Café Zorba: An Artsy Café with Terrific Pizzas

The facade is as unassuming as they come. A blank white wall, with not even a sign above the door to inform patrons they’re in the right place.

Café Zorba is the speakeasy of Medellín cafés. They don’t seek attention, yet they’re incredibly popular.

The café opened in either 2010 or 2011. Whichever year it was, I began hearing about it through word-of-mouth.

My first visit was a quiet weekday afternoon, at which point I met one of the owners and discovered they weren’t anxious to see a write-up on this blog.

Three years later, I can’t keep it a secret from my readers any longer (some of whom no doubt already know of its existence).

Walk through the door in that white facade on the street entrance, and you’ll immediately be inside one of the sitting rooms, with a long hallway leading back to the cashier, bar and kitchen area, as well as additional seating and a lower level garden terrace.

To the right of you, a smaller room with additional seating.

As you can tell in the photo above, the decor is rough and unfinished. Exposed walls give the space an edgy feel, and you’ll often find pieces by local artists hanging on display in this area.

Café Zorba is committed to supporting the local music and arts scene. Every Wednesday evening there’s live music to be heard.

The menu features coffees, teas, fruit juices and wines. The food options are limited, but what they do is well executed, using fresh ingredients and fun flavor combinations.

Appetizers include a wonderful hummus and a camembert option for cheese fans.

I almost always opt for the pizza, specifically the white one with caramelized onions, emmental cheese and thyme. The crust is nice and thin, leaving the focus on the ingredients. The size is perfect, you may even have a slice or two leftover for a doggy bag to take home.

Other white pizza options include: mushrooms, asparagus and a pesto pizza. The red pizzas include: a classic tomato with basil and oregano, blue cheese, and spinach.

More amazing than the taste is the price, just 13,500 to 17,500 pesos ($6.60 to 8.50) per pizza!

And let’s not forget dessert, for all those with a sweet tooth out there like me. Café Zorba does a decadent warm chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.

Now that the cat’s out of the bag with regard to Zorba, I should warn you, dear readers, that they don’t take reservations and are only open in the evenings, from 5 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. daily.

Go early to avoid a line, especially on the weekends when the place fills up quickly.