Emily Eats Everywhere

Imagine biting into a juicy, flavor-packed burger while sitting on a rooftop balcony watching the sunset over one of the most stunning bays on the Colombian Caribbean coast. 

No, it’s not a dream. While most people would be surprised such a luxury burger dining experience exists in a place like Colombia, this is no joke. Welcome to Playa Alta, the best burger on the Colombian Caribbean Coast. 

Location: Rooftop Balcony With a VIEW. 

Playa Alta is perfectly situated on a mountainside in Taganga, a little fishing town right next to Santa Marta. From the rooftop balcony, you get absolutely spectacular views of the green mountains that border the turquoise bay filled with sailing and fishing boats. 

Oh, and Santa Marta has the best sunsets in the whole world. Really. So come prepared to snap that perfect photo of your burger, cocktails, and friends with a divine purpley-pink sunset background. 

Food: Champion Burgers like La Perla.

The champion of the 2023 Burger Master competition, La Perla is a burger you will dream about—for years to come. On your flight home, you’ll remember this burger and your mouth will water. You’ll book a trip back to Colombia just to eat here one more time. 

It’s that good. 

Juicy, flavorful burger meat is just the beginning. This work of art combines Philadelphia cream cheese with crunchy bacon and blue cheese to add a creamy base of delicious sabor. Then, it’s topped with sweet uchuva jam—made from exotic yellow-orange cherry fruits. That gives it a surprise hit of sweetness that combines magically with every single other ingredient. 

But they didn’t stop there. They added a perfectly toasted parmesan cheese disk to add a little crunch—and a little more cheese too. Top it off with the special house sauce, and you’ve got yourself a winner. Literally. 

Photos courtesy of Playa Alta.

Oh, and that’s just one of over twenty burgers you can choose from on the menu. All burgers are served with fries. They’re fantastic too—thick rustic fries with a stunning house sauce that you’ll definitely ask for more of. *drool drips onto keyboard*

Drinks: 10/10 

As if creating the perfect burger wasn’t enough, Playa Alta decided to show everyone up with amazing drinks as well. From mocktails to milkshakes, this place has got it all. 

I’m particularly keen on the frutos acidos michelada Soda Hatsu. With mango, passion fruit, lime and spicy tajin, this drink is full of fruity goodness and combines fantastically with any burger. 

They also have happy hour from 5-8 pm for their cocktails—get two for 35 mil COP, about $8.00 USD. 

Price: Under $40 Dinner for Two  

The burgers here all come with fries, and are very reasonably priced, from 30-55 mil COP, or about $7-$13 USD. Add a few drinks and an appetizer or a dessert, and you can easily spend less than $40 for a meal for two.  

Playa Alta: Santa Marta’s Best Burger

Now, burgers might not be a traditional dish from the Colombian Caribbean coast, but the combination of uniquely-Colombian ingredients like uchuva jam in La Perla burger, grilled costeño cheese in the Taganga burger, and sweet plantains in the Costeña burger, makes this burger joint distinct—and memorable. 

Make the trip to Taganga, and after a day of snorkeling, hiking, or relaxing at the beach, this is the burger place you absolutely must enjoy. But be warned, you might start craving these burgers back and home and have to book a trip back to Colombia just to eat here again. 

Playa Alta’s Information

Address: Vía Sta. Marta – Taganga, Taganga, Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playaaltaburger/

Menu: https://menupp.co/playaalta/

Operating Hours: 5pm – 11pm

Average Cost Per Person: $15 – 20