12 Best Restaurants in Bogotá, Colombia

El Chato

$$$ Fodor's choice
Chefs José Barbosa and Álvaro Clavijo are the driving forces behind one of Bogotá's standout restaurants that seamlessly blends Colombian products and creole flavors with avant-garde techniques. You may be welcomed with chicharron---the much-loved thick-cut fried bacon that's served with dehydrated cilantro, candied lime, and charcoaled chili---which sets the tone for a menu that features both meat-based and vegetarian dishes. Be sure to save space for the delicate and masterfully presented desserts. The space is comfortably cool, with plenty of exposed brick and greenery creating a decor that's balanced between retro and modern.

Salvo Patria

$$$ Fodor's choice

The frequently changing, local-produce-inspired menu at this Chapinero home turned restaurant hits all the right spots, with starters like grilled octopus with corn and chorizo or smoked trout with cassava and a berry compote, and comforting mains that include slow-cooked roasts and the famous chicken curry with roast carrots. There's also a great wine and cocktail list, as well as expertly made coffee. The weekday lunch special is a bargain, offering a starter and main of the day. It's popular, so come early.

Tres Bastardos

$$$$ Fodor's choice
This audacious concept restaurant was conceived by three young chefs---Francisco del Valle, Julian Hoyos, and Nicholas Lopez---who take turns manning the kitchen. Chef Francisco does all the lunches, while chefs Hoyos and Lopez split dinner duty. Lunches are a set menu of fresh and tasty comfort food at a bargain price, usually with a noticeable Argentine twist thanks to chef del Valle. Dinners are modern, beautifully plated tasting menus of five or nine courses with strong local roots. Diners sit at a shared 14-seat table amidst contemporary art and can expect to interact with the chefs as they explain their dishes.

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Abasto

$$
One of the leaders of Usaquen’s gastronomic boom, Abasto is all about using local farm-to-table ingredients in its well-prepared, modern-bistro-style dishes. Much loved for its breakfasts, the restaurant tends to get packed, particularly for Sunday brunch, when the crowds hit Usaquen's street market, but the in-house baked goods make the wait worth it. If you can't get to a table, you can always grab a coffee and a pastry to go. The deli-grocery ambience tones down in the evenings, making it a cozy dinner choice with a constantly changing menu that keeps things interesting. When in season, look for the fantastically fresh trout or try the risotto-style rice dishes with shrimp or roasted veggies.

Casa Vieja

$$$

Offering typical Colombian dishes, Casa Vieja is known for the quality of its ajiaco, a hearty Andean potato stew with chicken, corn, cilantro and a local herb called guasca. Dinner in this Belle Époque–style restaurant is accompanied by antiques and artwork from Colombia's colonial past. Beyond this location in the Candelaria, there is spot in the Centro Internacional, and another in Usaquen.

Horacio Barbato

$$$

The sister restaurant to 80 Sillas, Horacio is equally well designed, with a great staff and a menu that focuses on simple ingredients. You can't go wrong with anything porcine or slow cooked---the crispy pork belly and homemade pâté are spot-on---and the wine list is filled with quality choices. Upstairs, overlooking a tree-filled patio, is the best place to dine.

La Condesa Irina Lazaar Restaurant

$$
Plain white walls, simple wooden tables, and tiled floors set the scene at this neighborhood favorite. Since opening in 2010, this hard-to-find restaurant has gathered fans from every spectrum of Bogotá society for its big-hearted ambience, outstanding, seasonal menu, and easy-on-the-wallet prices. The menu changes constantly, but keep an eye out for shrimp and fish dishes, for which the chef has a particularly deft hand.
Latin American Lunch $$
Carrera 6 No. 10--19, Bogotá, Bogota D.C., Colombia
1-283--1573
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: No dinner

La Puerta Falsa

$$
Celebrating its bicentennial in 2016, this traditional Bogotá restaurant in the heart of La Candelaria serves what locals would call "a taste of their grandmother’s kitchen." For breakfast, order the tamal (a classic jungle dish of spiced rice and chicken cooked in a banana leaf) or a hot chocolate Santafereño (chocolate from Santa Fe) with bread and cheese for dipping. At lunch, the traditional ajiaco stew is a sure bet. If you're dining in, grab a seat at the counter opposite the kitchen or head upstairs to one of the tiny wooden tables for a little more elbow room.

Mini-mal

$$$
The inventive, contemporary Colombian menu at this casual eatery features products and flavors from far-flung corners of the country. Look out for giant ants, puffer-fish tails, plantain sushi rolls, and excellent fruit juices. Eclectic decor, colorful mismatched furniture, and a friendly staff make for a lighthearted dining experience that begs repeating.

Ocio

$$
Located next to Museo Nacional, this industrial-style space delivers fascinating modern Colombian bistro food that highlights local Amazonian ingredients. Menu items include flavorful aromatic soups and glazed pancetta with tucupi, which is an acidic, umami-laden sauce extracted from wild manioc. Great service tops off an excellent experience.

Tabula

$$$
Drenched in light from the towering glass ceiling, this warm space invites long shared lunches (with plenty of wine) in front of the giant wood-burning oven. The mains, mostly cooked in said oven, are large plates meant to be shared---osso buco, beef shank, ham hock---and are flavorful and tender. But the stars of the show are the starters, equal parts modern and creole, that range from grilled beef tongue with sun-dried-tomato vinaigrette to a tiger-prawn-and-chorizo casserole in a bijao (banana leaf).

Tienda de Café

$$$

Right on the Usaquen Park, this lively café serves straightforward Colombian fare. It's a great spot for breakfast, especially on market Sunday—grab an arepa with everything and settle back to people-watch. Service can be sluggish at times, so don’t come if you're in a hurry.