Alma in Cartagena, Colombia

As I started to plan my trip to Colombia, naturally I asked around for some recommendations. And in an unusual way, on every list of recommendations that I got back - from tourists and born-and-raised Colombians alike - Alma was at the top of everyone's list.

Find the restroom and get a peek at the lush pool just beyond the restaurant.

The premise is this: Alma is a restaurant inside one of the most chic hotels in Centro Histórico: Casa San Agustin. The exterior of this hotel feels a little like a five-star spa in Sedona or maybe even Santa Fe. The building itself is cream white with details like gas burning lanterns, ropes of vines curling over the balconies, and smartly-dressed doormen keeping the entrance peaceful.

Once you step inside the hotel lobby, you enter what feels like a rustic, upscale townhouse. The restaurant is inside, but big, sturdy windows face the hotel courtyard, which is a lush sanctuary of ferns, palm leaves, organic beams of wood, and a pool that is a blue I didn't know existed in the world. Simply put, the environment is stunning.

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But that's just 50% of the equation. Let's talk the food at Alma. They know they are doing here at Alma. The menu features traditional Colombian plates, but it also contains common proteins like chicken and fish, executed with a twist of with Colombian ingredients and garnishes. For example, I got the salmon. The fish itself was fresh and had that crunchy skin that I can never nail at home. It came with a green garlicky sauce that I could have drank. Underneath the fish laid pan-seared pineapple, with real grill marks, salted with tajín. At first, I thought the pineapple was a potato fritter, but once I bit in I realized it was an unexpected take on a pineapple I had never enjoyed before.

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In a similar fashion, two people at my table got the chicken. One person said it was the best chicken they've had in their life, which is saying a lot. How many times have you had chicken?

Alma's drink menu is also fabulous. This was our last day in Cartagena, and we had had a big night at Alquímico the day prior, so I gave my liver a respite and ordered a coconut lemonade. This frozen mocktail was effectively a piña colada, minus all the sugar but with a juicy, tart, sour flavor. I almost ordered a second but swapped to a coffee instead.

Alma takes reservations online and you will need one. All times were booked for lunch, brunch, and dinner when we looked to make our plans, so while walking around the city, I took a deep breath and put my very rusty Spanish to work at the hostess stand, hoping that my attempt at the native language might be looked upon with favor (or at least, pity. I'd take either). This landed us a lunch reservation in a few days, which I think means my SPAN 3040 class paid off from 10 years ago?

Does Alma deserve the near-unanimous endorsement that it gets? Is the hype real? While it always feels good to discover a hidden gem, sometimes an amazing spot is simply the one everyone tells you is amazing. Alma has a creative and fresh menu, a skilled chef, a dreamy environment, and kick-ass food. Put your Spanish to use and get yourself a res.

A few photos in this post were provided by Alma. Alma is not a sponsor of this post.