Giancarlo Bolívar moved to Medellín a few years ago, and since then, he has discovered places that gave him a much more in-depth understanding of the city’s culture and soul. A Colombian publicist, fashion photographer, content creator and visual artist, he has spent years building a genuine connection with the city, going far beyond the tourist trail and into the neighbourhoods, spaces, and stories that most visitors never find. That mix of a trained visual eye, a creative background and a local’s instinct makes him exactly the right person to curate Medellín for The Curated One. He knows where to eat, where to go, what to see and, just as importantly, what to skip.
Restaurants
When Giancarlo thinks about the best places to eat in Medellín, he’s not only thinking of a place to eat; he’s considering places to share and recommend to family and friends.
Elcielo
Elcielo restaurant is known for blending Colombian and Latin American culinary traditions with avant-garde techniques and neuroscience-inspired dining experiences that engages all five senses.
Palma Pitón
Palma Pitón is one of Giancarlo’s favourite places to have a fun afternoon with friends and loved ones. The restaurant is known for its colourful and tropical design, city views and fusion cuisine, amazing music and drinks to enjoy.
Coffee + Brunch + Sweet
When Giancarlo craves something slow and intentional, these are the spots he’d call worth the detour.
Pergamino Coffee
Giancarlo considers Pergamino Coffee one of the best coffee shops in Medellín, celebrated for its direct collaboration with Colombian coffee farmers and dedication to high quality, traceable beans and a cosy and warm environment for any visitor.
Tres Trigos
Soft aesthetics, nothing overdone, and elevated artisanal treats that feel just right, Tres Trigos has a simplicity that speaks for itself.
La Miguería
An incredible place to enjoy traditional and modern desserts, La Miguería captures the essence of elevated comfort, familiar Colombian flavours, styled with intention.
Bars + Nightlife
Giancarlo approaches Medellín’s evenings the way he does everything: with an eye for atmosphere, craft, and good conversation.
Náufrago Bar
An elevated escape where tropical elements meet refined design high above the city. The atmosphere shifts effortlessly from sunlit ease to a more seductive after dark energy; Náufrago Bar is a complete vibe that makes wonderful nights effortless.
Envy Rooftop
Giancarlo considers Envy Medellín’s most iconic rooftop, where skyline views, polished cocktails and fashion leaning crowd come together in one elevated scene to enjoy spectacular music and more. Located on the 17th floor of The Charlee Hotel, Envy Rooftop is one of a kind.
Beauty + Grooming
From a fresh cut to a full reset, these are the places Giancarlo and Medellín locals trust to leave you looking sharp.
Ambroxia Lab
Ambroxia Lab is refined experience in beauty, where every detail matters. At this choice beauty parlour, regular clients include actors, influencers, and singers like Karol G and J Balvin.
Calé Barber Studio
Clean cuts, elevated style. Calé Barber Studio is a 360-degree experience where you can enjoy facial massage, drinks and a relaxing service while having a haircut and getting your nails done.
Shopping
Giancarlo’s shopping picks are the kind of places you stumble out of having spent more than planned, and not regretting a thing.
Makeno
What Giancarlo loves most about Makeno, a curated concept store is that they showcase contemporary Colombian design; you can find fashion, home décor, eyewear, art, and craftsmanship intersect, offering a lifestyle centered on individuality and conscious consumption.
Exlibris
Exlibris, Café, Libros y Repostería is one of Medellín’s most charming book-and-coffee spaces. It is a hybrid bookshop, café, and bakery where the scent of fresh coffee mixes with shelves of thoughtfully selected books. It’s a relaxed place to linger over a book in a cosy, community-minded atmosphere, and enjoy great Colombian coffee, desserts, and even light meals.
Where to Stay
Whether you’re visiting Medellín for a weekend or a month, Giancarlo’s picks make sure you wake up in the right place.
The Click Clack Hotel
As a photographer and a beauty lover, The Click Clack Hotel is the best one for Giancarlo; is a place where design becomes a statement, bold, playful and unapologetically conceptual, surrounded by vertical gardens that climb through industrial lines. The hotel attracts a fashion-oriented and art-forward crowd that treats it as both a destination for luxury comfort and a backdrop. The Click Clack Hotel is an experience: Vibrant, immersive and distinctly Medellín.
Marquee Hotel
Combining modern design with Art Deco accents, the Marquee Hotel has that luxury vibe expressed through an intimacy atmosphere where every detail feels considered and quietly refined.
The Best Neighbourhood to Stay In
Giancarlo breaks down the one area of Medellín that gets the balance of energy and ease just right.
El Poblado
El Poblado is where Medellín comes together, effortlessly blending the best of the city into one neighbourhood. From traditional Colombian flavours and immersive local experiences to fashion-forward spaces, culture, and a vibrant social scene, it offers a curated mix that makes every moment feel intentional. It’s not just where you stay, it’s what makes the trip.
Culture + Architecture + Unmissable
The spaces, streets, and stories Giancarlo thinks every visitor owes it to themselves to experience.
El Pueblito Paisa
At El Pueblito Paisa, tradition is preserved through architecture, offering a carefully reconstructed Antioquian village that reflects the region’s cultural and artisanal heritage. From its colonial-style buildings to handcrafted details, the space showcases the trades, materials, and design language that shaped local identity. Set above the city, it’s both a cultural snapshot and an architectural tribute to Medellín’s roots.
Palacio de la Gobernación de Antioquia
The Palacio de la Gobernación de Antioquia stands out for its solid, elegant architecture with clean lines and monumental proportions. Every time Giancarlo goes to the city centre, he can’t take his eyes off it, a building surrounded by key cultural landmarks and sculptures, history and Medellín’s vibrant cultural life.
Comuna 13 Experience
Comuna 13 feels like one of the most vibrant, human sides of the city, where urban art, open-air escalators, and hillside architecture come together to tell a story of transformation and resilience. Being Colombian but not from Medellín, every time he goes back to take friends, it feels new, full of energy, colour, and perspective. It’s a joyful reminder of how much there is to appreciate beyond the obvious, and how culture here is lived, not just seen.
Medellín’s Emerging Neighbourhood
Giancarlo has his eye on the part of the city quietly becoming the most interesting place to be.
Laureles
Laureles is quietly becoming one of Medellín’s most interesting neighbourhoods thanks to its blend of lifestyle, architecture, and culture. Tree-lined streets and early 20th-century villas sit alongside modern cafés, boutique shops, and creative spaces, creating a vintage-meets-contemporary vibe. Its cultural scene is growing too, with local galleries, live music spots, and artisanal markets, making it a lifestyle hub where design and urban culture intersect a neighbourhood that feels both authentic and aspirational.
Medellín rewards the curious and the patient. Its magic is not always loud or obvious. It lives in a tucked-away café in Laureles, a mural in Comuna 13, a rooftop bar where locals actually go, a concept store you would never stumble upon without someone pointing the way. Giancarlo has learned to find all of it, and that is undoubtedly what makes his guide worth following.
Follow Giancarlo on Instagram: @giancarlobolivarbarraza
