When it rains in Medellín, your cravings change. The drink that seems perfect on a sunny afternoon can fall flat on a cold, damp night. And the reverse is true too: some cocktails only show everything they’ve got when a downpour hits and the city blurs behind the glass.
At Etro Rooftop, the gastronomic bar on the rooftop of Binn Hotel, the menu doesn’t change with the weather. What changes is how you read it. This guide walks through Etro’s current menu and sorts it by what rainy season calls for: warm drinks for the coldest nights, smoky ones for watching the mist, classics with character and fresh options for when the rain lets up. For a full overview of the bar, here’s the guide to Etro Rooftop’s cocktail bar.
How to choose a cocktail when it’s raining
There’s no fixed rule, but a few cues help you get it right when the sky turns gray.
The first is the warmth a drink conveys. Notes of chocolate, spice, coffee or creamy liqueurs feel warming even when the cocktail is served cold. The second is intensity: on rainy nights, fuller-bodied spirits like mezcal, whisky or aged rum tend to feel more at home than very light drinks. The third is timing. A cocktail for the first hour, while it’s still pouring, doesn’t have to be the same one you order when the sky clears and the wet city starts to shine.
With those three ideas in mind, Etro’s menu almost sorts itself into four groups.
The warm ones: for the coldest nights
Ámbar (COP 60,000). The menu itself calls it a liquid dessert: creamy, indulgent and warm. It blends vodka, Baileys, aged rum, Licor 43 and Disaronno with notes of chai, chocolate and banana, and comes with a sustainable bonbon. If you’re only ordering one drink on a rainy night, this is the clearest choice. It also works as a closer, instead of dessert or alongside it.
Carajillo (COP 50,000). Among the classics, it’s the one that pairs best with cold weather. The coffee adds warmth and makes it a good after-dinner option, when the conversation stretches out and nobody’s in a hurry to step back into the rain.
Espresso Martini (COP 49,000). Another coffee classic, more energizing than comforting. A good pick if the night is just getting started and you want something that wakes you up.
The smoky ones: for watching the mist
Niebla (COP 60,000). The name means “mist,” and it feels made for these weeks. It’s built on Ojo de Tigre mezcal made from 8-year-old espadín agave, with pennyroyal syrup and mandarin lemon. The result is smoky and herbal, with a citrus backbone that keeps it light. It’s the drink to order by the windows while mist settles over the mountains of the Aburrá Valley.
Néctar (COP 60,000). It balances Olmeca tequila and Havana Club 3-year rum with anise passion fruit, finished with a mist of cacao, almond and agave smoke. The menu describes it as tropical, fresh, aromatic and smoky. It’s an interesting middle ground: the fruit of a sunny-day drink with the smoke of a rainy-day one.
Mezcalita (COP 65,000). For anyone who already knows mezcal and wants it in classic form, it’s on the list of house classics.
Classics with character: whisky, bitters and full-bodied spirits
Some nights you’re not after a surprise, just a familiar drink done well. Etro’s list of classics has several that suit the weather these weeks:
- Old Fashioned (COP 55,000) and Manhattan (COP 65,000): two full-bodied whisky classics, made to be sipped slowly.
- Boulevardier (COP 56,000): the Negroni’s whisky-based cousin, rounder and warmer.
- Negroni (COP 55,000): bitter and aromatic, a good aperitif to open the night before ordering food.
- Penicillin (COP 60,000): another whisky classic often recommended for cold weather.
- New York Sour (COP 60,000): for anyone who wants whisky with a touch of red wine.
If you prefer your whisky neat, the menu has a broad selection by the glass, with labels like Buchanan’s, Chivas, Glenfiddich, The Glenlivet, Macallan and Talisker.
The fresh ones: for when the rain lets up
Rain in Medellín tends to arrive hard and leave fast. When the sky opens late in the afternoon, the mood shifts, and so does what you feel like drinking. If you catch that moment, this guide to sunset at Etro Rooftop will help you make the most of it. To go with it, these are the freshest options on the menu:
- Savia (COP 60,000). A refined herbal drink with Chardonnay, cachaça, Tío Pepe sherry, Cointreau and dill. The menu sums it up in three words: freshness, elegance and herbal character.
- Oculto (COP 49,000). Tequila, lime and gulupa (purple passion fruit) syrup with a Tajín rim. Fresh, tropical and lightly spicy.
- Silencio (COP 41,000). Absolut vodka infused with coconut oil, thyme syrup, mandarin lemon and soda. Light and aromatic, it’s also the most affordable signature cocktail on the menu.
- Sabroso (COP 49,000). A red wine and berry reduction with mandarin lemon, mint syrup, Absolut and tonic. A nice bridge between fresh and fruity.
What to eat in the meantime
Etro’s kitchen is built for sharing at the center of the table, so the easiest approach is to order several plates and let each drink find its match. A few pairings we think work well on rainy nights: the Niebla with the pork belly ceviche or the pork rib tostada, the Néctar with the Bahía Solano tuna tartar and the Ámbar with the double chocolate cookie. For the whisky classics, beef and rice or the braised pork ribs are safe bets.
Before you order: hours and practical details
Etro is open Sunday to Wednesday and on public holidays from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Thursday to Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. All menu prices include taxes. Tipping is voluntary and not included; 10% of the total bill is suggested. And if you drive, Binn Hotel has two parking levels, a relief on stormy days.
Frequently asked questions about Etro Rooftop cocktails in rainy season
Does Etro Rooftop have a seasonal cocktail menu?
Etro’s current menu doesn’t include a seasonal section. This guide picks, from the current menu, the cocktails that best suit rainy days. If there’s a special creation at the bar, the team will tell you when you arrive.
What’s the warmest cocktail on the menu?
The Ámbar, which the menu describes as a creamy, warm liquid dessert, made with vodka, Baileys, aged rum, Licor 43, Disaronno, chai, chocolate and banana.
Which cocktails at Etro use mezcal?
The Niebla, a signature cocktail with Ojo de Tigre mezcal, pennyroyal syrup and mandarin lemon, and the Mezcalita among the classics. The menu also offers mezcal by the glass.
How much are cocktails at Etro Rooftop?
Signature cocktails range from COP 41,000 to COP 60,000, and classics from COP 45,000 to COP 65,000. All prices include taxes.
Are there non-alcoholic options?
The menu includes waters, sodas, ginger ale and premium tonics such as Mil 976. There’s no dedicated non-alcoholic cocktail section, so it’s best to ask at the bar.
What are Etro Rooftop’s opening hours?
Sunday to Wednesday and public holidays, 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Let the rain pick your next drink. Book your table at Etro Rooftop and try the signature menu with the city at your feet.
