tarifas de taxi en Cartagena 2026 (27/02/2026)
- Dólar Colombia – TRM 06/10/2026
Main image: street food cart on Colombia’s Caribbean coast (Barranquilla). Photo: Zane Bolen / Unsplash (Unsplash License).
