Medellin has a range of hotels catering towards every budget. The best hotels (and restaurants - see later for restaurant advice) are in the Poblado district, a leafy and safe suburb with Medellin's best nightlife and restaurants nearby.
Park Diez Hotel: Park Diez is probably the best all round hotel in Medellin. There are 55 spacious and luxurious rooms in total, and very pleasant communal areas and restaurants. The next door La Fragata restaurant is one of the best in Medellin. The Park Diez hotel is small enough to retain a level of service more personalized than in some of Medellin's other luxury hotels. Rooms cost less on weekends compared to week days, but it's always great value.
La Casa Medellin - a newly opened small luxury boutique hotel in Poblado, Medellin.
Hotel Dann Carlton: The Hotel Dann Carlton is considered by many to be Medellin's best hotel. It is a large tower block hotel, with first class facilities and luxurious rooms. It's the kind of place that visiting football teams will stay at. The top floor restaurant has a spectacular setting with 360 degree panoramic views over Medellin assisted by a rotating floorboard. Aside from the pathetic plastic wine list, it's a very good restaurant.
Hotel Intercontinental: The Intercontinental is on a par with Hotel Dann - it's a large tower block, with spacious luxury rooms, many of which have great views over Medellin assisted by the hotel's hillside location in El Poblado.
These are the pick of the bunch. There's plenty more to choose from though, including the Four points by Sheraton, Holiday Inn Express, Plaza Rosa Hotel, Hotel Belfort Dann and the Hotel El Poblado Plaza.
Hostels in Medellin
Choice of the backpacker or budget traveller will be to stay in a hostel. Medellin has quite a few, these are the best:
Pit Stop Hostel - Irish owned, and opened in 2008. Well located, and has a swimming pool too.
Casa Kiwi - Kiwi owned, and a great location a few blocks from the Zona Rosa in Poblado. Private and dorm rooms - can get full very quickly.
Black Sheep Hostel - another Kiwi owned hostal, well located but slightly further away from the nightlife action in the Zona Rosa. Also a very popular choice.
Restaurants in Medellin
Medellin has many fine restaurants, most of which are concentrated in the upmarket Poblado area. Parque Lleras has some of Medellin's best nightlife - here bars and restaurants surround a small park and the bars continue along side streets in all directions. The restaurants on Parque Lleras are ok, but the best ones are found slightly futher away. All of the following restaurants in Medellin are reasonably priced but offer excellent food in a relaxing atmosphere in El Poblado district:
Ron de Vinola - by far the best steaks in Medellin are found at this excellent restaurant which is at the beginning of the road known as the Transversal Inferior, just of the major road Las Palmas.
La Fragata Restaurant - the best seafood in Medellin is found at this upmarket restaurant that is attached to the Park Diez Hotel on Carrera 36.
La Bottega del Vino - excellent pizzas, pastas and fine Italian food are found at this Italian owned restaurant that's on Carrera 36 just down the road from La Fragata.
Hotel Dann - the food is good here, but not as great as the other restaurants mentioned above. Here what is special is the amazing top floor skyscraper views over the city of Medellin, and the revolving floor upon which you sit to eat.
