Café Zorba: Very Good Vegetarian Pizza in El Poblado in Medellín

Café Zorba is a very popular pizzeria located in El Poblado in Medellín. It has some excellent vegetarian thin-crust pizza cooked in a brick oven.

Café Zorba is so popular it is even currently rated the #1 pizzeria in Medellín on TripAdvisor.

I have been to Café Zorba many times over the past several years. While I normally prefer pizzas with meat, Café Zorba has some excellent vegetarian thin-crust pizzas.

Note the above photo is the Albahaca (Basil) pizza at Cafe Zorbá.

The nondescript entrance to Café Zorba

More About Café Zorba

Café Zorba originally opened in 2010 or 2011. It has a nondescript entrance without even a sign on one side. And on the Parque Presidential side, the restaurant is located up some stairs and also doesn’t have a sign outside.

Entrance to Café Zorba up stairs on the Parque Presidential side

The pizzeria has a relaxed vibe and an open kitchen. And the ceiling is covered with Colombian bamboo. Also, on the Parque Presidential side, there is a small outdoor patio area.

This is a very popular pizzeria due to having some very good pizzas. So, there is normally a wait for a table in the evening, particularly on the weekends. So, we recommend going early.

Live music on Wednesday with a cover of 5,000 pesos

In addition, Café Zorba normally has live music on Wednesdays with a cover of only 5,000 pesos that goes directly to the musicians. They have a wide range of music including flamenco, jazz, Latin jazz and world music.

One of the “white” pizzas at Café Zorba

The Food Menu at Café Zorba

Café Zorba specializes in pizzas and there are nine different vegetarian pizzas on the menu. The pizzas at Café Zorba come in one size with six slices.

Here’s a list of the nine different pizzas on Café Zorba’s menu. First there are four “red” pizzas with a tomato sauce base:

1. Marinara – tomato sauce base, fresh basil, garlic and oregano – 24,000 pesos
2. Albahaca (Basil) – tomato sauce base, fresh basil, garlic, oregano and mozzarella cheese – 29,000 pesos
3. Espinaca (Spinach) – tomato sauce base, spinach, pistachios, caramelized onions, mozzarella cheese, beaten cream of macadamia and balsamic reduction – 29,000 pesos
4. Rugula – tomato sauce base, rugula, caramelized onions, blue cheese, parmesan cheese and mozzarella – 20,000 pesos

And there are six “white” pizzas with a base of extra virgin olive oil:

1. Cebolla (Onion) – caramelized onions, emmental cheese and thyme – 29,000 pesos
2. Esparrogos (Asparagus) – salted asparagus, lemon, ricotta cheese and mozzarella cheese – 29,000 pesos
3. Kale – dinosaur kale, pinions, beaten cream of macadamia, lemon – 29,000 pesos
4. Pepinos Dulces (Sweet Cucumbers) – sweet cucumbers, sweet onions, blue cheese and radish sprouts – 29,000 pesos
5. Chimichurri – green chimichurri, mushrooms, white wine, mozzarella cheese and rugula – 29,000 pesos

And, of course, you can add or subtract ingredients to any of the above pizzas. Ingredients include arugula, asparagus, basil, blue cheese, grapes, jalapeños, mushrooms, olives, onions, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes and spinach.

In addition, you can order the pizzas with different toppings on each half.

Also, on the menu are four different appetizers with prices ranging from 7,500 to 17,500 pesos.

The mushroom appetizer at Café Zorba

I really liked the mushroom appetizer that came to your table bubbling in olive oil with garlic but this appetizer is no longer available.

Also, on the menu is a single mixed salad for 26,000 pesos.

The brownie with ice cream

Finally, there are six different desserts on the menu priced at 5,000 to 8,500 pesos. The brownie with ice cream is my favorite.

The open kitchen in Café Zorba

The Drink Menu at Café Zorba

The drink menu at Café Zorba is relatively small.  There are 12 different coffees and hot chocolate available for 4,900 to 7,500 pesos. And there are several hot infusion drinks for 6,500 to 10,000 pesos.

Also, there are several different wines on the menu for a range of prices from 58,000 to 88,000 pesos per bottle.. And there is a house wine on the menu for 11,000 pesos per glass or 54,000 peso per bottle. Also, there is a pitcher of sangria available for 63,000 pesos.

The menu has eight different beers priced at 6,000 to 9,500 pesos. And there are six cocktails priced at 17,500 pesos each. Also, there are six different shots on the menu with prices ranging from 9,000 to 15,000 pesos.

In addition, there are cold infusion/juice drinks for 7,500 pesos and Zorba sodas for 7,500 pesos each.

How to Get to Café Zorba

Café Zorba is located in El Poblado in Medellín about three blocks from Parque Lleras. The restaurant is located near one of the main streets in El Poblado – Carrera 43A, also known as Avenida Poblado.

The nearest Medellín Metro station is the Poblado station on the A Line. And this restaurant is about a 15-minute walk uphill from the Poblado metro station.

In addition, the restaurant is near two other popular parks in El Poblado. It is across the street from Parque Poblado and is located next to Parque Presidente.

Taxis are another option to get to this pizzeria. Every taxi driver in Medellín will know where Parque Poblado is located. And this pizzeria is located nearby, just provide the driver the address below.

Website: http://www.cafezorba.com.co/

Address: Calle 8 # 42-33, El Poblado, Medellín

Phone: +57 4 580 4600

Hours: Monday to Sunday: 5 pm to 11:30 pm, but the last kitchen order is at 10 pm.

The Best Pizzerias in Medellín

We have looked at 13 of the best pizzerias in the Medellín metro area in detail, which have very good pizzas.

1. Ammazza – a popular chain of three pizzerias in Medellín with excellent thin-crust pizzas.
2. Pizzeria Centro – a pizzeria in El Centro with very good thin-crust pizzas.
3. Café Zorba – a very popular pizzeria in El Poblado with very good vegetarian thin-crust pizzas.
4. Due Amici Pizzeria – a pizzeria in Suramericana with very good thin-crust pizzas.
5. Pizzería Olivia – a popular chain of nine pizzerias in Medellín.
6. Bigotes – a chain of three German pizzerias in Medellín – owner is German.
7. Pizza en Leña – a chain of two pizzerias in Sabaneta – owner is Dutch.
8. Ragazzi Pizzas Y Pastas – a chain with three pizzerias in the Medellín area.
9. Opera – a pizzeria in Laureles with good thin-crust pizzas.
10. Ná Pizza – a popular pizzeria in Envigado with very good thin-crust pizzas.
11. Pane y Pomodoro – a chain of two pizzerias in Medellín with good thin-crust pizzas.
12. Burro Pizzeria – a popular pizzeria in Envigado with good thin-crust pizzas.
13. Cavieli Ristorante Caffe – a popular pizzeria in Belén near Clínica las Américas.

All 13 pizzerias listed above in my opinion have better pizza than the pizza chains in Medellín like Domino’s, Jeno’s, Papa John’s, Pizza Doble Pizza, Pizza Hut or Pizzas Piccolo.

Also, we included Café Zorba in our list of the best pizzerias in Medellín.

In addition, in my opinion, Papa John’s has the best pizza out of the big pizza delivery chains in Colombia. But all of the above independent pizzerias we have looked at in detail have better pizzas than Papa John’s and the other pizza chains in Colombia.

The pizza oven at Café Zorba

The Bottom Line: Café Zorba

Café Zorba has some very good vegetarian thin-crust pizzas. And this restaurant is located in El Poblado near Parque Lleras. So, it has already been discovered by many foreigners.

It’s not a fancy place but Café Zorba is very popular. And if you like thin-crust vegetarian pizza with high quality ingredients cooked in a brick oven, Café Zorba is highly recommended.

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Editors note: updated on February 13, 2019 with the current menu at Café Zorba with several price changes.

Editors note: updated on February 20, 2020 with the current menu at Café Zorba with several price changes.