Guatapé has over 100 restaurants. Most of them are built for the tourist bus crowd: quick turnover, inflated prices, forgettable food.
If you’re on a bike, just done walking the Avenue of the Umbrellas, or looking for a proper meal after La Piedra — here’s the honest version.
What Most Restaurants in Guatapé Get Wrong
The closer you are to the main plaza and the peñol viewpoints, the higher the prices and the lower the effort. Laminated menus, reheated food, no local clientele. The good places are a short walk from the center.
What to look for: local clientele, a short menu, and a kitchen that’s been in the same spot for more than a season.
The Reservoir View Question
Everyone wants to eat with a view of the embalse. A few places in Guatapé deliver it. What most people don’t realize is that the food quality varies wildly between them. Don’t pick your restaurant based on the view alone.
Casa de Ciclistas is right on the lake. Reviewers describe it as “an amazing spot for food right on the lake.” The view is there — it’s just not the main reason to come.
Near the Avenue of the Umbrellas
If you’re walking the avenue, you’re already in the right neighborhood. Casa de Ciclistas is a few minutes on foot from the avenue. Worth going before or after — or both.
What Makes Casa de Ciclistas Different
Casa de Ciclistas specializes in scratch-made international comfort food — American classics, Venezuelan dishes, Colombian favorites — with no industrial shortcuts or additives. A few more things you won’t find at other restaurants in Guatapé:
- Sourdough baked every morning from a 200-year-old starter — the only artisan bakery in Guatapé doing this. By the slice, as toast, or a whole loaf to take.
- Single-origin Colombian coffee sourced direct from growing regions, with educational demonstrations of Japanese siphon and cold brew. No industrial shortcuts.
- Amazonian fruit ice cream: copoazú, arazá, borojo, chontaduro. Sourced directly from indigenous communities in the Colombian Amazon through Dulce Amazónica. You won’t find these flavors anywhere else in Antioquia.
- Breakfast from 7:30am: shakshuka, Turkish eggs, granola bowls, smoothies, pastries — everything made in-house.
- Vegetarian and vegan options at lunch.
- English-speaking staff.
- Secure bike parking.
The team behind Casa de Ciclistas also cofounded Dulce Amazónica and the Embassy of the Colombian Amazon, two businesses built around indigenous community representation and Amazonian culture. That’s where the ice cream sourcing comes from, and why the menu carries things you won’t find anywhere else in Guatapé.
What Travelers Actually Say
Casa de Ciclistas holds a 4.9 on Google and 5.0 on TripAdvisor. A few things reviewers say:
- “The best restaurant in Guatapé. Prices are fair, and the service has the best energy.” — Catalina P., July 2026
- “Best meal I’ve had in a long time.” — Chris P., March 2025
- “Everything was a delight. Breakfasts and lunches are excellent, with fresh and high-quality ingredients.” — July 2026
- “The food and baked goods are delicious. Johana and Marcel and the staff are very welcoming.” — June 2025
A Stop for Active Travelers
Casa de Ciclistas started as a cyclist café and still functions like one. Big tables, high-calorie food, secure bike parking, and no pressure to turn over your table. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, a free guided ride leaves from the front door at 7:30am — bikes and helmets included, no experience needed.
Practical Info
- Address: CL 32 #28-91, Malecón, Guatapé, Antioquia
- Hours: Mon/Fri/Sat/Sun 7:30am–7:30pm · Tue/Wed/Thu 7:30am–4:30pm
- English spoken: Yes
- Free guided mountain bike rides: Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:30am (bikes and helmets included)
- Reservations: Not required. Call ahead for groups over 8.
- Contact: +57 321 884 8858 · WhatsApp