Cafeterias in the towns of Quindío
- Finca El Barranco
- Jul 25
- 3 min read
Treasures of everyday life
In recent years, Quindío has become a must-see destination for both domestic and international tourism. It's easy to see why: if you travel from Armenia towards San Juan via the Centenario highway or head towards Pereira, you'll see the landscapes just minutes after leaving the city: the mountains, the shades of green, the depth and relief of the vast expanse of natural land that still defines our region.
This has brought both positive and negative things; towns like Salento have become tourist destinations that often fail to accommodate the inhabitants due to the demand from those who come from outside, which has also had impacts on ecosystems.
Because we believe that tourism is built by living alongside the daily life of a territory, we want to open a space to make small recommendations of places in the department so that those of us who live here can explore and enjoy it, and so that those who visit us can enjoy the small pleasures found in everyday life.
Places to take a coffee
As we have seen traveling to different parts of Colombia and other Latin American countries, it is undeniable that we are a coffee-loving people and that it is not so difficult to find a place that is good, beautiful and cheap, that offers quality coffee and at the same time an encounter with the daily movement.
To begin, for those strolling through downtown Armenia, along the open-air shopping center on Carrera 14 towards Plaza de Bolívar, we recommend a small café called La Terraza , located between Calle 20 and between Carrera 14 and 15. Just one block from Plaza de Bolívar, you'll find a series of tables and chairs situated in the open space of Calle 20, and a small wooden shop where you can order a good Americano or espresso.
It's a café for the people of the city center, who, amidst their shopping or work, sit down to rest or chat. This is a place that reminds us how good we are at making and drinking coffee: quality has become an integral part of everyday life.
But, if there are any of our readers who want to try specialty coffees, a bourbon, a geisha, with filtering methods such as V60, Chemex or French Press, we recommend the beautiful pink house of Del Toro Café , located in the Laureles neighborhood, on Carrera 16 with Calle 21 Norte.
This café has expanded its offerings and space in the last year, now featuring a terrace for enjoying coffee outdoors and indoor spaces for working, reading, or chatting. It also offers whole bean or ground coffee to take home and frequently hosts yoga events, music performances, and sensory workshops.
Finally, we leave the city to visit one of the towns that has expanded its cultural and gastronomic offerings in recent years: Circasia. A town known for its cafes, its central square, and its gallery.
This time, we recommend a café housed in an old colonial building. Circasia was one of the first towns in Quindío, so it still retains parts of its original architecture. Two blocks from Bolívar Square, at the corner of Carrera 15 and Calle Octava, you'll find a small open door and a staircase leading up to Cultura Cafetera , a café with an interior courtyard and street views where you can enjoy a good Americano.
Our recommendation is to enjoy your coffee with a red berry cheesecake and sit on the balcony to watch the town's daily life unfold: people strolling along the street towards Bolívar Square, the clothing and electronics stores, and those leaning out from their balconies. With patience and another cup of coffee, you can witness the changing colors of the afternoon, the arrival of birds on the rooftops, and the end of another day in Quindío.
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