El Poblado: Restaurants, Nightlife and Green Hills

El Poblado is where most visitors stay on their first trip to Medellín. Built on the green hills of the southeast of the city, it has the highest concentration of hotels, restaurants, cafés and nightlife, and it's where you'll hear the most English.

The areas you should know

• Parque Lleras: the heart of the nightlife, a small park surrounded by bars and clubs. Lively and loud until late, especially on weekends.
• Provenza: the streets just above Parque Lleras, full of restaurants, cafés, boutiques and rooftop bars. The trendiest part of the city to eat and drink.
• Manila and Astorga: quieter streets close to the action, with cafés, coworkings and smaller hotels.
• Avenida El Poblado: the main avenue, lined with offices, malls and big hotels.

Who should stay here

Choose El Poblado if it's your first time in Medellín, if you want to walk to good restaurants and bars, or if you prefer a neighborhood used to international visitors. It is also the most expensive area of the city, and the busiest with tourists; if you're looking for local life, look at Laureles or Envigado.

Staying safe

• Keep your phone out of sight on the street and in open-air restaurants: phone snatching is the most common crime.
• At night, never leave your drink unattended and only accept drinks served directly by the bartender.
• Be very careful with dating apps. Embassies have warned that criminals use them to lure foreigners and drug them; always meet in busy public places.
• Plan your ride home before you go out: book a private driver you can trust, or use Uber. Don’t hail taxis or random cars outside bars and clubs.