Why Laureles Is One of the World's Coolest Neighborhoods (A Local's Guide)

In 2023, Time Out magazine ranked Laureles among the world's coolest neighborhoods. As local guides who live and work here, we were not surprised. Here's the inside view on why this Paisa neighborhood earned the title — and why it should probably be your base in Medellín.

What makes Laureles different

99% of Medellín grew organically between mountains. Laureles, by contrast, was designed from scratch in the 1950s by architect Pedro Nel Gómez and urbanist Karl Brunner along European city principles. It's flat, gridded, tree-lined, and has two circular parks at its core. Nowhere else in Medellín feels like this.

That 70-year-old urban decision means today it is:

• Walkable. No impossible climbs or dead-end alleys.
• Green. Tall trees on almost every street.
• Orderly. Square blocks; easy to orient yourself.
• Calm. Despite full 24/7 life, none of the downtown chaos.

Urban design that aged well

The original Laureles houses are from the 50s: two stories, balconies, front gardens, generous windows. Modern towers rise next to them, but the human scale survived. Walking Laureles feels like a European neighborhood — with palm trees and arepas.

The First Park and Second Park are leafy roundabouts around which social life rotates: people bring cushions, sit with coffee, kids play, dogs run loose. It's the closest thing to a "European plaza" Medellín has.

La 70 — the street

Calle 70 (locals just call it "La 70") is the gastro and nightlife spine. You find it all here:

• Salsa and vallenato bars with 100% Paisa crowds.
• Antioquian classic restaurants (frijolada, bandeja paisa).
• Burger joints and modern international cooking.
• Craft breweries (Medellín's craft beer scene exploded here).
• Classic ice-cream spots like Crepes & Waffles.

The difference vs. El Poblado: La 70 is the real Paisa thing. You'll hear more Spanish than English, you'll see neighborhood families and groups of friends, not just tourists. For many travelers, that's the "real vibe" they came searching for.

The safety factor

Laureles is statistically one of the safest zones in Medellín. Constant neighbor traffic, tourist police, shops open late and authentic neighborhood life all push the bad stuff away. If you read our honest Medellín safety guide, you'll see Laureles is our #1 lodging recommendation.

Daily life in Laureles

Mornings are slow. People walk the dog, head to the corner bakery for a fresh pandebono, read the paper at a café. Mid-morning, gyms and coworking spaces fill up (Laureles became a digital-nomad capital for a reason). Lunch is sacred: 12:00–14:00, most office workers eat a $4–$7 USD set lunch. Afternoons fill the parks with kids. Then at night, La 70 turns on.

It's real neighborhood life, and that's exactly what's most valuable in a world of increasingly homogeneous districts.

How to explore Laureles

Our (biased) recommendation: on an electric bike. Flat blocks, perfect weather, no heavy traffic, dense bike lanes — Laureles is paradise to ride. In 90 minutes you cover every corner.

Our tours go through here:

• The Express Tour starts and ends in Laureles.
• The Urban Tour loops Laureles, Estadio and Belén.
• The Panoramic Tour connects it to Pueblito Paisa and downtown.

Cafés, coworking and nomad culture

Digital nomads discovered Laureles before tourists did. There are dozens of specialty coffee shops (several roasting in-house), coworking spaces packed by 9 AM and rock-solid wifi almost everywhere. If you work remotely, Laureles is where you want to be.

Our own MOVE Coffee & Frappés is part of that scene. Single-origin Colombian coffee, craft frappés, community tables and that easy Paisa atmosphere.

Laureles vs El Poblado — quick comparison

| Criterion | Laureles | El Poblado | |---|---|---| | Vibe | Real Paisa | International | | Prices | $$ | $$$ | | Walkability | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | | Nightlife | Local, salsa, vallenato | International, electronic | | English spoken | Medium | High | | Safety | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | | High-end restaurants | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | | "Feel local" | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |

For deeper reading on accommodation, check our Laureles lodging guide and Where to stay in Medellín.

What a local recommends doing

1. Walk the First Park at 7 PM (people bring cushions).
2. Warm pandebono at Panadería Santa Clara or any corner bakery.
3. Specialty coffee at an indie shop — ask for the Antioquia origin.
4. Set-lunch Paisa meal (any restaurant with "menú ejecutivo" outside).
5. Craft beer at a La 70 brewery at sunset.
6. E-bike tour with MOVE (yes, shamelessly). We start and end in Laureles.
7. Modern Paisa-fusion dinner.
8. Close the night dancing salsa on La 70.

Summary

Laureles earned its "coolest neighborhood" title not from marketing but from a rare mix: historic urban design that worked, authentic neighborhood life that survived modernization, real safety, a diverse food scene and still-affordable prices. It's Medellín at its friendliest.

Drop by

Our HQ is here: Calle 44a #70-79, Laureles (one block from Estadio Metro). Come by for coffee, travel tips, or a paper map. And if you want to discover Laureles from the inside, book an e-bike tour.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Where is Laureles in Medellín?

A: Laureles is a neighborhood in western Medellín (comuna 11), next to the Atanasio Girardot stadium. It's connected via Metro Line B (Estadio station).

Q: Is Laureles safe?

A: Yes. It's one of the safest, most residential parts of the city. Day and night it has steady foot traffic, bike lanes, shops and neighborhood life.

Q: Laureles or El Poblado for accommodation?

A: Laureles for authentic Paisa atmosphere, lower prices and walkability. El Poblado if international nightlife and upscale restaurants top your list.

Q: What is there to do in Laureles?

A: Walk the Primer Parque and Segundo Parque, eat along Calle 70 ("La 70"), grab coffee at indie cafes, ride it by bike, and visit MOVE's HQ.

Q: Best way to explore Laureles?

A: Walking or e-bike. Streets are gridded and flat — the only Medellín neighborhood like that. It's perfect for biking.

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Ready to discover Laureles? Book your MOVE e-bike tour or message us on WhatsApp: +57 350 4502929.