Steaks are popular in Medellín and we look at 12 of the best steakhouses in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley with very good steaks, updated for 2021. All these steakhouses are good places to go on special occasions.
In the United States, we’d call these places steakhouses, but here in Colombia and South America they are known as a parillas, restaurants where grilled meats are served. All these restaurants specialize in steaks but they all have some other things on the menu.
The following ranking of best steakhouses in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley is based on having eaten steaks at all of these steakhouses more than once. We have been on a quest to find the best steakhouses in Medellín and have been to over 35 steakhouses.
Here is our ranking of the 12 best steakhouses in the Medellín and the Aburrá Valley updated for 2021, which includes steakhouses in Medellín and the nearby municipalities of Envigado and Sabaneta. My Colombia wife collaborated to select these 12 best steakhouses.
Angus Rib-eye steak at Lucio Carbon y Vino
1. Lucio Carbon y Vino
Lucio Carbon y Vino is a steakhouse located in Envigado on Calle de la Buena Mesa that is very popular with locals and some foreigners.
This restaurant has a very nice ambience and some very good steaks. And it’s currently my favorite steakhouse in the Medellín metro area due to having very good steaks, which are consistently good every time I have gone.
Lucio typically caters to a more sophisticated clientele. And service has usually been excellent in my experience plus the atmosphere feels intimate. So, it’s a good place to go with a date at night or for a business lunch.
Lucio Carbon y Vino in Envigado
This is a very popular steakhouse in Envigado but it’s not that large. So, it can get busy on the weekends and fill up. But they take reservations, which we recommend on the weekends or holidays.
On the menu are over 12 different steak options including two imported steaks with the steak prices ranging from 36,000 to 83,000 pesos.
Address: Carrera 44A # 30 Sur-40, Envigado
Phone: +57 300 613 0546
Hours: Noon to midnight.
Tomahawk steak at Barbaro Cocina Primitiva
2. Barbaro Cocina Primitiva
Barbaro Cocina Primitiva is a steakhouse with two locations in Medellín that is very popular. This restaurant has a very nice ambience and some very good steaks.
The concept for Barbaro was born from a passion for the grill and the joy for meat prepared in many ways. This steakhouse adapts their meat cuts to a primitive concept with thick cuts without much manipulation prior to consumption.
Also, they use slow cooking techniques, smoked processes and a wide variety of cuts of pork, beef, fish and seafood.
In addition, they use a barrel method, which consists in providing a smoked flavor to the natural flavor of meats, by means of a direct exposure of meats with smoke from coal and/or hard wood. The meat products are suspended in the upper part of the barrel with the heat of the wood in the background.
Inside Barbaro Cocina Primitiva
On the menu at Barbaro are over 10 different steak options including four imported steaks with the steak prices ranging from 37,500 215,900 pesos.
Website: http://barbarococinaprimitiva.com/
Address in El Poblado: Carrera 37 # 10A-23, El Poblado
Address in Laureles: Carrera 76 # 73B-39, second floor, Laureles
Phone: +57 4 589 7968
Hours: Monday to Sunday: 11 am to 10 pm..
Angus T-bone steak at El Correo Carne y Vino
3. El Correo Carne y Vino y Amada
El Correo Carne y Vino y Amada is a steakhouse chain with three restaurants in Medellín, which are very popular. This restaurant chain has a nice ambience and some very good steaks and also very good desserts.
El Correo actually started out as a pastry business. The first dream of the founders was a boutique pastry shop. The idea was to pay tribute to grandmother and her delicious dessert preparations.
So, the founders started out with pastries being made at home. And then in 2009, they opened their first pastry point of sale location in Medellín.
The second dream of the founders was to offer meat and wines. So, after a few years with the pastry business, they opened the first El Correo Carne y Vino y Amada in October 2012, which offers steaks, wines and desserts.
Since the first El Correo steakhouse opened in 2012, it has grown into a chain of three steakhouses in Medellín and one in Montería plus they have plans to open a steakhouse in Pereira. Also, they have an Amada pastry shop in El Tesoro mall.
On the menu at Correo Carne y Vino are over 15 different steak options including three imported steaks with the steak prices ranging from 38,900 to 249,900 pesos.
In addition, Correo’s huge 1,000-gram imported Tomahawk steak is the most expensive steak I have seen in Medellín with a price of 249,000 pesos.
El Correo Carne y Vino has three restaurants in Medellín:
- El Poblado – Carrera 32D #9-43, El Poblado (new location)
- Las Palmas – Indiana Mall at kilometer 17 on Las Palmas, locals 169 and 170.
- Laureles – Transversal 39B # 75-6
Website: http://elcorreoyamada.com/
Angus Ribeye steak at San Carbon
4. San Carbon
San Carbon is a steakhouse in Medellín that is very popular with locals. It’s reportedly the largest steakhouse in Medellín and has some very good steaks.
Since San Carbon located high along Avenida Las Palmas, it has a good view of Medellín from its lower patios. Also, it’s an open-air restaurant with a thatched roof. Since it’s located relatively high up it can get cold at night. So, dress appropriately.
Furthermore, it’s an upscale place that caters to a more sophisticated customer base. But jeans and a nice shirt are fine to wear.
San Carbon, photo courtesy of San Carbon
On April 23, 2003, San Carbon first opened its doors to the public, thanks to the dream of a group of friends who came up with the idea of a good steakhouse restaurant that they felt Medellín needed.
But San Carbon wanted to go further than just good steaks. So, it offers complementary live entertainment along with its gastronomic service, which provides customers a varied program of artistic and musical shows weekly. They reportedly have live music every day they are open except Monday.
Thanks to its ample size, San Carbon is also used for events, seminars and training. And it also sometimes hosts tastings of wines and liquors. Furthermore, it hosts some parties for special dates and holidays, with shows of music and dance, particularly for New Year’s each year.
On the menu at San Carbon are about 20 different steak options including eight imported steaks with the steak prices ranging from 41,500 to 209,500 pesos.
Website: http://www.sancarbon.com.co/
Address: Calle 14 # 30-10 Avenida Las Palmas, El Poblado
Phone: +57 4 444 7602
Hours: Monday to Wednesday: Noon to 10 pm, Thursday to Saturday: Noon to midnight or later, Sunday: closed.
Steak at Cambalache, photo courtesy of Cambalanche
5. Cambalache
Cambalache is an Argentinian steakhouse in the Patio Bonito barrio of El Poblado. It’s a popular steakhouse with a nice ambience and some good steaks.
This steakhouse is located in El Poblado within easy walking distance from the Poblado metro station. The quality of the food and the service is very good in my experience. So, if you are looking for a good Argentinian-style steak, Cambalache is recommended. In addition, on Saturdays they have live Tango music.
Outside Cambalache at night
On the menu at Cambalache are 11 different steak options including three imported steaks with the steak prices ranging from 38,500 to over 70,000 pesos. The three imported steaks are at market prices.
Website: http://cambalacheparrilla.com.co/
Address: Carerra 45 #6-55, El Pobaldo, Medellín
Telephone: +57 4 266 5265
Hours: 11 am to 10 pm.
Chateaubriand steak with baked potato at La Pampa
6. La Pampa
La Pampa Parrilla Argentina is a popular chain of five Argentinian steakhouses in Medellín, which has some really good steaks, BBQ ribs as well as good gourmet burgers.
This chain of steakhouses has grown to five restaurants in Medellín because it’s very popular.
I have been to four of the five La Pampa locations in Medellín. And the food and service has been consistently good in my experience.
La Pampa Parrilla Argentina in Provenza
The restaurants all offer a nice atmosphere suitable for any occasion, from a business lunch to a dinner date or a night out with friends or family.
On the weekends, these popular steakhouses can get busy. So, I recommend calling for a reservation. Some of the restaurants also have live music on the weekends.
On the menu at La Pampa are over 10 different steak options including three imported steaks with the steak prices ranging from 29,500 to 97,500 pesos.
The five La Pampa restaurant locations are as follows:
- El Poblado – Provenza: Carrera 33 # 8A-11; +57 4 311 5993
- El Poblado – Las Palmas: Vía Las Palmas Km2 (near Carulla); +57 4 312 3909
- El Poblado – Mall Interplaza: Carrera 30 # 10C-228; +57 4 266 9663
- Laureles – Avenida Jardín; +37 4 366 7304
- Laureles – Near Segundo Parque; +37 4 366 0706
Note La Pampa had a sixth location near the Primer Parque in Laureles but it closed during the coronavirus pandemic.
Steaks at Malevo, an Argentinian Steakhouse in El Poblado, photo courtesy of Malevo
7. Malevo
Malevo is an Argentinian steakhouse in the Manila barrio of El Poblado, which is a very popular steakhouse with some good steaks.
The owner and head chef of Malevo is from Argentina. And the restaurant serves only Argentinian cuisine with no fusion of Colombian food. The recipes for everything in the restaurant reportedly only come from Argentina.
This restaurant is located in a quaint house in the Manila barrio. And it’s packed with Argentinian books, antique knives, historical art and a collection of guampas and bombillas (gourds and metal straws), which are used to drink mate, a traditional drink in Argentina.
Malevo steakhouse in the Manila barrio of El Poblado in Medellín
On the menu at Malevo are less than 10 different steak options including three imported steaks with the steak prices ranging from 38,000 to 82,000 pesos.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/RestauranteMalevo/
Address: Calle 11A #43E-32, El Poblado, Medellín
Telephone: +57 4 580 2150
Hours: Noon to 3 pm and 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm.
Imported Ribeye steak at Voraz Restaurante
8. Voraz Restaurante
Voraz Restaurante is a steakhouse located in Laureles in Medellín. It’s a popular steakhouse with a nice ambience and some good steaks and desserts.
A reader of Medellin Guru highly recommended Voraz and I went recently to try out this steakhouse. I went with another reader of the Medellin Guru site and we found that this steakhouse has very good steaks.
This steakhouse is located in Laureles near the second park of Laureles (Segunda Parque de Laureles).
Inside Voraz Restaurante
On the menu at Voraz are 10 different steak options including four imported steaks with the steak prices ranging from 32,900 to 93,900 pesos.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Vorazrestaurante/
Address: Transversal 39B # Circular 74B-41, Laureles, Medellín
Telephone: +57 4 412 0037
Hours: Noon to 10:30 pm.
Tomahawk steak at Toro Restaurante in Medellín
9. Toro Restaurante
Toro Restaurante is a steakhouse located in the Laureles-Estadio neighborhood in Medellín that is very popular with locals. This restaurant has a nice ambience and some good steaks.
Toro Restaurante is a relatively new steakhouse that reportedly opened in July 2017. A downside is that it’s a small restaurant with not that many tables and the menu is relatively small without many drink options.
Service has been excellent in my experience plus the atmosphere feels nice, as it’s located in a covered outdoor neighborhood location. Also, Toro is currently the highest rated steakhouse in Medellín on TripAdvisor.
On the menu at Toro are less than 10 different steak options with the steak prices ranging from 27,500 to 44,500 pesos.
Prices at this steakhouse tend to be lower than the other best steakhouses in the city, which may be a reason why it is rated so highly on TripAdvisor.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ToroRestauranteMedellin/
Address: Carrera 80 # 32EE-04, Laureles-Estadio on the border with Belén
Phone: +57 300 760 3091
Hours: Tuesday to Wednesday: Noon to 9 pm, Thursday: Noon to 10 pm, Friday and Saturday: Noon to 11 pm, Sunday: Noon to 5 pm, Monday: Closed.
A steak with baked potato and side salad at La tRES uno, photo courtesy of La tRES uno
10. La tRES uno
La tRES uno is a small steakhouse located in Envigado in Calle de la Buena Mesa that is popular with locals and some foreigners and it has some good steaks.
A friend lives near this steakhouse and highly recommended it. So, I went with my friend recently for lunch and returned for dinner the following week with another friend. Service was excellent both times and the steaks were perfectly cooked and very good.
On the menu at La tRES uno are 12 different steak options including one imported steak with the steak prices ranging from 26,900 to 58,900 pesos.
Website: http://www.latresuno.com/
Address: Calle 31 Sur # 44A-22, Envigado
Phone: +57 4 302 4071
Hours: Monday to Thursday: Noon to 9:30 pm, Friday and Saturday: Noon to 10:30 pm, Sunday: Noon to 3:30 pm, Monday and holidays: closed.
New York steak at Black Pepper Steakhouse, photo courtesy of Black Pepper
11. Black Pepper Steakhouse
Black Pepper Steakhouse is a steakhouse located in Envigado that is popular with locals and some foreigners. This restaurant has a nice ambience and some good steaks.
Service has usually been excellent in my experience and the atmosphere feels intimate. So, it’s a good place to go with a date at night or for a business lunch.
I have eaten at Black Pepper numerous times over the past few years. And I have tried many things on the menu including several of the steaks, the pork tenderloin, the crusted salmon, the St. Louis ribs and the surf and turf.
Black Pepper Steakhouse is located in Envigado in an area known as Calle de la Buena Mesa (Street of the Good Table), which has many restaurants.
On the menu at Black Pepper are less than 10 different steak options including two imported steaks with the steak prices ranging from 32,500 to 125,000 pesos.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/blackpeppersh/
Address: Carrera 44A # 30 Sur-7, Envigado
Phone: +57 4 444 7602
Hours: Noon to 12:30 am.
Angus ribeye steak with fries at Mama Santa
12. Mama Santa Parillada
Mama Santa Parrillada is a steakhouse in Sabaneta that is popular with locals with good steaks and a nice ambience. It’s my favorite steakhouse in Sabaneta.
In addition, Mama Santa Parrillada has a nice atmosphere with open air sides. So, it’s a good place to go with your sweetheart or with friends, family or business associates. Also, on the weekends, it even hosts live music with some local entertainers.
Mama Santa originally opened in 2000 at a different location in Sabaneta, in Prados de Sabaneta. I first discovered this restaurant at its old location several years ago. And about 2011, it reportedly moved to its current location on Avenida Las Vegas in Sabaneta.
The open-air atmosphere in the restaurant is nice. And Paisas seem to love outdoor dining year-round, which is possible due to the climate in Medellín.
On the menu at Mama Santa are over 10 different steak options including three imported steaks with the steak prices ranging from 29,800 to 52,000 pesos.
Address: Calle 72 Sur # 46D-56, Sabaneta
Telephone: +57 311 719 1298
Hours: Monday to Sunday: Noon to 10 pm.
Be Careful of TripAdvisor Reviews – the Best Steakhouses in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
TripAdvisor has a list of best steakhouses in Medellín and also in Envigado and Sabaneta. But it appears that you can’t search on Trip Advisor for the best steakhouses in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley with the other municipalities in the valley included. We have looked at why TripAdvisor can’t be trusted for Medellín.
Also, be skeptical with TripAdvisor reviews, as not all the highest rated restaurants are so good. Even friends of a restaurant can post reviews on TripAdvisor.
To demonstrate the problem of fake reviews with TripAdvisor, a reporter even made his garden shed the top-rated London restaurant with fake reviews.
I recall several years ago when the Flip Flop Sandwich shop was the highest rated restaurant in Medellín on TripAdvisor, which was pretty absurd considering there are many better restaurants in the city. Flip Flop Sandwich shop is now ranked #104 in Medellín.
In addition, there are also companies which businesses can hire to create highly believable fake TripAdvisor reviews, fix a reputation if they’ve received bad reviews, or even sabotage competitors.
I have found that you can use TripAdvisor to help find potential best restaurants but I also ask friends and locals for recommendations in the area, as you can’t really depend on the rankings on TripAdvisor.
The Best of Medellín
Besides this article about the 12 best steakhouses in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley, Medellin Guru has several more articles about the best restaurants and coffee shops in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley:
- 19 Best Restaurants in Laureles in Medellín
- 15 Best Restaurants in Envigado, Colombia
- 15 Best Restaurants in Sabaneta, Colombia
- 14 Best Pizza Places in Medellín: The Best Pizzerias in the City
- 13 Best Burgers in Medellín: Best Burger Places in the Aburrá Valley
- 12 Best Steakhouses in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
- 12 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in El Poblado
- 10 Best Mexican Restaurants in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
- 9 Best Colombian Restaurants in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
- 9 Best Italian Restaurants in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
- 9 Best Places for Brunch in El Poblado
- 5 Best Independent Coffee Shops in El Poblado
- 8 Top Coffee Shops in Laureles
- 5 Best Nano/Micro Breweries in Medellín
Also, we have several additional best of Medellín articles:
- 35 Top Things to Do in Medellín and Nearby: Top Tourist Attractions
- 21 Best FREE Things to Do in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
- 17 Top Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Medellín and Nearby
- 14 Best Malls of Medellín – the Ultimate Guide to Medellín Malls
- 12 Best Museums of Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
- 8 Best Pueblos Near Medellín Worth Visiting
- 7 Best Panoramic Views of Medellín
- 5 Best Neighborhoods in Medellín
- 2 Best Walking Tours in Medellín
- 14 Top Churches in Medellín Worth Visiting
- 22 Best Mobile Apps to Use in Medellín and Colombia
The Tomahawk steak at El Correo, photo courtesy of El Correo Carne y Vino y Amada
The Bottom Line – the Best Steakhouses in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
All of the steakhouses in the above list have good steaks and it was honestly difficult to rank the best steakhouses in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley.
When I have asked expats in Medellín what is their favorite steakhouse in the Medellín metro, I have received several different answers but usually their favorite is in the above list of the best steakhouses in Medellín.
We have detailed reviews on the Medellin Guru site of all of the above best steakhouses. You can click on the link in the heading of each of the best steakhouses listed above to find these restaurant reviews. And the reviews include detailed information about the food menu and drink menu of each restaurant with prices.
I have eaten at over 35 different steakhouses in the Medellín metro area. And with the help if my Colombia wife, we chose our favorite 12 steakhouses for this list of the best steakhouses in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley.
However, I haven’t tried every steakhouse in the metro area, as there are many steakhouses in the Aburrá Valley So, if you know of a very good steakhouse that you think belongs on this best steakhouses list, please leave a comment below.
What is your favorite steakhouse in Medellín?
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Editors note: updated on February 7, 2019 to add Voraz Restaurante to the list.
Editors note: updated on March 6, 2019 to add Cambalache to the list.
Editors note: updated on May 22, 2019 to add La tRES uno in Envigado to the list.
Editors note: updated on September 8, 2019 with updated menu prices for steaks at San Carbon.
Editors note: updated on February 15, 2021 with current menu prices information for several restaurants and reordered the list of best steakhouses.
Editors note: updated on February 28, 2021 to remove the La Pampa located at the Primer Parque in Laureles, which is closed.
16 thoughts on “12 Best Steakhouses in Medellín With Good Steaks – 2021 Update”
Which steakhouse is most like Ruth Chris from the states?
There really isn’t one like Ruth Chris with high quality USDA Prime beef.
Andres Carne de Res in Poblado (awesome place and good food) is the closest I have seen to Ruth Chris
Also bad experience at Black Pepper. My steak was 70% gristle. I sent it back after some discussion. They didn’t end up charging me. An experienced chef should be able to look at a piece of meat and know if it’s worth serving. Especially if it’s the most expensive cut on the menu.
Fuego Cubano in Parque Lleras is my go-to place. Simple, great prices, excellent Solomito. You can have it butterflied or thick. Always perfectly cooked to order.
Yes, sometimes you get a bad cut of meat at a steak restaurant. I have had some good steaks at Black Pepper but I prefer the nearby Lucio Carbon y Vino, which is my favorite.
I will try out Fuego Cubano in Parque Lleras at some point.
I went to Lucio’s today and showed the owner (Patricia) a copy of this article. Patricia is a fantastic hostess. The first time I went to Lucio’s I was with a friend and we ordered without looking at the prices. I realised soon after that I didn’t have that much cash with me and that we actually couldn’t afford what we’d ordered so we apologised to the waiter and started to leave. Patricia came over to us and suggested we split one of their steaks between us (they are huge) which we did which I’m glad because it was phenomenal. Since then I have been back twice and both times the steaks have been superb. Consistency for me is one of the hardest things for restaurants to achieve and I have never been disappointed with anything at Lucio’s. The service is always excellent and I couldn’t agree more with your ranking.
Hi Dave, thanks! Lucio Carbon y Vino is my favorite steakhouse because the steaks there are consistently very good. I also haven’t been disappointed with anything at Lucio.
Bad experience in Black Pepper Steak House, The service was terrible and food was not that good, and San Carbon I feel is over rated,
Best steak for me was at Marmoleo ,located at Loma de Tesero,
I have been to Marmoleo but wan’t impressed. My steak was overcooked, my friend’s ribs seemed like they were heated in a microwave, the other food was bland and service was so so. Also, Marmoleo is ranked #23 out of the Medellín steakhouses on TripAdvisor and #280 out of restaurants. While I don’t trust TripAdvisor for the top ratings, lower ratings are usually more accurate.
I haven’t experienced bad service or bad food at Black Pepper but no restaurant is perfect all the time. And I have been to San Carbon many times and haven’t been disappointed plus it has the biggest selection of imported steaks I have seen at a steakhouse in Medellín,
I love a good steaks so this is a helpful guide to the best steakhouses and I agree that you can’t trust TripAdvisor.
Ha. Nailed it.
Very nice article and I agree that Lucio has the best steaks.
Thanks for the nice list of steakhouses. I like having a good steak and have only been to 3 of the steakhouses on your list – San Carbon, La Pampa and Malevo.
I haven’t been to your top 3 so need to try them out.
Hi Dennis, thanks. The top 3 steakhouses on the list all have very good steaks – hope you enjoy them…
Good list Jeff, also check out Don Diablo in Poblado. It’s #1 by far, and it has the most expensive steak I think…
Haven’t been to Don Diablo yet. I plan to check it out and expect I will have to update this best steakhouses list.