A small town bordering Medellin rather than a neighborhood, Envigado has a relaxed vibe, tree-lined streets, and a traditional feel, evidenced by low-slung architecture and its center being Marceliano Velez Park. It’s not as central as other residential areas, but it’s not far out either, with only a 15-minute metro ride to the Center or Poblado. On Sundays, you can easily bike to the Center, when Avenida Poblado turns into a pedestrian street for Ciclovía.

Food hubs here include Calle Buena Mesa (Good Table Street), home to El Trifasco, a traditional Paisa restaurant with locally-sourced ingredients, and Contenedores Food Place, a food court that serves everything from burgers to curries. Nearby, Barrio Sur Cafe Bar serves Moscow mules and craft beer, while Ná Pizza’s oven churns out thin-crust pies. Vegetarians dine at Prana Concina Natural, and pescatarians can order cazuelas with patacones at Restaurante Con Saber a Mar.

Shop at Viva Envigado, one of Latin America’s largest malls, or buy leather goods and clothes at the monthly Envigado Flee Market, in front of the Greco-Roman Santa Gertrudis Church. Other activities include going to the museum and café at Otraparte, the former house of philosopher Fernando González, or hiking in Parque El Salado, Cuevas del Higuerón, or to the waterfall of Chorro de Campanas.

Cowork at The Ideas Factory and Coworking Cowfe, or try co-living and coworking at Pandora’s House. Afterward, go play the explosively fun Colombian sport of Tejo at Polideportivo Sur (a literally explosive ring toss game possibly seemingly dreamed up by Wile E. Coyote). Alternatively, you can admire the craftsmanship of La Casa de las Piedritas—a stone house that took 32 years to build—and slurp the best Tom Kha Gai soup in the city at Lemoncillo.