Versalles' Argentinian empanadas (3,500 COP each) are the restaurant's bakery specialty — crispy, golden pastry that yields to flaky layers, with a savory beef or cheese filling. They're served warm and have been a Centro staple since the 1960s. Multiple reviews call them out as among the best empanadas in Medellín.
Tips from diners
Come early (before 11 am) for the freshest empanadas — they sell out or get picked over as lunch approaches.
Buy a couple Argentinian empanadas at the ground-floor counter — they're the reason Medellín keeps coming back.
Versalles offers both Argentinian and Chilean empanada styles. The Chilean version (3,600 COP) has a slightly different flavor profile and filling ratio, reflecting the Argentine founder's exposure to South American cuisines. It's equally flaky and warm.
Tips from diners
Order both Argentinian and Chilean styles to compare — the differences are subtle but worth experiencing.
Versalles' croissants are simple, reliable bakery items with properly laminated butter layers. They're available at the ground-floor counter and represent the pastry shop side of the business. Prices range from 3,600 to 4,500 COP depending on variety.
Tips from diners
Grab a croissant with coffee in the morning before the bakery counter gets crowded.
Versalles' dessert selection (3,600 to 8,900 COP) includes cakes, flans, and pastries prepared daily. Options rotate seasonally, but the quality is consistent — homemade rather than industrial, reflecting the bakery's heritage.
Tips from diners
Come at 3 pm for a coffee and slice of cake — this is Centro's traditional afternoon break.
Versalles' menu del día (13,900 COP) is a Centro institution that defines weekday lunch value. It includes soup (often ajiaco or locro), a main dish (meat, fish, or pasta depending on the day), a juice, coffee, and a small cup of ice cream. The menu changes daily and represents the restaurant's commitment to feeding Centro's working class affordably.
Tips from diners
This is how Centro's office workers eat lunch — order what the locals order.
The menu del día is genuine value — three courses, drink, and dessert for about $3.50 USD. Come between noon and 1 pm for the full selection.
Versalles was founded on August 15, 1961, by Argentine Leonardo Nieto as an ice cream parlor and pastry shop. It has evolved into a Centro institution that serves as both bakery and casual restaurant. The ground floor is a bustling bakery counter selling pastries, empanadas, and croissants; the upper floors offer a full restaurant menu. The menu del día (13,900 COP) provides excellent value, while the homemade pastries and Argentinian empanadas represent 60+ years of consistency.
No reservations — the bakery counter is first-come, first-served. The restaurant upstairs has more seating if the counter is full.
Versalles epitomizes Centro lunch culture. Come at noon to sit among office workers and neighborhood regulars — it's the real Medellín.
This is Medellín's best value for eat-in meals. A menu del día and coffee for 13,900 COP feeds you for under $4 USD.
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