Hidden away in a green oasis of trees and plants, El Cafe de Otraparte is an open-air and open-minded cafe with a low-key atmosphere designed so people can talk comfortably and share ideas.
It all starts to make sense when you realise its former owner was philosopher Fernando González - himself a bit of a romantic rebel - who used his home as a refuge from the real world.
The cafe lies adjacent to Casa Museo Otraparte and serves excellent coffee, sandwiches and some sublime cocktails with an emphasis on taste rather than obscene amounts of alcohol. Some of the items on the menu are also named after the late philosopher's writings.
Indeed, with free WiFi and an extensive library of books, El Cafe de Otraparte may well be the most cultured cafe in Medellín.
But, somewhat like its former owner, it's also a shy beast that has a policy of not over-selling itself to the outside world; preferring instead to organically build its relationships through recommendations.
Let's hope we haven't rocked the boat with this review and El Cafe de Otraparte's steady flow of conversation continues late into the night. |
