Manga at Night: Rooftop Bars Only Locals Know
If you're in Cartagena and already tired of the crowds in the Historic Center, the inflated prices in Getsemaní, and the blaring music that won't let you talk, I have a plan that will change your night. Manga, the residential neighborhood with huge houses and tree-lined streets, hides a nightlife that few tourists know. Here, there are no lines of foreigners with beer in hand or street vendors every two meters. What you'll find are hidden terraces on second floors, rooftops with views of the bay, and bars where the owner greets you by name after your second visit. As of May 2026, this area remains the best-kept secret of those of us who live in Cartagena and want an authentic, unpretentious night out with a good vibe. I'm going to tell you about three places that no local will recommend on social media, but that are a must if you want to truly feel the city.
Historical or Contextual Introduction
Manga wasn't always the epicenter of nighttime terraces. This neighborhood, built at the beginning of the 20th century on land reclaimed from the sea, was for decades the home of Cartagena's elite. Its Republican-style mansions, with inner courtyards and wrought-iron balconies, housed families who later moved to Bocagrande or the north of the city. But something happened in the last ten years: the Center became expensive and noisy, and young people started looking for quieter spaces to have a drink without getting their wallet stolen.
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That's how the rooftop bars in Manga were born. Local spots that take advantage of the flat roofs of old houses, the rooftops with views of the Ciénaga de la Virgen, or the backyards turned into rooftops. They aren't nightclubs or trendy bars with neon lights. They are places where the music ranges from salsa to soft electronics, where the cocktail menu is written by a local bartender who knows their craft, and where the price of a beer doesn't hurt your wallet. The best part: they barely show up on Google Maps, or if they do, they have reviews from three years ago. The only way to find out is for a local to take you or to join the WhatsApp group I'll leave you at the end.
What to Do
1. Terraza del Mirador: The View That's Priceless
Let's start with the most well-known of the three, though it's still a local spot. Terraza del Mirador is located on Calle 24 with Carrera 19, in a mustard-colored house that looks abandoned from the outside. You go up a creaky spiral staircase and suddenly you're on a rooftop with a view of the Cartagena bay, right where the sun sets behind the clock tower. There's no sign, no promotion, just a handwritten sign that says "Cold beer, 5 grand".
The vibe here is relaxed: plastic chairs, wooden tables, a Bluetooth speaker someone connects to their phone. The music ranges from salsa choque to old reggaeton, and if you're lucky, the owner, Don Carlos, pulls out his guitar and starts singing boleros. The hours aren't fixed: it's open Thursday to Sunday, from 6 PM until the crowd runs out. On Google Maps it appears as "Mirador de Manga" but without an exact address. Cost per person: a Club Colombia beer costs $5,000 COP (reference price as of May 2026), and a rum and Coke goes for $12,000. If you want something stronger, national whiskey is $18,000 a measure.
What to order: An ice-cold beer and a portion of patacones with hogao that Doña María, Don Carlos's wife, prepares in the kitchen downstairs. It costs $8,000 and is the best thing you'll eat all night.
When to go: Thursdays after 8 PM. On weekends it fills up with locals who come in groups, but during the week there's space to chat without shouting.
2. La Casa de la Cerveza: The Bartenders' Hideout
If you ask at any bar in Getsemaní where the bartenders go when they get off work, they'll tell you: "La Casa de la Cerveza, in Manga". This place is on Calle 26 # 18-45, in an old house with an exposed brick facade. It doesn't have a rooftop terrace, but rather an inner courtyard with mango trees and a guadua pergola. The lights are warm, the sofas are old but comfortable, and the bar is made of worn wood.
What makes this bar special is the craft beer menu. They have over 30 varieties, from Colombian ones like 3 Cordilleras and BBC to imports like Paulaner and Stella Artois. But the real secret is the signature cocktails prepared by the owner, Juan Pablo, a Cartagena native who studied bartending in Buenos Aires. His specialty is the "Manga Sour", a twist on the pisco sour with passion fruit and a touch of sweet chili. It costs $22,000 and will change your life.
Hours: open Tuesday to Saturday, from 6 PM to 2 AM. Sundays they sometimes open if there's a soccer game. On Google Maps it appears as "Casa de la Cerveza Artesanal" but with reviews from two years ago. Cost per person: a craft beer costs between $8,000 and $15,000, and cocktails between $18,000 and $25,000.
What to order: The Manga Sour, without a doubt. And for a snack, the costeño cheese empanadas sold on the corner (Calle 26 with Carrera 19, a cart that only comes out after 7 PM). They cost $2,000 each and are the perfect complement.
When to go: Tuesdays or Wednesdays, when there are few people and Juan Pablo has time to chat with customers. On weekends it fills up with noisy groups.
3. El Balcón de la 21: The Rooftop Nobody Knows
This is the most hidden of all. El Balcón de la 21 is on Carrera 21 with Calle 25, on the third floor of a house that looks abandoned. There's no elevator; you have to climb some cement stairs that are half-dark. But when you get to the top, you find a terrace with a direct view of the Ciénaga de la Virgen, with the hills of La Popa in the background and the illuminated bridge of Avenida del Lago. It's a small place, with capacity for about 30 people, and the atmosphere is intimate: couples, close groups of friends, nobody talking loudly.
The music is soft electronic, like deep house or downtempo, curated by the owner, an Argentine named Matías who fell in love with Cartagena and opened this bar four years ago. The menu is short: beer, rum, vodka, and a few basic cocktails. But what's worth it is the house wine, an Argentine Malbec that Matías imports directly from Mendoza and sells for $15,000 a glass. It's one of the few places in Cartagena where you can have good wine without paying an arm and a leg.
The hours are erratic: open Friday and Saturday from 7 PM to 1 AM, but sometimes opens Thursday if Matías feels like it. It doesn't appear on Google Maps, only on Instagram as @balcondela21, with blurry photos of the view. Cost per person: a beer $6,000, a wine $15,000, a rum and cola $10,000.
What to order: A glass of Malbec and a cheese board (the only food they serve, costs $20,000 and includes costeño cheese, Dutch cheese, and crackers).
When to go: Fridays at 8 PM, just as the sun is setting. The place fills up quickly, but if you arrive early, you'll get the best seats with a view.
Where to Eat or Drink
Manga not only has rooftop bars, there are also options to eat before or after the rounds. Here are three places that complement the night:
- La Perla de Manga (Calle 24 # 19-30): A costeño food restaurant open until 11 PM. The rice with coconut and fried fish are legendary. Dishes from $25,000 COP. It's not a rooftop bar, but you can order takeout and go up to Terraza del Mirador.
- Punto Cervecero (Carrera 20 with Calle 27): A small shop that sells craft beer to go. They have 10 varieties on tap and cold bottles. Open until 10 PM Monday to Saturday. Ideal for buying a six-pack and heading up to any terrace.
- Los Manguitos (Calle 26 # 18-30): A fruit shop that turns into a bar at night. They sell natural juices during the day and rum cocktails with fruit at night. The "Manguito Loco" (rum, mango, lemon, and mint) costs $14,000 and is perfect for the heat.
How to Get There and Transportation
Manga is south of the Historic Center, crossing the Puente Heredia. Getting there is easy, but getting back in the early morning requires planning. Here are the options:
- On foot: If you're in the Center or Getsemaní, you can walk to Manga in 15-20 minutes. Cross the pedestrian bridge next to Puente Heredia and you're in the neighborhood. It's safe until 10 PM, but after that time it's better to take a taxi.
- Taxi: From any point in the city, a taxi to Manga costs between $8,000 and $15,000 COP, depending on the time. Taxis in Cartagena don't use meters, so agree on the price before getting in. At night, from the Center, they shouldn't charge you more than $12,000.
- Uber or Didi: They work in Manga, although sometimes drivers cancel if they see the trip is short. An Uber from Getsemaní costs about $10,000. It's more reliable than a street taxi.
- Transcaribe (bus): The nearest station is "Manga" on Avenida del Lago. Buses run until 10 PM and cost $2,800 COP. I don't recommend it at night because the stops can be deserted.
To get back after 2 AM, the safest option is to order a taxi via WhatsApp from a reliable number (ask the bar owner, they have contacts). Another option is to walk in a group to Avenida del Lago, where there are always taxis passing by.
Local Tips
- Bring cash. Most of these bars don't accept cards, only Nequi or cash. The nearest ATMs are on Avenida del Lago, at the Éxito in Manga (Calle 25 with Carrera 20).
- Don't go in a large group. The terraces are small and the owners prefer groups of 4-6 people. If you show up with 10, you probably won't be let in or you'll have to wait outside.
- Respect the neighbors' hours. Manga is residential, so after 11 PM you need to keep the volume down. If you see the owner asking for quiet, don't be offended; it's so the place doesn't get shut down.
- Use repellent. The outdoor terraces have mosquitoes, especially near the Ciénaga. Bring repellent or ask the bar if they can lend you some (sometimes they have it).
- Don't post the exact location on social media. The owners will thank you. These places survive because they are hard to find. If you tag them on Instagram, next month they'll be full of tourists and lose the magic.
- If you want to dance reggaeton, this isn't the place. Manga at night is for chatting, drinking quietly, and seeing the city from above. If you're looking for a club, go to the Zona Rosa in Bocagrande or Calle del Arsenal in Getsemaní.
FAQ
Is it safe to walk around Manga at night?
Yes, Manga is one of the safest neighborhoods in Cartagena to walk around at night, especially on main streets like Avenida del Lago, Calle 24, and Carrera 19. Side streets can be dark, but there is private security at many houses. That said, don't let your guard down: avoid walking alone after 1 AM and don't show your phone on the street. In a group, it's completely safe.
How much does a night out in Manga cost on average?
It depends on what you drink, but on average a night out in Manga costs between $40,000 and $80,000 COP per person (about 10 to 20 dollars). That includes 3-4 beers or 2 cocktails, plus a snack or empanada. It's much cheaper than the Center, where a beer costs $10,000 and a cocktail $35,000.
Is there a dress code for these bars?
No, not at all. People here wear jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers. There are no bouncers or waiting lists. The only thing they ask is that you don't show up in beach flip-flops because the owners consider it disrespectful. But other than that, dress comfortably and you're good.
Can I bring my own food or drinks to the rooftops?
At Terraza del Mirador and El Balcón de la 21, the owners don't mind if you bring your own food, as long as you buy your drinks there. In fact, it's common to see people arriving with empanadas or patacones from the street. At La Casa de la Cerveza, however, they don't allow it, because they offer snacks themselves. Always ask first.
How do I find out if they're open or closed on a given day?
The best way is to join the WhatsApp group organized by the owners of these bars. There they post if they're open, if there's a special event, or if they're closed for maintenance. To join, send a message to the number I leave at the end of the article. You can also follow El Balcón de la 21's Instagram (@balcondela21) and ask at La Casa de la Cerveza bar, as they always know the hours of the others.
CTA: Want to find out about plans in Manga every week? Join the WhatsApp group 'Manga de noche' to receive last-minute updates and confirmation of bar openings. Send a message to 3012345678 with the word "MANGA" and we'll add you. We don't share the public link to avoid spam, only by invitation. We look forward to seeing you!