Restaurante 1621

The food tastes delicious, but the price-performance ratio is not good; the plates are very small. I understand the concept because I've been to several restaurants with similar experiences, but this one really doesn't match that. The service is impeccable, and the servers speak perfect English. The experience lasted three hours, so bear that in mind.

It is a wonderful place. My partner took me for my birthday and we had dinner in the garden. The food is exquisite and the service excellent.

Located inside the historic Santa Clara Hotel in Cartagena’s walled city, Restaurante 1621 stands out as one of the city’s premier fine dining destinations. Chef Dominique Oudin’s creations were truly a memorable experience—beautifully presented, full of flavor, and uniquely inspired. Some of his dishes even reminded me of those by Daniel Boulud, the Michelin-starred chef in NYC—refined, thoughtful, and deeply satisfying.We enjoyed every bite. The ambiance was elegant, and the staff were both friendly and attentive, adding to the overall charm of the evening. It's a fantastic culinary experience that we’ll remember fondly.

All I have to say is wow. Each dish was immaculate from presentation to taste. Our service was provided by Adriana; I don't think I have ever had a better waiter. I highly recommend this experience. It is truly a bucket list item you must do.

Disappointing, of the 10-step tasting menu, I could rate 2 or 3 with 3 stars out of a possible 5, the other 7 or 8 are not steps, they are rather after piece, very insipid, bland, without identity, these menue said nothing. This has been my most disappointing experience in fine dining restaurants. For the prices paid in this place, the preparations and flavors should exploit the taste senses of the diners.

Located in the lush garden of the old convent (now the Sofitel). We did the 10 course tasting menu - and loved every course! Our favorites were the heart of palm, lobster/fish tartar and the lamb. It was a lovely experience of fine dining in Cartagena.

Saw this was one of the best restaurants in the world according to trip advisor so we came for our anniversary. 10/10. The food was absolutely delicious and even though it looks like small sizes, it was very filling.

With high prices and quality far below expectations, Restaurante 1621 does not live up to its promise. I don't know what happened between TripAdvisor's visit and ours, but the difference was evident. By not receiving any response to my review, it seems like a strategy to avoid acknowledging the flaws in the service and hide the problems mentioned. Consider this a warning: you are paying for the location and the friendliness of the waiters, but the food is pre-frozen and of poor quality.Review: Restaurante 1621 boasts a prestigious reputation, but my experience was far from the excellence expected of an establishment of this category. Even after several days, I am still in a state of disbelief at what I witnessed. It is almost impossible for me to accept that a place with such a reputation could make such obvious mistakes and, what is worse, justify such high prices with service and cuisine that are not up to par.Food Quality: Aesthetics without Depth The presentation of the dishes was impeccable, but the actual quality of the ingredients and taste did not match the image. From the first bite, I could tell that something was not right: some textures and flavors clearly indicated that they had been previously frozen and had been stored for too long. Even the fresh ingredients weren't the best quality, leaving me feeling like the focus was on appearance rather than substance.The Wine Incident: A Dubious Practice The staff was friendly and cordial throughout the experience, but in a restaurant of this caliber, hospitality must go hand in hand with impeccable service. When a fly landed on my wine glass, I expected the staff to handle the situation professionally. Instead, they removed my glass, brought another one, and poured the same wine into it. This procedure blew me away. I couldn't help but wonder if they had simply filtered the wine and reused it. This situation, in addition to raising doubts about the restaurant's hygiene protocols, ruined the confidence I had in their service.Hidden Charges in Tea and Rum: Lack of Transparency They offered us young or aged rum without mentioning that it had an extra cost. Just by chance I noticed the prices on a stand. The lack of clarity made it look like a deliberate attempt to increase the bill without warning. In a restaurant of this level, transparency is essential.Atmosphere: Beautiful but with Unforgivable Details The location and colonial architecture of the restaurant create an impressive environment, that is undeniable. But the table was wobbly, interrupting the experience. It is these small details that separate an exceptional restaurant from one that only appears to be so.Final Verdict: High Price, Disappointing Experience Although Restaurante 1621 shines visually, the overall experience left a lot to be desired. The food did not live up to its presentation, errors in service eroded the feeling of hospitality and the lack of transparency seriously affected trust in the place. Even more alarming was discovering, after my visit, that other customers have reported food safety issues, reinforcing my concerns about the restaurant's standards. I still can't believe that such a disappointing experience could come from a place that boasts such prestige.Obviously, I wouldn't recommend anyone come to eat here. If the restaurant wants to maintain its prestige, it should seriously reconsider its quality and service standards. Until that happens, my advice is simple: avoid this place. I used the assistance of an AI to structure my thoughts and present a clear and detailed evaluation of my experience.

1821 is exceptional. The restaurant is beautiful, the food is exceptional and the staff was extraordinary. My wife and I have traveled extensively and have been fortunate to have experienced many incredible dining experiences including many Michelin star restaurants. 1821 was one of the best restaurants we have ever gone to. We enjoyed a six course tasting meal. One course was better than the next. When in Cartegena, dining at 1821 is a must.

Everything about my experience at 1621 was unforgettable. Adriana made our dinner special, she was so kind and attentive. It was great to chat with her about each of the dishes and share the flavors we loved. Each dish was unforgettable. Pure perfection!