Laureles / La 70

Overview and Location

Laureles sits west of the Medellin River, centered around Carrera 70 and the Estadio metro station. The neighborhood is residential at its core, built on a grid of tree-lined streets with a mix of mid-rise apartments, local restaurants, and family-owned businesses. It feels distinctly different from El Poblado. Where Poblado caters to tourists with English menus and international pricing, Laureles runs on local rhythms and Colombian pesos.

The La 70 strip, officially renamed Libertadores de Americas after the local football club Atletico Nacional, is the neighborhood's nightlife spine. On weekend evenings the street fills with Paisas of all ages drinking beer at sidewalk tables, dancing salsa in packed clubs, and watching football on bar screens. Foreigners are present but not dominant, and that balance is a large part of the appeal.

Legal Status

Colombia's Constitutional Court recognizes sex work as legitimate labor for adults over 18. Laureles is not a designated tolerance zone, meaning formal adult entertainment establishments don't operate openly here. The neighborhood's nightlife is conventional: bars, restaurants, clubs, and live music venues. Any adult activity that does occur happens informally and privately, not through street-level solicitation or visible venues.

Police presence in Laureles is moderate. Officers patrol the La 70 strip on busy nights, and the neighborhood's residential character means complaints about noise and public disturbance are taken seriously. The area has avoided the reputation problems that have drawn increased enforcement to El Poblado.

Costs and Pricing

Laureles runs 20-30% cheaper than El Poblado across the board.

A national beer (Aguila, Club Colombia, Pilsen) at a bar on La 70 costs 6,000-10,000 COP. Craft beer runs about 12,000-18,000 COP. Cocktails cost 18,000-28,000 COP, depending on the venue. A bottle of aguardiente at a bar or club costs 100,000-150,000 COP, compared to 140,000-190,000 COP in Poblado.

Cover charges at clubs on La 70 range from free to 30,000 COP. Some include a drink or two. Salsa clubs like Son Havana typically charge 10,000-20,000 COP on weekends.

Food is where the savings add up. A menu del dia (set lunch) at a local spot costs 9,000-14,000 COP. Dinner at a mid-range Colombian restaurant runs 20,000-45,000 COP per person. International restaurants and trendy spots along Circular and the surrounding streets go for 35,000-65,000 COP.

An Uber from the Estadio metro station to most points in Laureles costs 6,000-10,000 COP. From El Poblado, expect 12,000-20,000 COP.

Hotels and Airbnbs in Laureles start around 100,000-150,000 COP per night for budget options, with mid-range apartments running 200,000-350,000 COP. Long-term rentals (monthly) average 1,600,000-2,400,000 COP for a furnished one-bedroom.

Street-Level Detail

La 70 runs roughly north-south through Laureles. The most active nightlife section stretches from about Circular 1 down to Calle 44, with the densest concentration of bars between Calles 44 and 50.

Salsa clubs are a highlight. Son Havana and El Tibiri are considered two of Medellin's best salsa venues. Both draw serious dancers who come for the music and the movement, not to pose for Instagram. If you can't dance, you'll still enjoy the energy, but expect to stand out. Drop-in salsa classes run at several studios in the area for 30,000-50,000 COP.

Sports bars cluster along the strip and fill on match nights. Atletico Nacional's stadium (Atanasio Girardot) is walking distance, and game nights turn the entire neighborhood into a party. Beer flows cheap, the atmosphere is charged, and the streets around the stadium get loud and crowded after big wins.

Casual bars with sidewalk seating dominate much of the strip. The pattern is simple: groups of friends claim a table, order a bottle of aguardiente or a bucket of beers, and spend hours talking and people-watching. This is how Paisas socialize, and joining the vibe is easy if you speak some Spanish.

Restaurants and cafes fill the surrounding streets, particularly along Circular and the blocks between La 70 and Carrera 76. Hija Mia is a popular specialty coffee spot that draws digital nomads and locals. Several coworking spaces operate in the area, creating daytime social hubs.

The blocks east of La 70 toward Carrera 65 are quieter and more residential. West of La 70 toward Carrera 76 has more restaurants and a calmer nightlife feel.

Safety

Laureles is one of Medellin's safer neighborhoods for visitors. The residential character, strong community presence, and lower tourist density mean fewer of the predatory scams that plague El Poblado. That said, no neighborhood in Medellin is risk-free.

• Stick to well-lit streets when walking at night. La 70 itself is well-trafficked and lit. Side streets get quieter
• Use Uber, InDriver, or Didi for transport after midnight. Don't walk long distances alone late at night
• Keep valuables minimal. A phone, some cash, and a copy of your passport are sufficient
• The Estadio metro station area can be chaotic and pickpocket-prone during events. Keep belongings secure in crowds
• Avoid wandering into unfamiliar residential blocks late at night. Stay on the commercial strips you know

Cultural Context

Laureles attracts foreigners who want a more authentic Colombian experience. The neighborhood rewards effort: speaking Spanish, learning to dance salsa, understanding football culture, and taking the time to become a regular at a local spot rather than bar-hopping as a tourist.

Paisas in Laureles are generally warm and open, but they also have less patience for the stereotypical gringo behavior that has become a problem in Poblado. Showing genuine interest in the culture, the food, and the music goes a long way. Arriving at a salsa club and standing against the wall with a drink will get a very different reception than actually stepping onto the floor and trying.

Nightlife starts later here than you might expect. Bars begin filling around 8 or 9 PM, but the real energy on La 70 doesn't peak until 11 PM or later on weekends. Some clubs run until 3 or 4 AM on Friday and Saturday nights.

The digital nomad and expat community in Laureles has grown significantly. Weekly meetups, language exchanges, and coworking events create social entry points for newcomers. These tend to be more grounded and community-oriented than the Poblado expat scene.

Scam Warnings

Overcharging at bars: Less common than in Poblado, but check your bill before paying. Some bars add items or round up. If the total looks wrong, ask for an itemized receipt.

Fake police: Individuals in police-like uniforms demanding to search your bag and confiscate cash. Real police carry proper identification and will take you to a station if there's an actual issue. Ask for credentials and refuse roadside searches of your wallet.

ATM skimming: Use ATMs inside banks or shopping centers during business hours. Avoid standalone machines on the street, particularly after dark.

Nearby Areas

El Poblado / Parque Lleras is a 15-20 minute Uber ride east across the river. The most tourist-heavy nightlife zone in Medellin with more international options.

Estadio area borders Laureles to the north and centers on the Atanasio Girardot sports complex. Game nights bring massive crowds and a festival atmosphere.

Belen lies south of Laureles and is a local middle-class neighborhood with some good restaurants but limited nightlife appeal for visitors.

Meeting People Nearby

The social scene in Laureles is less transactional and more organic than El Poblado. Coffee shops like Hija Mia and Pergamino (in nearby Poblado) are natural conversation starters during the day. Salsa academies offer drop-in classes where the social element is built into the experience. Language exchange events at cafes pair Spanish and English speakers several times a week, and the growing coworking community hosts regular social events. For a full overview of Medellin's social and dating scene, see the main Medellin city guide.

Best Times

Medellin's spring-like climate holds year-round, so there's no bad season for visiting Laureles.

• Thursday through Saturday is peak nightlife on La 70. The strip is active but manageable
• Match nights at the Estadio create an electric atmosphere. Check the Atletico Nacional schedule
• December through February and June through August are the driest months, making outdoor sidewalk drinking most comfortable
• Feria de las Flores (August) brings extra energy to every neighborhood, including Laureles
• Monday through Wednesday nights are quieter, with some bars closed and reduced hours on others

What Not to Do

• Do not accept drinks, food, or cigarettes from strangers or recent acquaintances
• Do not invite someone you've just met back to your accommodation
• Do not assume Laureles is completely safe because it's "less touristy." Standard precautions still apply
• Do not show up to salsa clubs without at least basic knowledge of the dance. Take a class first
• Do not speak loudly in English expecting everyone to understand. Learn basic Spanish phrases
• Do not walk alone on dark side streets after midnight
• Do not flash expensive electronics or jewelry on the street
• Do not engage with anyone who appears underage. Colombian law enforcement treats this with extreme severity