Guidebook for Bogotá
Food Scene
A Colombian institution. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is a French restaurant! They have a huge menu with salty and sweet items. Great for lunch or dinner. For dessert, ask for the waffle with arequipe, banana and ice-cream! Yum.
29 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Crepes & Waffles Zona T
83-40 Cra. 12aA Colombian institution. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is a French restaurant! They have a huge menu with salty and sweet items. Great for lunch or dinner. For dessert, ask for the waffle with arequipe, banana and ice-cream! Yum.
Very cheap Mexican food, just around the corner. The tortilla soup is pretty good.
Taquería Don Clemente
#79-6 Cra. 11Very cheap Mexican food, just around the corner. The tortilla soup is pretty good.
Best burgers in town, and also just a few minutes away. There’s limited seating space and usually a long queue, but don’t worry –it’ll be worth it. These are your classic cheeseburgers, so don’t come expecting any weird salsas, cheeses or toppings ;)
64 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Home Burgers
118-35 Av. Cra 19Best burgers in town, and also just a few minutes away. There’s limited seating space and usually a long queue, but don’t worry –it’ll be worth it. These are your classic cheeseburgers, so don’t come expecting any weird salsas, cheeses or toppings ;)
Poke
#8-35 Cl. 81Healthy and super tasty poke (raw fish salad served over sticky rice).
Great salad bar, coffee and pastries. A good option for breakfast or lunch. Dog friendly!
25 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
MASA 81
9-12 Cl. 81Great salad bar, coffee and pastries. A good option for breakfast or lunch. Dog friendly!
A must for brunch. Also a great place for coffee and pastries with a sunny terrace. Also a good option if you want to bring your laptop and work/study. Good for couples and families. Pet friendly.
15 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Eric Kayser
9-85 Cl. 81A must for brunch. Also a great place for coffee and pastries with a sunny terrace. Also a good option if you want to bring your laptop and work/study. Good for couples and families. Pet friendly.
Another Colombian institution, even though it’s Asian food. A very complete menu, with varied sushi dishes, curries and soups. If you want to try something unique ask for the Zapallo roll -- it’s super cheap and incredibly delicious (plus, vegetarian). You can’t go wrong with most dishes. Note: The top floor of the Wok in Zona T has a special menu, which is smaller and slightly more expensive, but also recommended and less crowded.
45 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
WOK Zona T
# 82-74 Cra. 13Another Colombian institution, even though it’s Asian food. A very complete menu, with varied sushi dishes, curries and soups. If you want to try something unique ask for the Zapallo roll -- it’s super cheap and incredibly delicious (plus, vegetarian). You can’t go wrong with most dishes. Note: The top floor of the Wok in Zona T has a special menu, which is smaller and slightly more expensive, but also recommended and less crowded.
Really good salads and sandwiches, plenty of healthy options and pastries. Pet friendly.
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
La Cesta Calle 81
# 8-70 Cl. 81Really good salads and sandwiches, plenty of healthy options and pastries. Pet friendly.
Good place for late breakfast. Service is a bit slow.
16 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
La Bagatelle Calle 82
81-18/24 Cra. 9Good place for late breakfast. Service is a bit slow.
Very popular with tourists, they have an all-you-can-eat brunch with Colombian food. If it’s your first time in Colombia, definitely give it a try.
73 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
RESTAURANTE DI LUCCA
# 85-32 Cra. 13Very popular with tourists, they have an all-you-can-eat brunch with Colombian food. If it’s your first time in Colombia, definitely give it a try.
My favorite restaurant in Bogotá. It offers Nikkei Cuisine (Japanese and Peruvian fusion), with top-notch service and very cool atmosphere. The tasting menu for two is expensive but well worth it. Reservation needed. (Don’t confuse it with Osaki, a Japanese chain restaurant.)
19 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Osk peru
8525 Cra. 13My favorite restaurant in Bogotá. It offers Nikkei Cuisine (Japanese and Peruvian fusion), with top-notch service and very cool atmosphere. The tasting menu for two is expensive but well worth it. Reservation needed. (Don’t confuse it with Osaki, a Japanese chain restaurant.)
Arguably Bogota’s best French restaurant and steakhouse, with an ample wine selection. Reservation is usually needed.
35 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
La Brasserie
85-35 Cra. 13Arguably Bogota’s best French restaurant and steakhouse, with an ample wine selection. Reservation is usually needed.
International cuisine. I recommend ordering and sharing a bunch of tapas and appetizers. The mussels are incredible, and the beef tartar with mustard ice-cream is… omg. Reservation recommended.
16 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
CASA
#85 - 24 Cra. 13International cuisine. I recommend ordering and sharing a bunch of tapas and appetizers. The mussels are incredible, and the beef tartar with mustard ice-cream is… omg. Reservation recommended.
Very good ceviches. Reservation recommended but not necessary.
41 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Central Cevicheria
# 85 -14 Cra. 13Very good ceviches. Reservation recommended but not necessary.
If you need your American food fix, go to this place for top-notch chicken and waffles and buffalo wings, among other American classics, all in an underground, cozy setting.
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Ugly American Bar & Grill
81-12 Cra. 9If you need your American food fix, go to this place for top-notch chicken and waffles and buffalo wings, among other American classics, all in an underground, cozy setting.
One of Bogota's most prestigious restaurants. Great food but very expensive.
53 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Harry Sasson
75-70 Cra. 9One of Bogota's most prestigious restaurants. Great food but very expensive.
Makeout Colombia
Excellent vegan food!
Shopping
Andino carries a wide variety of shops. The newer side of Andino, facing la Zona T, has many luxury brands.
527 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Andino Shopping Mall
82-71 Cra. 11Andino carries a wide variety of shops. The newer side of Andino, facing la Zona T, has many luxury brands.
El Retiro features “La Plaza de Andrés,” which is essentially a welcoming food court with loads of Colombian food options.
130 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
El Retiro Shopping Center
11-75 Cl. 81El Retiro features “La Plaza de Andrés,” which is essentially a welcoming food court with loads of Colombian food options.
Atlantis has a nice Juan Valdez coffee shop and cheaper retail options than the other malls in the area.
128 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Centro comercial Atlantis Plaza
# 13 05 Cl. 81Atlantis has a nice Juan Valdez coffee shop and cheaper retail options than the other malls in the area.
Drinks & Nightlife
A five-floor venue with great Colombian food, drinks and music –and it’s only a 4 min walk from the apartment. Andrés DC is a very good option if you want to avoid the 1+ hour drive to the original Andrés in Chia (north of Bogotá). If you wanna try a very Colombian drink, ask for the Colombianisimo (be warned: it has aguardiente). The Lulazo (vodka and lulo drink) is also really good! Bonus: Tell one of the staff members that it’s your (or your friend’s) birthday and brace yourself for a little fiesta brought to your table. I suggest making a reservation.
247 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Andrés Exprés Chía
Calle 2A five-floor venue with great Colombian food, drinks and music –and it’s only a 4 min walk from the apartment. Andrés DC is a very good option if you want to avoid the 1+ hour drive to the original Andrés in Chia (north of Bogotá). If you wanna try a very Colombian drink, ask for the Colombianisimo (be warned: it has aguardiente). The Lulazo (vodka and lulo drink) is also really good! Bonus: Tell one of the staff members that it’s your (or your friend’s) birthday and brace yourself for a little fiesta brought to your table. I suggest making a reservation.
Zona T is a very popular pedestrian zone in Bogota with lots of bars. These are some good options:
Bogotá Beer Company: It’s Bogota + beer. Nothing could go wrong.
Pravda: try the martinis and small plates.
The Irish Pub: more beer and cozy indoors.
311 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Zona T
Calle 83Zona T is a very popular pedestrian zone in Bogota with lots of bars. These are some good options:
Bogotá Beer Company: It’s Bogota + beer. Nothing could go wrong.
Pravda: try the martinis and small plates.
The Irish Pub: more beer and cozy indoors.
If you really want to party and dance until the sun goes up, go to Video Club, a symbol of the city’s vibrant electronic music scene. Try to get there around midnight and be prepared to pay a cover that’s usually around COP 50.000. Take an Uber or taxi (10 min ride). Twenties and thirties crowd.
30 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Video Club
13-09 Cl. 64If you really want to party and dance until the sun goes up, go to Video Club, a symbol of the city’s vibrant electronic music scene. Try to get there around midnight and be prepared to pay a cover that’s usually around COP 50.000. Take an Uber or taxi (10 min ride). Twenties and thirties crowd.
SAUNA
#85-33 Cra. 14Gay disco bar with live shows and pop and reggaeton nights during the weekends.
Parks & Nature
Well-kept park: Good option for picnics. Great for walking your dog.
197 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
El Virrey Park
90-71 Cra 2a EsteWell-kept park: Good option for picnics. Great for walking your dog.
Arts & Culture
Recognized as one of Latin America´s best museums, it is rich in pre-colombian culture.
901 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Gold Museum (Museo del Oro)
15-88 Cra. 6Recognized as one of Latin America´s best museums, it is rich in pre-colombian culture.
Essentials
Carulla El Retiro
9-67 Ac. 85Farmatodo Andino
82-71 Cra. 11Large pharmacy, very close to the apartment.
Farmacenter El Retiro
81 - 28 Carrera 11Closest pharmacy to the apartment.
Good gym with sauna and steam bath. 12 min walk from the apartment.
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Bodytech
7-13 Ac. 85Good gym with sauna and steam bath. 12 min walk from the apartment.
Getting Around
Heroes C - 4 station
Transmilenio stop.
AK 11 - AC 82 station
SITP Bus stop: south-bound to go to the city's center.