Cartagena Bar Alquímico Is Three Stories of Cocktail Magic

"Set inside an ornate old mansion in Cartagena’s Old Town with two indoor levels and a rooftop, I found my night at Alquímico to be one of the best bar experiences I’ve ever had — it was recently named the tenth best bar in the world and has been called the best bar in South America by the World's 50 Best Bars. Art Deco details, a grand double-sided staircase, a second-floor balcony, and vintage crown moldings create an immediate sense of grandiosity, while each floor offers its own menu and vibe. On Floor 1 — La Mansión — I sipped the cerebral Té Caribeño, a tart, earthy, subtly sweet mix of Tanqueray Rangpur gin, Maraschino liqueur, a green tea infusion, dehydrated coconut, Peruvian groundcherries, and lime, and noted that spirits are often infused with flavors like corn, green tea, or even cheese. Floor 2 — El Balcón — focuses on reimagined classics; I tried a clear Espresso Martini spiced with cardamom and cocoa, and enjoyed the Ayu (House Highball) with coca cordial and orange blossom and the Tomoji (House Mojito) with lemongrass and sage. The rooftop Terraza screams “fun,” where I danced under the night sky to reggaeton and drank tiki-inspired, not-too-sweet cocktails like the Mandarino — gin with Alquímico’s own mandarin-lemon liqueur, pineapple extract, lime juice, and bee pollen — perfect for the hot Cartagena air. Most drinks rely on fruits, herbs, and other organic ingredients drawn from Colombia’s biodiversity; co-owner Jean Trinh even bought a farm in the coffee region in 2019 to supply produce to the bar and used it to house and feed staff during the pandemic, which added an extra layer of meaning to the cocktails." - Merlyn Miller