Barichara has fewer restaurants than you might expect for a destination of its reputation — the town’s modest permanent population (approximately 9,000 people) means the dining scene is scaled to match, with a core of perhaps 12 to 15 places open at any given time. Quality is generally decent; prices are reasonable for the standard. The key to eating well here is understanding the local cuisine: Santandereano cooking is specific and worth seeking out rather than defaulting to generic Colombian or international menus.
Restaurants
Alma Barichara
The most consistently praised restaurant in town for several years running. Alma occupies a colonial house a block from the main plaza with a small terrace and an interior dining room with exposed stone walls. The menu is short and changes regularly — this is a good sign. The kitchen works with local and regional ingredients, leaning toward updated versions of Santandereano classics rather than pure traditionalism. A main course (grilled cabro, fresh fish, or vegetable-forward options) runs approximately COP 38,000 to 55,000. Set lunches available on weekdays for approximately COP 22,000. Reserve ahead on weekends — the space is small and fills up.
La Casona del Rincón
The go-to address for straightforward, authentic Santandereano cooking. La Casona is a family-run restaurant in a colonial building on one of the streets near the plaza. The mute stew here is excellent — a deep, rich version that takes hours to prepare. Cabro is served roasted with potatoes and a basic salad. Chicharrón is generous and well-rendered. No pretension, no interior design ambitions: just good regional food at fair prices. Main courses approximately COP 18,000 to 32,000 as of 2026. Open for lunch daily, dinner on weekends only.
El Compa
A casual, popular spot with outdoor seating on the plaza. El Compa is not trying to be a gastronomic destination — it is a reliable everyday option for grilled meats, arepas, bandeja-style plates, and cold beer. Portions are generous. The outdoor tables make it one of the best places to eat while watching the foot traffic on the plaza. Main courses approximately COP 18,000 to 28,000. Closes earlier than you might expect (by 8pm on weeknights) — plan accordingly.
Punto de Encuentro
A simple restaurant that does the corrientazo (set lunch) well. One main dish, soup, rice, salad, juice, and dessert for approximately COP 12,000 to 15,000 as of 2026. The corrientazo is how most Colombians eat their main meal of the day, and this is an honest version of it. Meat-focused (usually chicken, beef, or pork); vegetarians will find limited options. Open for lunch only, Monday to Saturday.
Restaurante Guane
Slightly more upmarket than La Casona del Rincón but in a similar regional-food vein. Guane specialises in the traditional dishes of the Santander highlands and presents them with more polish than a basic corrientazo joint. Hormiga culona (fried queen ants) appears on the menu here more reliably than most other Barichara restaurants — ask if they have it in season. Main courses approximately COP 28,000 to 45,000. The dining room has views over a courtyard garden.
Coffee and Light Meals
Café del Parque
The main option for breakfast, coffee, and light daytime food. A small cafe with a few tables facing the Parque Principal — good for watching the plaza come to life in the morning. Filter coffee from Santander beans, arepas, eggs, pan de bono, and fruit bowls are the usual order. A full breakfast costs approximately COP 12,000 to 18,000. Closes by early afternoon. Not exceptional, but reliably good and well-located.
La Tienda de la Abuela
A small provisions shop and informal cafe that has expanded to offer empanadas, tamales, and homemade sweets alongside its grocery stock. The tamales are particularly good. Useful as an early-morning option before proper restaurants open, or as a takeaway for the Camino Real trail. Prices very low — COP 3,000 to 8,000 per item.
What to Know About Eating in Barichara
Opening hours are earlier than in cities. Most restaurants in Barichara close by 9pm even on weekends, and several close their kitchens by 8pm. This is a rural mountain town, not a city with late dining culture. Plan dinner before 7:30pm to avoid limited options.
Weekend vs weekday availability. Several of the better restaurants operate reduced hours or close entirely on weeknights. Lunch is the main meal; weekend evenings see all the options open. If you are visiting midweek, ask at your accommodation what is open on the specific night you plan to eat.
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The corrientazo is the best-value meal. The set lunch (corrientazo or menú del dÃa) served between roughly 12pm and 2pm at local restaurants typically includes soup, a main plate with rice and salad, a juice, and sometimes a small dessert, for COP 12,000 to 18,000. This is how the town eats its main meal and it is often better value and more representative than ordering à la carte.
Limited nightlife food. Barichara has almost no late-night food options. If you want to eat after 9pm, buy something from La Tienda de la Abuela before it closes, or bring snacks. This is not a destination that accommodates Spanish dining hours.
For guided walking tours that combine local restaurants, artisan workshops, and the Camino Real trail, tours in Barichara lists verified operators running day trips from San Gil.