This is coffee country and the coffee culture in Manizales is taken seriously. The Juan Valdez flagship at Recinto del Pensamiento serves single-origin beans from local haciendas; in town, look for Café San Alberto, Café Quindío, and the smaller third-wave roasters around Cable and Palogrande.
For evening drinking, Cable (the Zona Rosa) is the main strip — salsa bars, brewpubs, and student dives within a few blocks. Manizales' altitude means a cool evening even in the dry season — bring a layer.