Casa Laureles Resto Café

medellín has quietly built one of the most interesting coffee cultures in latin america, which makes sense given the country's history with the crop. but knowing that doesn't make it easier to choose where to actually sit down. casa laureles resto café, on calle 37 in the laureles neighborhood, keeps pulling people back with the kind of consistency that only comes from caring about what ends up in front of you. laureles itself has a settled, residential feel, far from the tourist circuits of el poblado, and the café fits that mood. if you're in the area and want something that doesn't feel like it's performing for you, this is a reliable call. the coffee in the afternoon, when the neighborhood slows down a little, is a good reason to linger on that block.