Medellin

A lot of our skate competitions in Medellín happen in La Loma. This famous hill spot is very steep, and when you descolgar (go down) you hit a crazy speed. I like skating in this spot because it’s exciting and you get a lot of adrenaline. Because it's so high, after you skate it someone has to bring you back up in the motorbikes, where you hold onto the back and they drive you; or you have to walk back up which takes ages.

I grew up in this barrio so it will always be special for me and somewhere where I can skate. This barrio has a lot of tourists now, and is less dangerous than it used to be but you still have to be smart and be good with the people. There is a lot of things happening on the street here. I like skating here in my barrio, because you can find a lot of secret spots. You can skate down the paths and go fast, or find little back roads, ledges, alleys, playgrounds and more to land tricks. When I’m in the Comuna I like showing the other kids in the barrio how to skate.

Estadio was the first skatepark in Medellín, it’s right next to the Nacional stadium. It is an important spot for me because it’s where I first started spending a lot of time skateboarding, met a lot of people who have been important to me. There would always be people here skating all the time, so you can always arrive and there’ll be parceros to skate with or people to spend time with. Next to the stadium there is Estadio Skate Shop where Danny and his friends sell brands from Colombia, Mexico; we don't get many brands from outside of Latin America.

La 4 is probably the biggest skatepark in Medellín, it reminds me of Southbank in London because it has a roof. The roof means everyone can hang here when it rains. La 4 has the reputation as the party skatepark, and maybe dangerous at times; there are always people partying with big speakers playing techno or reggaeton, eating, drinking and the rest. You can go there at any time and there will be people partying there, and here all the different crews gather like the skaters, BMX, rollers and the moto crews all hang around and come together. In La 4 there is always a high energy, you have to be a very aggressive skater here to stand out, to get your turn, you have to push further and go faster, because there are so many people trying to use the space. The police come here a lot and cause problems. The other week, they took my moto into the transito and gave me a fine for not having the right papers. There are also a lot of fights here  because the people are charged a lot.

This is a more low-key skatepark and it’s higher up in the city. It has a view where you can see all the red buildings of Medellín, all the barrios and the mountains in the background. Here is a good parche because everyone is chill, and when it’s sunny you can see a lot of things in beautiful Medellín.

Centro also has some good spots to skate. You can see places like Parque de la Deseos – which was nicknamed Parque de la Resistencia during the months of protest a few years ago. Many people camped out there, living there in tents as part of the primera línea, as a protest, and there was all sorts of craziness going on here.

Where to Skate in Medellín, According to Cris Skate Future

This food cart has been located on the same area/corner in Envigado as far as I can remember and serve the most outrageous yet delicious perras, which is our version of a hot dog where the sausage gets replaced with bacon and cheese, then topped with coleslaw, crushed crisps and loads of sauce. Medellín Street Eats 101.

When in Medellín you should always take a trip to one of our plazas or markets to get a more real image of the city. But, more importantly, you also get a wide option of small traditional restaurants and going to La Floresta’s plaza will get you off the beaten path. Look for Menu del Día and you will get a lovely Colombian meal for a reasonable price.

This one is for the sweet tooth. This cosy wooden shack at the top of Medellín’s Hills serve, as you can imagine, grotesque, coma-inducing traditional desserts. Go for the strawberries with cream or oblea con todo, which is a tortilla shaped wafer sandwich with cream, dulce de leche, cheese, blueberry jam, strawberries. You can also add extra toppings, not that you need it.

This is one of Medellín’s best hidden spots. Specialising in the Pacific Coast cuisine, El Barco (the boat) is packed with ocean décor resembling a wooden ship inside serving traditional dishes. I always recommend the fish soup (better if you have a hangover) but they serve whole fried fish with plantain chips, coconut rice and salad. The legend says the owner has his own cargo jet and he gets fresh fish for the restaurant. No miss here.

Located in the outskirts with a stunning view of the city, Donde Estela is the staple Paisa (individual belonging to Medellín) establishment. A place for hard liquor (Aguardiente is the way to go) and an assembly of pork belly, chorizo, pork belly, arepas and plantain chips. Just figure out the size, portions are generous, and off you go.

I am a pizza enthusiast and although I would make my pizza at home, Pizza Centro is my go-to option when friends are visiting. Located in downtown Medellín, this pizzeria serves an OK pizza (I got to be honest), but being in a historical, traditional neighbourhood downtown elevates the experience.

Chitterlings, chitlings or chunchurria, as we call it, is a love or hate dish in Medellín, responsible for many discussions – normally in the company of Aguardiente. When poorly done, avoiding it is a must, but the one from del Mocho is among the best if not the best in the city.

Medellín is not great on breakfasts or baking, but buñuelos (deep fried cheese balls) are among the best bites one gets around in most bakeries. Buñuelo Supremo located at the heart of Poblado will cover your daily dose. They serve a range of full breakfast options (arepas, eggs, chocolate, etc.) but I would suggest exploring our most common fried bites (empanadas, buñuelos, pastel de pollo, etc.).

There is something about naming traditional food joints as the owner, just like Donde Estela, La Gloria de Gloria in Envigado is the go-to place for our most known and important dish: la Bandeja Paisa. If you suffer from the heart, avoid it (I mean it), this plate comes with our traditional thick bean soup, rice, minced meat, salad, fried chorizo, plantain, egg, avocado, fries and a massive pork belly (yes, you guessed right, also fried). Sharing between two is my recommendation.

Although this is located around 30 minutes from Medellín, it gets a mention as I always paid a visit when cycling outside the city (pretty much every weekend). Ricas Arepas serve, in my opinion, the best, sweetcorn arepas in the country – yes, the country! They grind the corn daily and are baked in a clay oven. These arepas are split open, smothered in butter and fresh cheese – a match made in heaven. A bonus here is that you are close to Scarab Cycles and Torrealta Cerveceria, two local artisans making bespoke Colombia bicycles and beer.

TraTraTrax Co-Founder, DJ Lomalinda, Selects His Top 10 Food Joints in Medellín

Rainmaker 

Versalles is one of the traditional meeting points of the city, I have eaten at Versalles for more than 10 years now. I first discovered it whilst my parents brought me to “Juninear” (go to Junín, a neighborhood in the center of the city, to have a snack in the afternoons). I highly recommend the Milanesa.

The UVA or Articulated Life Units are a project that seeks to take advantage of water storage spaces to unite the community around water, light and landscape There are a total of 12 UVA throughout the city, in each of them there are cultural and recreational events. My favorite for its view is the UVA of Imagination.

Las Torres de Bomboná is much more than a residential complex, it is a benchmark in the center and Medellín, It is a place where you can meet to “Parchar” in one of its several restaurants or bars. Or it is simply the home of many people who inhabit the spacious apartments, or a meeting point for locals and strangers who simply meet in the central park of the residential complex.

An art gallery, an event room. Here I have had many memorable parties in my early days as a musician. La Pascasia is a beautiful and a cultural gem in the center of Medellin. The atmosphere is rich, with Colombian art of every kind.

A.K.A “La Esquina de Fuego” is a special place for me and my people, our meeting point, where you can have a beer and dance from “Perreo" to weird techno, the place that trained me as a DJ. I recommend taking the cocktail "Negro" A mixture of Guarapo (Colombian traditional drink) Rum and salts.

I recently got to know this place, it is an alliance of artists and writers where you can find talks, music and different local brands.

If you’re into ramen and weird anime things, this is your place in Medellin.

Salsa, son, beer and more than forty types of rum. Do i need to tell you something else?

The best place to drink a traditional Colombian "Tinto" Otraparte was the home of the Philosopher Fernando González, now it is a cultural center where you can find different programming and tour the property's gardens and corners. My personal recommendation is: Empanaditas with Ají de Maracuyá.

The Best Places to "Parchar" in Medellín with Rainmaker

Verraco

Salón Málaga is a long-lived bar full of history and oldster local music. It's perfect to get a taste of what the old city used to be, while you drink some aguardientes (schnapps). This place is downtown so then take the opportunity to go through it.

Easily the best place in the Aburrá Valley to eat typical Medellín food. It’s hardcore, watch out.

If you are looking for proper local heavy sweaty ‘bellaqueo’, this is paradise. My favorite reggaeton club in town. Berlin has Berghain, but Medellín has Perro Negro.

In addition to having a fresh program, movies, installations, and restaurants, hanging around the Medellín Modern Art Museum is pure bliss.

A small taste of Colombia's vast biodiversity. Don't miss out on the ‘Mariposario’. It is located right next to the aquarium (also don’t miss there the Amazonas king: the Pirarucú) and the planetarium.

As a teenager, football was my whole life and it allowed me to get out of my neighborhood and discover the city in depth. I have a lot of memories of this field, especially when it was made of sand and not synthetic grass. If you like the game and want to get out of the ordinary-tourist common places, here you will find high football matches to watch while feeling Medellín’s real heat.

This is one of the few electronic music clubs left in the city. There we have had memorable parties, especially the Medellin Rave Society — Insurgentes showcase back in 2018. Calle 9+1 resists in spite of the fact that we have a government that does not allocate any kind of aid to the arts and culture sector in the midst of the pandemic.

Go up to this beautiful eco-park and enjoy the best panoramic view of the city from the metro-cable.

One of the most important museums in the country, beautiful collections and library focused on plastic arts.

This is our meeting place before starting the nights. You have all the alternatives nearby: decent bars, delicious restaurants, multiple clubs, and it is also perfect if you want to just sit on the street, drink, and watch the city go by.