Hello Real City Tours readers! My name is Jason, someone who originally visited Medellín as a tourist in 2016 and immediately fell in love with the city. Inspired by its remarkable transformation, captivated by its breathtaking natural beauty, and enamored with the kindness of its resilient citizens, I decided to move here in 2018 and become a permanent resident of Colombia. You can read more about my story in this awesome story CNN did last year.
You could say that even though I was born in California, I’m a Paisa at heart, even though locals would initially tease me that because I’m not originally from Medellín, I’d never become a true Paisa. But after hearing me talk with such enthusiasm about all of my favorite places and activities, things they often didn’t know about, they’d say that I’m más Paisa que una arepa, which means I’m now as Paisa as they get!
I recently took my enthusiasm and unrivaled passion and knowledge about this incredible city and started The Paisa Plan, a tourism company dedicated to helping people discover the real magic of Medellín. Whether you want to plan the perfect trip or are interested in making a permanent move, with me you’ll get the tips, tricks, and tools you’ll need to have an authentic and unforgettable Medellín experience while saving time and money.
One of the things I encourage all my customers to do early in their trip, as well as any visiting friends and family, is to take the Free Walking Tour in El Centro Tour offered by Real City Tours. Looking back, taking it as a tourist during my first visit really helped spark my love for the city. In my opinion, you simply cannot truly appreciate all of the incredible things that you’ll see, taste, hear, and feel during your visit without having a better understanding of the history that set the foundation for the Medellín of today. And no one shares that story better than Real City Tours.
So it was an honor to get to meet them, and have them invite me to do a guest blog for their website! We both share a passion for helping visitors get out of the typical tourist spots and see more of what makes this city so special, so as someone who follows a mostly vegan diet, I offered to share three of my favorite veggie spots in Medellín. These are in no particular order, and they were chosen partially for their location, because each one will introduce you to a new part of the city. Sound good/delicious? Then let’s go!
Vegarden
Location: Cl. 32B #81-41, Medellín
We’ll start in Belén, where Vegarden has been serving a menu of mostly vegan food since I was a tourist! They have burgers, salads, pizzas, waffles, espresso drinks, and perhaps most important for someone with a sweet tooth like myself, desserts. Inside you’ll also find a a small curated selection of vegan-based products, and the enclosed outdoor seating is off the main road so even though you are very close to a number of buses, it’s rather quiet. The staff is friendly, prices are good, and they are open Sundays, which is a plus in a city where a lot of places are closed, not to mention it’s easier to get around with less traffic.
Oh! Food
Location: Calle 46E Sur #39D-30, Envigado
Now way on the other side of the city, Envigado in fact (a neighboring city to Medellín), is a true gem. It took me a few years to get to Oh! Food (it does take some time to get out that far if you are coming from Poblado), but wow was it so worth it when I finally did. José and Benny have created a marvel of a restaurant serving arguably the best vegan food in the valley. They are so innovative, with things like soy ceviche and yuca cheese, ingredients you’ll find in various items on their menu like burgers, bowls, tacos, and so much more. The menu of the day is always something creative, prices are very reasonable, the location quite charming, and the service yet again is some of the warmest and friendliest you’ll ever find. That is a Medellín trend.
El Libanés
Location: Calle 45 # 53 – 50, Medellín, Antioquia
To wrap up, how about something much closer to where you’ll be finishing your Real City Tour? I stumbled across El Libanés when I was exploring El Centro, something I love doing. It’s located in the food court of Centro Commercial Gran Plaza, and if you make it there, you’ll find an absolutely outstanding falafel plate that comes with a bell pepper spread and tomato sauce that are out of this world. Portions are gigantic, there are plenty of options for other dietary preferences, and the owner José Antonio has got to be one of the most welcoming and friendliest people that I’ve ever met. See? There is that trend again…
So there you have it, three of my favorite under-the-radar veggie spots in the city (and beyond). How do I know these places? Because I have an insatiable curiosity about Medellín, and I’ve probably been to over a thousand restaurants, cafés, parks, shops, bars, service providers, etc during the time I’ve lived here. It’s a great way to explore and get to know the city, and finding the best, the places I can’t wait to recommend and return to, is one of my favorite things to do.
All of my top spots (and what to avoid) can be found on my The Magic of Medellín Map, which you can learn more about by visiting The Paisa Plan website. There you can preview the map, read more about me, download a free visitor’s guide that contains even more recommendations, and see the services that I offer. And as a special thank you for supporting Real City Tours, use code REALCITY10 and get 10% off a Paisa Plus or Paisa Pro plan.
I’d like to think I’m the perfect person to help you plan your trip as well as make the most of it while you are here. But no matter what, you absolutely must take the Free Walking Tour of El Centro with my friends at Real City Tours. We share a love for this city, and we cannot wait to share it with you.
