Hato Viejo: A Popular Chain of Colombian Restaurants in Medellín

Hato Viejo is a popular chain of restaurants with four locations in Medellín. This chain serves good comida típica – traditional Colombian dishes.

Hato Viejo restaurants are popular. And they tend to have a nice relaxed atmosphere plus at some locations live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

Surprisingly even after living in Medellín for over eight years, I hadn’t tried this restaurant until I went recently with a friend. And I was impressed with the very good Colombian food found at Hato Viejo.

In addition, you can find most of the 15 traditional Colombian dishes we previously looked at on the menu at Hato Viejo.

Note the above photo is of Ajiaco soup with a chicken base, potatoes, and sweet and white ear corn and guasca leaves, photo courtesy of Hato Viejo.

The Las Palmas Hato Viejo, photo courtesy of Hato Viejo

History of Hato Viejo

Over thirty years ago, the history of Hato Viejo started when it opened its first restaurant located in the Las Palmas area in front of the Intercontinental Hotel in Medellín.

The goal of this restaurant was to provide the city with a welcoming space for families, businessmen and tourists, which would reflect the Paisa culture.

And at the same time, it would offer visitors the best of typical Colombian food, such as Bandeja Paisa, Ajiaco, Sancocho and Mondongo, complemented with roasts (also called “Planchitas” at this restaurant).

A short time later, this restaurant determined there was a need in Medellín for an upscale venue with typical Colombian food to serve the executives who worked in the city center. So, the company opened a location in El Centro.

And ten years later it opened a location in the Oviedo mall. Finally, in October 2018, it opened its newest location in the new Viva Envigado mall.

The design of the company’s first restaurant will remind you of an older, pre-Columbian era. And in the El Centro location, there’s a red tile floor with wood beams lining the ceiling.

Today, this restaurant chain is known for its Colombian cuisine with a menu including salads, soups, casseroles, Colombian desserts, a varied selection of wines and spirits and a series of contemporary dishes that include various flavors of Colombia.

Hato Viejo was also named the “best restaurant in Antioquia” by La Barra magazine in 2011.

Bandeja Paisa, photo courtesy of Hato Viejo

The Food Menu at Hato Viejo

This restaurant chain specializes in comida típica – traditional Colombian dishes.

On the menu you’ll find over 20 traditional Colombian dishes including Bandeja Paisa, Mondongo soup, Ajiaco soup, Sancocho soup and many more. Prices for Colombian dishes range from 33,500 to 55,000 pesos. And the Bandeja Paisa is priced at 34,900 pesos.

In addition, there are over 15 different appetizers on the menu including empanadas, chicharron and several soups with prices ranging from 11,000 to 34,000 pesos.

Beef casserole prepared with mushrooms, asparagus and capers and comes with rice and avocado, photo courtesy of Hato Viejo

Also, there are over six meat dishes on the menu ranging in price from 38,000 to 46,500 pesos. And there is a chicken dish priced at 34,500 pesos.

Steak medallions with wine and mushroom sauce and a salad

In addition, there are five fish dishes priced at 34,000 to 63,500 pesos. And there are two salads priced at 27,500 and 29,900 pesos.

White fish filet with baked potato and side-salad

In addition, there are several desserts on the menu but I haven’t had room for a dessert yet at this restaurant chain.

The Drink Menu

This restaurant chain has a decent sized drink menu. The drink menu includes several different local, imported and artisanal beers for 8,000 to 11,000 pesos each.

In addition, there are 20 different wines on the menu for 25,000 to 109,000 pesos per bottle. And the house wine is 15,500 pesos per cup.

Also, there are over 12 different cocktails for 21,000 to 26,000 pesos each. And they have 18 different liquors on the menu like aguardiente, rum, tequila and whisky available by bottle, half-bottle or shot. And a pitcher of sangria is 75,000 pesos.

Finally, there are several non-alcoholic drinks on the menu including sodas, juices and lemonades.

How to Get to Hato Viejo

Hato Viejo has four restaurant locations in the Medellín area listed below:

1. Las Palmas – Calle 16 # 28-60 in front of the Hotel Intercontinental, phone: +57 4 268 6811
2. El Centro – Carrera 47 # 52-17, phone: +57 4 251 2196
3. Oviedo Mall – Calle 6 Sur # 43A-227, 4^th floor, phone: +57 4 321 1965
4. Viva Envigado Mall – Carrera 48 # 32BSur-139, Local 331, phone: +57 4 479 9453

Website: http://hatoviejo.com/

The Best Colombia Food (Comida Típica) in Medellín

On the Medellin Guru site we have looked at eight of the best Colombian food restaurants in Medellín metro area with good comida típica – traditional Colombian dishes:

1. El Rancherito (with nine locations)
2. Hacienda (with six locations)
3. Hato Viejo (with four locations)
4. Mondongo’s (with two locations)
5. El Viejo John (with one location in Sabaneta)
6. Ajiacos y Mondongos (with one location)
7. La Hija de Stella (with one location in Sabaneta)
8. El Peregrino (with one location in Sabaneta)

Hato Viejo in the Viva Envigado mall after the lunch rush

The Bottom Line – Hato Viejo

Hato Viejo has grown to a chain of four popular restaurants for a good reason. They have very good comida típica – traditional Colombian dishes.

With good food and service, on the weekends the Hato Viejo restaurants can usually be pretty busy. Also, it’s a good place to soak up the Paisa atmosphere.

However, you can find typical Colombian food throughout Medellín in many local restaurants with lower prices. But if you are looking for excellent traditional Colombian dishes and a higher quality of service and atmosphere, Hato Viejo is recommended.

The biggest competition to Hato Viejo is Rancherito and Hacienda, which are two other chains that also have very good traditional Colombian food in my experience.

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