El Social
El Social curates a young, creative crowd in Laureles with a space that mixes bar, gallery, and occasional live performance. The cocktails are competent without being fussy, the beer selection covers craft options from Colombian microbreweries, and the décor leans street-art and reclaimed furniture. DJ nights pull a mix of electronic, hip-hop, and Colombian beats. The vibe is what happens when creative types who can't afford El Poblado create their own scene. Which is to say: more interesting, less expensive, and populated by people who are there for the atmosphere rather than the status.
What to Expect
A creative bar with genuine atmosphere. The crowd is young, artsy, and local. The drinks are well-priced. The space changes character with each event. It feels like the start of something rather than a finished product.
Creative, young, and unpretentious. Laureles' art-bar scene.
DJ sets spanning electronic, hip-hop, Colombian beats, and indie
Creative casual. Express yourself.
Young travelers and creatives looking for Laureles' alternative scene.
Cards and cash accepted
Price Range
Cocktails COP 15,000-28,000, craft beer COP 8,000-15,000
≈ €2-6 / $2-7
Hours
Wed-Sat from 7 PM to 2 AM
Insider Tip
Check their Instagram for DJ nights and live events. The crowd and music change depending on the programming. Weeknight visits are quieter but the cocktails are just as good.
Full Review
El Social blends bar, gallery, and performance space into a single room decorated with street art and reclaimed furniture. The aesthetic is deliberately rough: concrete floors, exposed pipes, and art that rotates with the programming. The bar area serves craft beers from Colombian microbreweries alongside cocktails that are competent without reaching for the stars.
The crowd is Laureles' creative class. Young Colombians who work in design, music, or art treat this as their default evening spot. DJ nights shift between electronic, hip-hop, and Colombian beats depending on who's booked. The atmosphere changes character with the programming, which means checking Instagram before visiting tells you more than any review can.
El Social fills a gap that Medellin needed. It's what happens when people who can't afford El Poblado rents create their own space, and the result is more interesting because of the constraint. Compared to El Social's equivalent in Parque Lleras, drinks cost less, the crowd tries less hard, and the music choices are bolder.
Weeknight visits are quieter and better for conversation. Weekend events draw larger crowds and the energy shifts toward dancing. The craft beer selection is the best in Laureles. Art openings and live events are announced on social media, rarely anywhere else.
The Neighborhood
El Social sits within Laureles' emerging creative corridor, drawing from the neighborhood's population of young professionals and artists who've chosen this area over pricier El Poblado. It functions as an informal cultural hub alongside its role as a bar.
Getting There
Metro to Estadio, then a short walk. Taxis from El Poblado cost COP 10,000-15,000. Uber is reliable throughout Medellin.
Where to stay in Medellin
Compare hotels near the nightlife districts. Free cancellation on most properties.
Other Venues in Laureles / La 70
Son Havana
Salsa bar and dance club on the La 70 strip with live bands on weekends. Popular with local salsa dancers. A good place to practice if you know the basics.
Bendito Seas
Casual neighborhood bar on Carrera 70 with cheap aguardiente and beer. A local favorite for pre-gaming before hitting the bigger venues on the strip.
La Tienda del Gordo
No-frills corner spot that's become a Laureles institution. Cheap drinks, plastic chairs on the sidewalk, and a genuine barrio atmosphere free of tourist markup.
Panorama Rooftop
Rooftop bar with views across the Laureles rooftops. Cocktails and house music on weekends, more relaxed midweek. A step up from the street-level beer spots.
El Tibiri
Classic salsa club on La 70 with live orchestras on weekends. The dance floor fills with serious salseros and the energy is authentic, not performative.
La Octava
Craft cocktail bar on Circular 1 with a rotating menu of Colombian-inspired drinks. Small space, dim lighting, and bartenders who know their trade.