ABOUT US
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About
Us
In the heart of Cartagena’s historic center, Alquímico celebrates Colombia through its diverse flavors, culture, and stories.
More than a cocktail bar, we are an ecosystem: a living network of connected relationships, people, practices, and purposes, with a social focus that values community work and believes in the transformative power of hospitality.
Our story
Alquímico opened its doors in early 2016 in the heart of Cartagena’s historic center. We were five people working with the same dream: to celebrate Colombia’s biodiversity, showcase the wonders of this country in all its forms, and create experiences that would remain in memory.
From the beginning, we believed in and worked guided by respect for the land, appreciation for local products, and the strength of community work. However, it was during the pandemic when this purpose was strengthened and aligned more deeply. In an act of resilience, half of the team moved to our farm in the Coffee Axis with the #FromTheBarToTheFarm project. There, among mountains and crops, we learned to work the land, reconnect with the origin of the ingredients, and understand that our mission had always been there: to create from respect, empathy, and human connection. Projects that are the foundation of what we are today were born from that experience. That same year, Alquímico became the first Colombian bar to enter The World’s 50 Best Bars list and received the Sustainable Bar Award 2020.
That transformative experience opened a new chapter in our history. Today, we are a team of more than one hundred people united by the conviction that this industry is, above all, about people; that hospitality makes sense when it is shared, cared for, and celebrated together.
Along the way, we have woven a collaborative network that unites producers, communities, and our team in a common purpose. We have created spaces for product exploration, worked alongside those who cultivate the land to strengthen a local economy, and promoted projects that improve the quality of life for less favored communities.
Today, Alquímico represents a vision of conscious hospitality, where each experience seeks to generate a positive impact, celebrate our roots, and honor the territory that gives us so much.
Our Philosophy
Care for and celebrate life
At Alquímico, we believe in the transformative power of hospitality: a way to care for, honor, and celebrate life in all its forms.
We care for the lives of people, communities, and ecosystems around us, being aware of the impact of each decision and always seeking to do better.
By sharing and showcasing these ways of life, we inspire others to protect and celebrate them as well.
Because caring for life is also celebrating it: it is discovering new ways to work, create with purpose, and contribute to our environment.
Our People
At Alquímico, people are at the heart of everything we do. Each cocktail, each smile, and each experience are born from the talent, passion, and commitment of a team that shares the same vision: to care for and celebrate life.
We are a team of 100 people, bartenders, hosts, cooks, farmers, administrators, creatives, and dreamers who believe in hospitality as a transformative force.
We work from respect, joy, and constant learning, building together a space where everyone grows, is inspired, and feels part of a large family, guided by values that unite us and give meaning to what we are: hospitality, honesty, respect, humility, and commitment, fundamental pillars of our culture.
Likewise, our family extends beyond the house we inhabit. We work hand in hand with communities that represent the heart and richness of Colombia:
ASOCOMAN
(Asociación Agropecuaria Comunidad El Mango Macaján): a peasant organization from the Montes de María, a region that has been marked by armed conflict. It is made up of 23 associates who, together with their families, impact the lives of about 200 people. ASOCOMAN produces organically and acts as a guardian of its territory, committed to sustainability and environmental care. Asocoman Instagram
COLECTIVO CANTA
(Asociación Agropecuaria Comunidad El Mango Macaján): a peasant organization from the Montes de María, a region that has been marked by armed conflict. It is made up of 23 associates who, together with their families, impact the lives of about 200 people. ASOCOMAN produces organically and acts as a guardian of its territory, committed to sustainability and environmental care. Asocoman Instagram
Embera Chamí Indigenous Community
(Asociación Agropecuaria Comunidad El Mango Macaján): a peasant organization from the Montes de María, a region that has been marked by armed conflict. It is made up of 23 associates who, together with their families, impact the lives of about 200 people. ASOCOMAN produces organically and acts as a guardian of its territory, committed to sustainability and environmental care. Colectivo Canta instagram
Likewise, our family extends beyond the house we inhabit. We work hand in hand with communities that represent the heart and richness of Colombia:
Our house
Our cocktail bar brings together the best of Colombia in its diversity of flavors, culture, and stories, which come to life in the magic of our republican mansion in the heart of the Historic Center of Cartagena de Indias.
Built on an old colonial estate, this house was designed in the early twentieth century by the French architect Gastón Lelarge, recognized for emblematic projects such as the Castillo Marroquín, the Palacio de San Francisco, and the Club Cartagena.
Today, this heritage jewel is the setting where history and hospitality meet to celebrate life. Our three-story house tells a different story on each level:
First floor – The Mansion
(Asociación Agropecuaria Comunidad El Mango Macaján): a peasant organization from the Montes de María, a region that has been marked by armed conflict. It is made up of 23 associates who, together with their families, impact the lives of about 200 people. ASOCOMAN produces organically and acts as a guardian of its territory, committed to sustainability and environmental care. Asocoman Instagram
First floor – The Mansion
(Asociación Agropecuaria Comunidad El Mango Macaján): a peasant organization from the Montes de María, a region that has been marked by armed conflict. It is made up of 23 associates who, together with their families, impact the lives of about 200 people. ASOCOMAN produces organically and acts as a guardian of its territory, committed to sustainability and environmental care.
Go to Instagram.
Second floor – The Balcony:
(Asociación Agropecuaria Comunidad El Mango Macaján): a peasant organization from the Montes de María, a region that has been marked by armed conflict. It is made up of 23 associates who, together with their families, impact the lives of about 200 people. ASOCOMAN produces organically and acts as a guardian of its territory, committed to sustainability and environmental care. Go to Instagram.
Third floor – The Terrace:
(Asociación Agropecuaria Comunidad El Mango Macaján): a peasant organization from the Montes de María, a region that has been marked by armed conflict. It is made up of 23 associates who, together with their families, impact the lives of about 200 people. ASOCOMAN produces organically and acts as a guardian of its territory, committed to sustainability and environmental care.
Go to Instagram.
Every corner of Alquímico is a living space, full of purpose, energy, joy, and flavor. Where the magic of hospitality is transformed into experiences that remain in memory.