Authentic Mexican tacos (al pastor, carnitas, birria) from dedicated Mexican stalls.
Tips from diners
Get 3-4 tacos and pair with ceviche or another dish—this variety is what makes Mercado del Río special.
Loaded arepas from vendors offering 10+ varieties—beef, chicken, cheese, mixed fillings.
Tips from diners
Get an arepa and split the price with another dish—lighter on the wallet than buying a full bandeja.
Fresh ceviche from Peruvian specialists—multiple vendors offer different styles.
Tips from diners
One of the best reasons to visit Mercado del Río—multiple Peruvian vendors competing means quality ceviche.
Wood-fired and oven-baked pizzas from Italian specialists in the hall.
Tips from diners
Split a pizza with an arepa and a side dish—you get variety and stay under 40,000 COP per person.
Several vendors at Mercado del Río serve bandeja paisa, the hearty Antioquian staple. While you won't get the sit-down restaurant experience here, you get the advantage of comparing versions side-by-side and sampling other dishes afterward. Most are priced between 35,000-45,000 COP and include beans, rice, chorizo, chicharrón, and plantain.
Tips from diners
Look for the vendor with the longest queue—local knowledge says the crowds know where the best bandeja is made.
The bandeja is huge and could easily be shared between two people, cutting the per-person cost in half.
Opened in 2016, Mercado del Río transformed an old soap factory on Calle 24 into a massive gastronomic hall with over 50 independent food vendors and restaurants. Rather than a traditional sit-down restaurant, it functions as a food court where you order at individual stalls and eat at shared tables. Vendors range from traditional Colombian comida to pizza, sushi, Peruvian, Mexican, and dessert specialists. It's become a destination for exploring multiple cuisines and price points in one visit.
This is a food court, not a traditional restaurant. Order at individual vendor stalls and eat at shared tables throughout the space. Each vendor operates independently.
With 50+ vendors, the best strategy is to spend 2-3 hours trying multiple cuisines. Grab a plate from Colombian vendors, then another from Peruvian or Mexican stalls.
Most dishes range from 4,000-25,000 COP. You can eat cheaply here if you stick to street-level items (arepas, empanadas) or mix and match smaller plates.
Open 10 AM to midnight (later on weekends), with convenient metro access via Industriales station—a 10-minute walk away.
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