How to Make the Most of 24 Hours in Poblado Medellin as a Remote Worker

I've always had a soft spot for Medellin. There's something magical about emerging from that long tunnel after the airport and seeing the city sprawled out below, twinkling with a thousand lights at night. It's a view that never gets old.

On this trip, I arrived in Medellin just before midnight, exhausted from a day of travel. Luckily, my destination was Loma Verde – a little oasis in the heart of the city to stay at for a few nights. Skip down below for my food recommendations!

Where to stay (for starters) in Poblado Medellin for Remote Workers

Medellin is the kind of city where it can be nice to start with a few nights somewhere chill, comfortable, and beautiful to adjust.

I also prefer having a space where I can catch up on work before I get too immersed in the local community & nomad friends.

I stayed at Loma Verde (this was a gifted stay but I would return on my own.)

What I loved: Inside the apartment, there was a little gift basket with water bottles, local chocolate, and most important of all…local coffee. Arriving late at night means that this little gesture gave me nice coffee at "home" the next morning.

The apartment wasn’t the biggest but everything inside was of exceptional quality: a smart TV that easily connected to Netflix, a large rain shower with L’Occitane en Provence essential oils soap, shampoo and conditioner, and a giant comfortable bed.

After adjusting to the city the best is to check out some coliving spots so you can make your friend group! Lots of nomads stay for months to years in Medellin and it's a great way to get immersed before finding longer-term housing.

Location & Amenties in Loma Verde, Medellin

Loma Verde's location is pretty much perfect. It's just a few blocks from the main Poblado area, close enough to the action but far enough from the noisy nightclubs.

• 10-minute walk to restaurants during the day

• 5-minute Uber at night (don't walk around at night alone)

• Surrounded by nature: Despite being in the city, you're never far from the river and lush tropical greenery. The balcony of my apartment had a lovely jungle view and barely felt like the city.

My favorite morning ritual? Sipping coffee on the balcony, watching the birds, and soaking in the view. It's the perfect way to start the day.

Pro Tip: If grabbing a taxi, it’s important to ask for the price before you get in. Even with “set” pricing, taxis in South America are known to occasionally take advantage of tourists.

Arrival Tips to Poblado

If you’re just arriving in Medellin, there are a couple of tips that you should keep in mind. That way, you’ll be able to get to your hotel in no time at all!

Transport: Uber (recommended) or airport taxi. Uber operates in a grey zone so you'll need to sit in the front seat and act like it's not an uber.

Cost from Airport: approximately 80k COP (prices will be higher if arriving super late like me!)

Driving Time to Poblado: 30 minutes but factor in at least 45 because of occasional tunnel closures or traffic.

Brunch at Pergamino in Poblado Medellin

After a refreshing night’s sleep at Loma Verde, it’s time to check out a nearby favorite: Pergamino Cafe! There are two Pergaminos close by in Poblado…the quieter & closer one is a quick 10-minute walk downhill from Loma Verde.

This is your brunch spot!! Try one of their specialty coffees and get something delicious to eat. There is often a line, but I promise it’s worth it. This is also my favorite place to remote work at a cafe.

What to Order

We ordered the Pinches Huevos: an egg cazuela with a delicious green tomatillo sauce, mozzarella cheese, and all the normal Tex-Mex toppings of beans, corn, avocado, and more. We also ordered the Grilled Cheese (Queso al grill) after seeing it come out… yum!

Last but not least, we got a piece of carrot cake to split. I cannot recommend the food here enough…even the simplest dishes (Grilled Cheese!) come out beyond flavorful. Don’t miss out on sampling their cold brew, either.

Address: Vía Primavera San Lucas 10B Oviedo

Your Dinner Spot: Peruvian Food at Rocoto in Poblado

Rocoto is conveniently located a short taxi away (about 5 minutes). Make sure to message Rocoto beforehand to make a reservation.

I personally messaged them on Instagram and found them extremely responsive. Rocoto has delicious and authentically Peruvian food. Everything is flavorful and fresh!

The dining room is an urban-jungle-covered patio… enough music for a vibe without making it difficult to hold a conversation.

What to Order

I highly recommend starting with their Pisco Sours. Rocoto makes a variety of flavors but their traditional & passionfruit Pisco Sours in particular were delicious. This was the best Pisco Sour I have had outside of Peru! Everything here exceeded our expectations. 

We started with the Tornado Trufado appetizer which is white fish stuffed with avocado, sweet potato, cream cheese, and a creamy aji truffle sauce. For the main course, we split the Piqueo de Mar, a ceviche sampler.

This was delicious! Get one of their samplers so you can try different things. Without an appetizer and dessert, the ceviche sampler probably would’ve been too small to split alone.

The Piqueo de Mar comes with a Leche de Tigre Traditional Ceviche, a crab Cause, a shrimp ceviche, and a mix of prawns with avocado in a tamarind sauce. They have another sampler as well that features favorites other than ceviche.

For dessert, we split a delicious brownie! The table next to us had the Nutella spring rolls and said they were underwhelming. The best part of Peruvian food is that it’s filling and flavorful but not overly heavy-feeling food.

Address: Cra 33 #8a-14, Medellín, Antioquia

Nightlife Recommendations in Poblado, Medellin

After dinner, if you want to cause some trouble, there are a few closeby (and good!) options for every taste. Here were my top picks:

• ZBar Jazz: upscale local sounds. ZBar is a beautifully decorated vintage-feeling time capsule underneath the Marquee Hotel

• 7 Pulgadas Vinyl Bar: Funky hidden disco bar. 7 Pulgadas is slightly further away, just past Parque Poblado. There’s no sign but look for the door that says “Listening Bar”. Inside expect a cozy two-level spot with DJs mixing vinyls Friday & Saturday nights. Great cocktails!

• El Social: casual local vibe. El Social is very close and has a fun local crowd. Come here for a beer or mojito sitting in the street. Great on a clear night to feel the nightlife energy while relaxing!

• Envy Rooftop: an upscale rooftop with a great view of the city and DJs. Can sometimes get loud on the weekends at night.

• MadRadio: radio station streaming, house music bar. This is a hip alternative spot that gets very popular with live DJs. 

  
  

Healthy Breakfast in Poblado, Medellin

Everybody in the area has a soft spot for Betty’s Bowls. This breakfast spot hits on the lighter side– it’s a short walk from Loma Verde and specializes in healthy smoothie bowls and avocado toasts to help with your recovery from last night.

The Amarillo (Yellow) and the Charcoal Bowl are the most popular and both fantastic. I recommend getting a small (cup) sized smoothie bowl and a toast or bagel in case a smoothie alone doesn’t fill you up. The best part of Betty’s Bowls? The owner’s cute dogs! This is a remote worker's favorite.

Final Thoughts

Medellin is full of so many vibrant neighborhoods but the nature in Poblado makes it a fan favorite. Longer-term visitors often will start in Poblado and then move out to Laureles. If you're only coming for a few days or you want a nice place to adjust to the city: Loma Verde was a great stay.

For longer term social options there are heaps of colivings in the area! Coliving is a great way to get started in Medellin and make your friend group.