Baluarte de Santo Domingo

For years this bastion was Café del Mar, the sunset bar that showed up in every guide. In September 2024 the city took it back by court order and the bar left the wall. Many blogs still recommend it as if it were there.

On May 24, 2025 it reopened as a space open to everyone, with no exclusions, managed by the Escuela Taller Cartagena de Indias. The food and drinks are made by graduates and apprentices of its cooking program, with Caribbean flavors, and the money raised goes to the upkeep of the fortification and the students' training.

It's one of the earliest bastions on the wall: construction began in the early 17th century. From the top you see the open sea and, late in the afternoon, the sun sets right in front of you.

What to see

• The sunset over the sea from the wall.
• The bastion's cannons and sentry boxes.
• The Escuela Taller's food.

Getting there

• On foot from the Plaza de Santo Domingo, walking toward the sea until you reach the wall.
• Taxi: ask for Playa de la Artillería or the Baluarte de Santo Domingo.

Tips

• Arrive before 5:30 p.m. to get a spot before sunset.
• If someone charges you to get into the bastion, don't pay: entry is free.
• Check the menu and prices before you order.