1.Best Restaurants in Cali, Colombia
I hope my fellow Colombians won't get too mad at me, but Cali doesn't have the best food culture. I hate to say it, but although the food is typically delicious, it's… fast stale. Unlike Medellin, Bogota and Cartagena, fine dining options are few. It's not just the quality of the food, but also the service. When it comes to food, you can get a lot of good and cheap Colombian food. This usually means sopa, seco sobremesa for under $10.

This food is delicious, but did I mention it ages quickly? Forget Chinese, Mexican, or Sushi (although there is a great Ramen shop). American food is irrelevant, and Italian food - I'm not even talking about that topic. The problem with the waiters is that although the waiters here are nice, they seem to lack a sense of urgency (and often common sense). I guess that's great if you're on vacation, but as a digital nomad and need to get back to work at a suitable hour, that just doesn't work. That being said, there are a few that stand out and others that show potential. These are the best restaurants in Cali, Colombia.

2.Cali Colombia
We have visited three times and Sunday lunch is our favourite. This old enclave serves typical Caleño dishes, but as soon as you taste it, you'll see the difference from what you'd get at the typical locations that abound in any neighborhood. It's not that these things aren't pretty. It's just that you'll be able to taste the quality of the ingredients and the care that goes into making these dishes. Above all, the restaurant is amazing. The setting is a 19th-century hacienda that now belongs to the adjoining zoo. It feels like stepping back in time. While the wine list isn't extensive, it's better than most restaurants in Cali (the whole city is severely lacking in alcohol). This is my number one recommendation in the city.

3. El Falso Olivo in the Ciudad Jardin district
I put off going there for a while because it was too “far” from where I lived. Don't make the same mistake. El F also Olivo is ridiculously good. It's much more expensive than most restaurants, but well worth it. The restaurant is located in some kind of mall (very popular in Cali) and has outdoor seating at the entrance. Don't sit here, people will pass by and the area is tight. You want to sit on the back porch.

It has a green wall and only two tables, making for a very intimate and quiet evening. The rabbit stew on pappardelle was impeccable (USD 12 36,000 COP) and the Moroccan lamb (USD 49,000 COP) cooked to perfection. I'm leaving in two days, but I intend to sneak there another time. I absolutely would if someone said this is not one of the best restaurants in Cali, Colombia.

4.Ringlette Restaurant in Granada
This is another lovely typical restaurant in Vallecaucano (this is where Cali is located). It's in an old house in the Granada neighborhood so it feels like you're at someone's home. The service was friendly and attentive, a huge plus. We feel at home, but we always feel taken care of. The food is also beautifully prepared and their wine list is quite good.

5.Go Go Ramen in the San Fernando district
This was probably the most pleasant surprise of our trip. It's ramen that a die-hard fan will love. It's up to Ivan Ramen in New York. Everything is good - and cheap. A large bowl will cost you between 3 and 6 USD depending on what you get inside. The prices at Go Go Ramen in Cali are quite reasonable.

6.La Comitiva in San Fernando
This beautiful restaurant is just steps from El Parque del Perro and has a great outdoor space that makes you almost forget you're out of town. Their musical combination is a bit disjointed, but enjoyable. The service is amazing (depending on which server you get). The food - again - is Nuevo Colombia. There's a lot of tropical fruit in the food, so if that's not your thing, you might want to skip the restaurant.

I really like it. Fresh ingredients, well cooked food and (once) very good wine. By far this is the best wine list we have seen in the city. One thing that drives me crazy. On our first visit we wanted to see a menu. We felt a little tempted to walk in and sit down to look at the menu. Just something we're not used to in America. The tactic worked, we stayed… but it was weird.