Versalles is an Argentinian restaurant in Medellín located in El Centro that is popular with good empanadas plus a bakery and other good Argentinian food.
This restaurant is probably best known for its Argentinian empanadas. Versalles reportedly buys 50 lbs. of meat each day to produce 2,000 of its large empanadas daily. But the restaurant has many other things on the menu.
In addition, this restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Note the above photos are courtesy of Versalles.
Versalles restaurant in Medellín
History of Versalles
Versalles was founded by the Argentinian Leonardo Nieto on August 15, 1961. Also, Versalles started out as an ice cream and pastry shop and gradually became a popular restaurant and meeting point.
This restaurant was popular with the irreverent young people who shook the tranquility of Medellín in the sixties. In addition, it was popular with the first groups of university theater and the athletes of the cycling and athletics leagues of Antioquia.
This restaurant became a meeting point for those who enjoy Argentinian gastronomy, social gathering, football and tango. And it is considered an emblematic site located in the center of Medellín for more than half a century.
Churrasco steak, photo courtesy of Versalles
The Food Menu
Versalles has a variety of dishes on its menu. This restaurant is famous for its large empanadas that are priced at 3,500 pesos for Argentinian empanadas and 3,600 pesos for Chilean empanadas. And you can buy a box of five of the popular Argentinian empanadas for 16,900 pesos.
Empanadas just out of the oven
A large Argentinian empanada for 3,500 pesos
On the menu at Versalles you will find:
- 9 different meat dishes with prices from 19,500 to 35,900 pesos. The meat special is a Churrasco steak for 34,900 pesos.
- 4 fish and seafood dishes with prices from 14,800 to 27,800 pesos.
- 4 pasta dishes with prices from 15,500 to 21,600 pesos.
- 4 pizzas for 27,900 to 35,000 pesos.
- 3 rice dishes for 19,900 to 23,000 pesos
- 9 different sandwiches with prices from 8,200 to 13,000 pesos
The restaurant is open for breakfast, photo courtesy of Versalles
Versalles is also open for breakfast and there are seven breakfast dishes on the menu with prices from 8,000 to 15,800 pesos.
One of the ice-cream desserts
Also, this restaurant is a bakery so there are several pastries on the menu with prices from 3,400 to 3,600 pesos. Finally, there are several desserts on the menu with prices from 3,600 to 8,900 pesos. And there are six different ice cream dishes for 5,900 to 8,900 pesos. In addition, you can buy cakes and other pastries to go from the bakery.
The Drink Menu
The drink menu at Versalles includes three beers for 4,200 to 5,600 pesos. Also, there are wines from Argentina and Chile available for 44,500 pesos per bottle. And there is house wine by the cup for 6,300 pesos.
In addition, there are several cocktails on the menu for 6,600 to 12,000 pesos. And there are shots of several different liquors for 4,000 to 8,800 pesos.
For non-alcoholic drinks there are natural juices for 4,800 to 5,200 pesos and sodas and teas for 3,000 to 3,200 pesos. Finally, there are several coffees on the menu for 2,000 to 7,000 pesos.
Versalles is located about a 5-minute walk from Parque Berrio in El Centro
How to Get to Versalles
Versalles is located on Carrera 49 (Junín) in El Centro. This restaurant is easy to get to as it is located about a 5-minute walk from the Parque Berrio metro station on Line A of the Medellín metro.
Carrera 49 (Junín) is a pedestrian street in El Centro that all taxi drivers in the city will know.
Website: https://versallesmedellin.com/
Address: Carrera 49 # 53-39, El Centro, Medellín
Phone: +54 4 511 9146
Email: info@versallesmedellin.com
Hours: Monday to Saturday: 7 am to 9 pm; Sunday: 8 am to 6 pm.
Payment accepted: Credit cards or cash
The Best Restaurants in El Centro in Medellín
We have looked a six of the best restaurants in El Centro in Medellín:
- Hacienda – a popular chain of Colombian restaurants with six locations in Medellín including one in El Centro.
- Pizzeria Centro – a hidden gem pizzeria in El Centro with excellent thin-crust pizzas.
- Hato Viejo – a chain of Colombian restaurants with four locations in Medellín including one in El Centro.
- Astor – a large Swiss café that is very popular and famous for its cakes, pastries and chocolates.
- Versalles – a popular Argentinian restaurant in El Centro that is best known for its large empanadas.
- Palazzetto D’Italía – a hidden gem Italian restaurant in El Centro.
We plan to look at more of the best restaurants located in El Centro in Medellín.
Inside the first floor of the restaurant, there are two floors
The Bottom Line: Versalles – A Popular Argentinian Restaurant in Medellín
Versalles is a popular restaurant in El Centro that I have been to many times. The Argentinian empanadas at this restaurant are very good and I have tried many other things on the menu that have also been good.
When I go to El Centro, my Colombian wife frequently asks me to bring home some empanadas from this restaurant and something from the bakery.
This restaurant is frequently filled with Colombians due to the good food and reasonable prices. And I rarely have seen foreigners in this restaurant.
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5 thoughts on “Versalles: A Popular Argentinian Restaurant in Medellín in El Centro”
I first ate at the Veralles in the mid-1960s when I was a Peace Corps Volunteer living in Medellín. Then it was a popular place with PCVs and locals. When they came to Medellín it was one of the go-to places for Volunteers working in the campo. On our every other year trips to Medellín my wife and i have at least one meal there. It is crowded as ever with business people, students, families and grande dames occupying the tables at lunchtime. The churrasco does not seem quite as tender as it used to be but it is quite flavorful. The wait staff is friendly and extremely efficient. On very warm days the upstairs dining area can be hot and stuffy. So try to eat downstairs! Wish Versalles would update the men’s toilet. Has not changed since the 1960s…for that matter not much at Versalles has!
My favorite restaurant in Medellin. Try and avoid it at night as the surrounding neighborhood is filled with panhandlers and thieves. Last time I ate at Versailles i caught a taxi at the corner of junin and la playa and had my cell phone stolen at knifepoint. True story. Centro is offlimits for me these days. Too dangerous these days. Go in a group and it will be much safer. The food is outanding. The argentine empanadas are the best i have ever tasted service is outstanding.
Thanks Jeff,
The restaurant looks great! I put it on my list!
Most good restaurants in El Centro seem to close by 6pm. I would recomend Delicias al natural ( close 6pm ) https://www.facebook.com/deliciasalnaturalrestaurante/.
Thanks, we plan to cover Delicias al Natural, which I have been to several times and agree it has good food.