Plaza Colombian Coffee somehow manages to pull off a combined coffee shop, tiki bar, and Colombian restaurant in a way that feels surprisingly natural. The food menu - made up mostly of arepas, empanadas, and Colombian pastries - generally falls more on the snacky end, but it’s not difficult to make a substantial meal out of a few smaller dishes. Plus, you just get to try more of their menu. We really liked the patacon here - a thinly-smashed plantain covered in queso fresco, pickled onions, green onions, and a generous portion of steak, chicken, chorizo, or veggies. Whatever you get, ask for extra aji (Colombian salsa) - it’s spicy, tangy, and we instantly wanted more.

photo credit: Nicolai McCrary