During the Flower Festival and the most vibrant events of the year La Makha is the culinary anchor the city deserves.
Medellín has weeks that change the city completely. The Feria de las Flores in August turns the streets into parades of color and paisa tradition. The year-end festivities fill El Poblado with national and international visitors. Holy Week transforms the rhythm of the city. And during those weeks, the author restaurants worth visiting fill up weeks before the fair even starts.
La Makha at Binnhotel is the kind of restaurant that during peak season has no tables available for walk-ins. Not because it’s the most famous in Medellín but because it has the availability that a fine dining restaurant with origin ingredients has: limited by design, not by reputation. This guide explains how to build La Makha into a Medellín week and why it deserves to be the gastronomic centerpiece of any visit to the city.
Medellín’s key weeks and La Makha
August — Feria de las Flores · The most paisa week of the year. The Feria de las Flores is Medellín’s most important cultural event. The Desfile de Silleteros — declared Cultural Heritage of Colombia — fills the city with flowers and visitors from around the world. El Poblado’s streets come alive with an energy that has no equivalent at any other time of year.
At La Makha during the Feria: the August menu reflects the late first-semester seasonal ingredients — oyster mushrooms at a good moment, active Pacific fishing, first-cycle hibiscus. It’s the time of year when La Makha’s origin cooking is most aligned with Colombian seasonality. Book at least 3 to 4 weeks ahead.
December — Christmas lights · The city that lights up Medellín’s Christmas lights are one of the largest light installations in Colombia. From late November through January, the Valle de Aburrá becomes a light display that draws national and international visitors. El Poblado doubles its footfall during this period.
At La Makha in December: the year-end menu has a particular dimension. Dinner at La Makha in December followed by a toast at the ETRO rooftop with the lit city below is the most complete experience the Binnhotel ecosystem offers. Book 2 to 3 weeks ahead.
Holy Week — The inland migration to Medellín During Holy Week, Medellín receives a wave of visitors from Colombia’s interior making the most of the public holidays to explore the city. El Poblado is the first destination for those seeking gastronomy, nightlife and boutique hospitality.
At La Makha during Holy Week: Holy Thursday and Good Friday may have modified hours. Confirm when booking. The days before and after have full availability — a good window to avoid the long-weekend crowds.
October — International Poetry Festival · Cultural Medellín. The Medellín International Poetry Festival attracts international visitors looking for a Medellín beyond conventional tourism. El Poblado concentrates many of the satellite events.
At La Makha in October: the menu may have variations compared to the previous semester, with second-semester ingredients and new harvests. It’s one of the most interesting weeks to visit La Makha if you want a menu that’s different from the rainy season one.
Year-round — Medellín as a permanent gastronomic destination Beyond the major events, Medellín receives international visitors continuously. Media outlets including Forbes, Travel + Leisure and Time Out have highlighted it as a rising gastronomic destination. El Poblado weekends have their own high-demand dynamic throughout the year.
At La Makha on any weekend: Fridays and Saturdays have tighter availability than weekdays. Book 2 to 3 days ahead for à la carte, and 4 to 5 days for the tasting menu.
Why La Makha is the ideal gastronomic anchor during the fair
“Gastronomy is one of the most powerful ways to celebrate. Closing the day around a well-designed table, with memorable flavors and impeccable service, turns a simple dinner into a ritual.” — BINN Hotel · Author gastronomy in Medellín
Counterpoint to the festive chaos. During the Feria de las Flores, Medellín is noise, color and movement. La Makha is the exact opposite — quiet, intimate, precise. A dinner at La Makha in the middle of the fair is the pause that makes the rest of the week more enjoyable.
The menu that only exists that week. The chef works with the ingredients that arrived that morning. In August, during the Feria, the Colombian ingredients market has its own seasonal energy. What’s on the plate during the fair won’t exist in quite the same way at any other point in the year.
Base of operations in El Poblado BINN Hotel sits in the heart of El Poblado — the neighborhood that concentrates the best gastronomic, cultural and nightlife offer of the fair. Dinner at La Makha and a cocktail at the ETRO rooftop are the best base plan before heading out to explore.
La Makha doesn’t change for the fair. While the city turns up the volume, La Makha maintains exactly the same service standard, the same author menu and the same atmosphere. There’s no special fair menu with lower-quality ingredients. Consistency is part of the luxury.
The most complete access to Medellín BINN Hotel offers private cultural tours of the city — from Comuna 13 to galleries and festivals — that can be combined with dinner at La Makha. The restaurant isn’t the end of the experience: it’s part of an itinerary that covers the full cultural dimension of the week.
How to build the perfect night during the fair
7:00 pm — Arrival at La Makha Aperitif at the bar — the Niebla or the Revelación Rubí to start. The city is at its peak energy outside; inside, the restaurant already has its own rhythm.
7:30 pm — Author dinner. The 7-course tasting menu with pairings or à la carte depending on the night. Courses follow without rushing between 2 and 2.5 hours for the full menu. Colombian origin cooking is the best argument for celebrating the city during its own week.
9:30 pm — Up to ETRO Rooftop. The panoramic terrace with a 360° view of Medellín is the best place to see the city lit up during the fair. Signature cocktails, lounge music and the skyline as backdrop.
11:00 pm — El Poblado or back to the hotel. If the night calls for more, El Poblado has everything within walking distance from Binnhotel. If the week has been intense, the Binnhotel suite is the best ending: the gourmet breakfast at La Makha waits in the morning.
Book ahead: when to do it
| Event | Recommended lead time |
|---|---|
| Feria de las Flores · August | 3 – 4 weeks |
| Christmas lights · December | 2 – 3 weeks |
| Holy Week | 2 weeks |
| Standard weekend | 3 – 5 days |
Bookings are made through Binnhotel’s official channels at binnhotel.com or directly at +57 604 3220289. For special events like the Feria de las Flores, calling directly allows you to secure the table with the setup you want — glass and metal area, tasting menu confirmed, dietary restrictions communicated.
Frequently asked questions about La Makha during the Feria de las Flores and Medellín events
Does La Makha have a special menu during the Feria de las Flores?
No. La Makha maintains exactly the same author menu during the Feria as the rest of the year. What changes is availability — tables sell out weeks in advance. Consistency of standard during events is part of the proposal.
When should you book at La Makha during the Feria de las Flores?
For the week of the Desfile de Silleteros — the most in-demand week in August — booking at least 3 to 4 weeks ahead is recommended. For the tasting menu, advance notice also allows the kitchen to prepare the specific ingredients.
Does BINN Hotel have availability during the Feria de las Flores?
Binnhotel’s August availability is limited — it’s the hotel’s peak season. For those wanting to stay during the Feria and dine at La Makha, both the suite and the restaurant should be booked weeks ahead. The restaurant serves hotel guests and outside visitors alike.
What’s the best way to combine the Feria de las Flores with dinner at La Makha?
The most recommended sequence: explore the Feria’s events during the day, arrive at La Makha at 7 pm for the aperitif and dinner, head up to the ETRO rooftop after 9:30 pm to see Medellín lit up from above. La Makha works as the quality pause in a high-intensity week.
Is La Makha open on public holidays during the Feria de las Flores?
Yes. La Makha serves Monday to Saturday from 12:00 pm to 9:30 pm. On Sundays and public holidays lunch service runs until 12:30 pm. To confirm availability on specific Feria dates, booking through BINN Hotel’s official channels is recommended.
Combine productivity and gastronomy. Reserve your table for lunch.
Discover the restaurant on La Makha’s page at BINN Hotel. Instagram: @lamakharestaurante
