Restaurants
La Candelaria, Bogotá Restaurants
La Candelaria has many fine restaurants, ranging from fast food joints to gourmet, often in historical buildings with rich, warm interiors. During your visit, you’ll miss out if you don’t try Colombia’s great variety of traditional foods.
Vegetarian****Colombian****Ethnic****Italian
Israeli*French**Spanish**Argentinean**Asian** Coffee Shops
Peruvian****Seafood***Mexican***Arabic***Cuban
Restaurants near the Plaza del Chorro de Quevedo:
El Gato Gris Carrera 1A No.13-12 Tel:342-1716 Cel:320-254-9988
Pizza and Crepes del Chorro de Quevedo 337-5290
Open from 6 p.m.; Easy music in English and Spanish
Cafe color cafe / cafe-Bar Carrera.2No. 13-06 Tel:284-7312 open every day
The friendly folks of Merlin show off their champingones (mushrooms).
Merlin/Restaurant-cafe-Gallery Carrera 2No.12-84 Tel:284-9707 Open 11:00am-2:00pm Variety of Colombian and other foods, particularly dishes containing lots of mushrooms and meats.
Merlin also shows and sells ceramics made in its associated workshop.
Balon de verde Live Music, especially jazz Thursday-Saturday and bosa nova on Sundays. Cover usually free. Carrera 1A No.13-20 Cel:316-876-3771 open Thursday-Sunday
Rosita/Restaurant- coffee/cocktails, specializing in cakes and desserts/Colombian and international food; live music Tel:283-6737/cel:311-533-2700 Open Monday-Friday 3:00pm-5:00pm
Somethingood – English breakfasts, fish ‘n chips, cornish pastry, muffin pie and even microbrew beers. Feel like you’re in Olde England, or at least Liverpool, right around the corner from the Plaza del Chorro. Bogotá does have quite a few English-style houses. Perhaps now muffins and afternoon tea will catch on. 1-48 13th St. Tel: 282-8068 – Cel: 312-300-1383
Nuraghe Trattoria - Homemade Italian meals (lunch only) 1-26 13th St.
Tel: 283-4846 Facebook: Nuraghe Bogota
Specialized Restaurants:
Colombian Food
Colombian food is not world-famous, but has a big variety of dishes and tastes – after all, the country has two coasts, three mountain ranges, a huge plains region and influences from three major ethnic groups -European, African and Indigenous. Try an arepa or a sancocho, dig into an ajiaco or bandeja paisa.
Quinua y Amaranto – 2-95 11th St. 565-9982 This small, homey place on 11th St just above 3rd Ave. serves organic food, vegetarian plates, coca tea and whole wheat grains and other good stuff. Quinua and amaranto are traditional South American grains grown in highlands areas and rich in proteins and other nutrients. Also, whole grain and organic products for sale.
Pimienta & Cafe – 9-27 3rd Ave. – Tel: 341-6805 A comfortable, locals restaurant where a Colombian lunch costs just a few dollars. Near Musicology and Posada del Sol hostels.
Son de los Grillos
El Son de los Grillos – 3-60 10th St. Tel: 284-8662 Colombian and international dishes including meats, fish and pasta in a building dating from the 18th century whose furniture and decorations make you feel like you’ve been transported back several centuries.
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For sweets and other traditional foods from Colombia’s Santander Department, on the Venezuelan border, check out these two restaurants a half block from Plaza Bolivar.
Colombian dishes at La Puerta de la Tradicion
La Puerta de la Tradicion – 6-30 11th St. Tel: 286-6736
Ajiaco, beans, tamals, chocolate treats, desserts
Antigua Santafe 6-20 11th St. Tel: 566-6948
Mamá Lupe – 6-14 11th St. – Tel: 243-5393 – Try their hot chocolate with cheese! Also, traditional sweets.
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Digging into the eats in Casa Vieja Restaurant in La Candelaria
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Casa Vieja - 3-63 Ave. Jimenez; 342-6752 or 334-8908 Open noon to 4 p.m. Just down the block and around the corner from several hostels, including Platypus, Sue and Villa Candelaria, La Casa vieja means ‘old house’ and they serve traditional Colombian food.
Makana – 3-86 10th St. Open 9-5 Mon.-Sat. Tel: 334-0328
This restaurant’s name is the word for a type of hard wood in the indigenous Quechua language, and its menu includes cuy, the world’s largest rodent. Give it a taste!
Miraflores Restaurante – 3-87 10th St. Tel: 342-2746 Located in a handsome old building, this restaurant serves comida vallecaucana (from Colombia’s Valle del Cauca), including sancocho, tamales, bistec and chuleta. They also prepare Panamanian dishes such as cazuela and pikeo de mariscos (shellfish). Pikeo means the poor shellfish are boiled alive in coconut juice.
Cisoria - 3-98 11th St. Tel: 336-1228 Try traditional Colombian dishes, especially ones from the coast, including mojarra frita, salpicón de pescado, sancocho and mondongo. Don’t know what these words mean? Drop in and find out! Cisoria is just uphill from the Museo Botero.
Hisca Restaurant-Bar 15a-36 Carrera 3 Cel: 300-217-0927 Hisca is a word from the language of the Muisca Indians, who inhabited this region, meaning a union of the sun and moon. They serve beer, tea, warm and cold drinks. Also, calentado, a traditional dish made with rice, meat and beans, prepared the day before and reheated for breakfast. Fondues prepared on your table.
Cafe Pasaje – On the west side of Plaza Rosario, it’s said that Gabriel Garcia Marquez once hung out in this traditional Bogotá eatery.
Juan Valdez – La Candelaria has two Juan Valdez cafes, both on 11th St. One is on the corner of 11th and 4th Ave., beside the Botero Museum, and the other is on the corner of 5th Ave., beside the Gabriel Garcia Marquéz Cultural Center.
Asociacion Construimos Futuro – 2-21 15A St. (on the corner of 3rd Ave.) These two cooperative restaurant/cafes and the grocery store are staffed and operated by single mothers and serve economical, healthy Colombian food.
La Sociedad – 6-42 11th St. Tel: 336-5849 – Dine in elegance in a 350-year-old building located a block from Plaza Bolivar. In 1810, this building housed Colombia’s first Congress.
El Mirador – From this surprisingly affordable restaurant located on top of the historic, five-star Hotel Opera, you’ll have a great view of La Candelaria’s rooftops. 5-72 10th St. Tel: 3362066 – 3365285 ext. 213
Seafood
With long Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, it’s only natural that fish and shellfish are on many Colombian menus.
Cisoria (listed above) – 3-98 11th St. Tel: 336-1228 – prepares dishes from the Caribbean Coast region.
Afrodisiacos Secretos del Mar – 13-28 5th Ave. – A friendly, small, informal and inexpensive place which serves coastal dishes made by folks from the coast.
Also, across 19th St. , just north of La Candelaria, along Carrera 4 you’ll find about a half dozen traditional fish and seafood places.
Vegetarian
Quinua y Amaranto – 2-95 11th St. Tel: 565-9982 This small, homey place on 11th St just above 3rd Ave. serves organic food, vegetarian plates, coca tea and whole wheat grains and other good stuff. Quinua and amaranto are traditional South American grains grown in highlands areas and rich in proteins and other nutrients. Also, whole grain and organic products for sale.
Sesamo/Restaurant and naturist shop Av Jimenez No.4-64 Tel:286-8812 E-mail:alimentossesamo@yahoo.com
Loto Azul/Buffets-also, yoga and alternative videos. Carrera 5ªA No.14-00 Tel:334-2346/286-3954 open every day.
Nuevo Horizonte – 6-35 20th St. Tel: 561-1308 / 337-5860
This veggie restaurant is hidden on a back street, has sort of an institutional delicatessen atmosphere to it, and doesn’t play fancy music. But if you’re looking for a satisfying lunch at a good price, then try it. Best of all, you can ride your bike right into this place!
The reggae dudes at Jamming 15a-37 3rd Ave. sell veggie hamburgers and other foods during the day. At night, they blast reggae music.
La Candelaria - 12-16 5th Ave. Tel: 281-4329 – Their specialty are vegetarian ponques, cakes usually made with lots of eggs, butter and sometimes chocolate, strawberries and caramel.
Ethnic
French
The Candelaria is full of French bakeries and restaurants.
La Cicuta - Patisserie Francais Peche Mignión 1-95 9th St. 284-1065 Cell: 300-304-1199
Café de la Peña - French Pastries No. 9-66 3rd Ave. Tel: 336-7488 Mon-Sat. 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. Sundays/holidays 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Rincon Francés – 3-64 14th St. Tel: 313-223-3436 – For early risers, this place right around the corner from Bogotá Bike Tours opens at 7 a.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. Sundays and holidays.
Bonaparte 11-19 Carrera 8 Tel: 283-8788 Restaurant, bar, crêperie
Anderson’s – Cajun cookin’ in La Candelaria – 10-19 Carrera 6 – Open 12-3 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
Peruvian
La Casa de citas/Peruvian Food /events-live music The name of this classic La Candelaria local is a polite term for ‘house of prostitution.’ La Casa doesn’t offer those sorts of attractions, but it does have great music and a great atmosphere in an old, colonial building. Carrera 3 No.13-35 Tel:286-6944/282-6368
Israeli
L’Jaim – Israeli Cafe/Restaurant Also serves vegetarian food. Closed Saturdays. Carrera 3ª No.14-79 Tel:281-8635
Pita Wok – 14-88 4th Ave. – Tel: 562-7594 – Arabe, Israeli and Chinese foods. So, sure it’s a weird combination. But maybe they’re contributing to world peace.
Mexican
Enchiladas – Mexican Food – 2-12 10th Street Tel: 286-0312 Fax: 286-0080
Mexican food, in a fun, comfortable atmosphere.E-mail: enchiladascandelaria@hotmail.com
Pico e Gallo – This Mexican restaurant is located on the corner of Calle 10 and Carrera 3, in the same building as the Gilberto Alzate Theatre. Open Sun-Weds. Noon to 5 p.m., Thurs. to Sat. 12 – 11 p.m.
Cuban
Moros y Cristianos – Cuban Food Open every day but holiday Mondays – live music on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (Don’t forget to sign the wall on your way out!) 3-11 9th St. Tel: 243-9071 or 283.5258
Arabic
Al Samira – 13-55 3rd. Ave. Tel: 334-0921 Cel: 31o-271-5154; Shawarama, falafel, quibbes, waclawa, arabic bread. A small, new restaurant with a cozy sitting area upstairs.
Sahara Pastelaria – 4th Ave. No. 17-23 Tel: 609-2223 Arab cakes, desserts; Good food at economical prices.
Shawarma Khalifa Arabic Food No. 4-47 Ave. Jimenez Tel: 283-5838 Cel: 311-474-2310
Cafe Para Dos – Corner of 14th St. and 3rd Ave. Tel: 600-5702 This small place around the corner from Hotel Aragon and down the street from Bogota Bike Tours offers coffee, cocktails, hookay and Moroccan dancing.
Argentinean
Like tangos? Argentinean food?
The pictures on the walls, the music and the food in these places will all make you feel like you’re in tierras australes.
Rescoldo’s – Argentine Barbeque – 3-83 11th St. Tel: 560-4647 / 562-8662
Mi Viejo – 5-41 11th St. Reservations: 566-6128 Tel: 341-0971
Patagonia – 10-01 6th Ave. 342-3830 / 283-1578 Photos of El Ché, tango singer Carlos Gardel, boxing champions and tango music all put you in Argentina. The Confederate flag hanging in the corner doesn’t contribute to the atmosphere, but Argentina is in the south, after all.
Via Buenos Aires ‘Where you live and breathe tango.’
11-15 Carrera 8 Tel: 284-9810/09/12
Located a half block north of Plaza Bolívar. Everything’s imported from Argentina, says the owner. Free tango show every Friday!
Spanish
Tomaquet Restaurant
Tomaquet – Carrera 3 No. 13-79 (right across the street from Bogota Bike Tours. Spanish food in a quiet, warm atmosphere with a fireplace. Also, lots of wine. The name means ‘tomato’ in Catalan.
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La Paella – 5-13 11th St. Tel: 609-9956 or 566-7083 – Tapas and other Spanish specialties. Lots of seafood dishes, including trout, shelfish and lobster. The name refers to a traditional Spanish dish made of rice and meats.
Mediterranean
Bistro de la Candelaria 2-71 12th St. 316-684-6061 Fax: 336-1286 Lots of meat, seafood, Italian and Spanish dishes in a sunny, two-floor place.
Entrance to La Bruja Restaurant.
La Bruja – 3-45 12th St. Tel: 336-9261 La Bruja means ‘the witch,’ and this historic site may very well have earned its name. In the 1930s the building was a monastery, and later purchased by the government and used as the secret police headquarters during the 1950s. The restaurant’s rooms were then used as a jail, and it’s a likely bet that human rights were not highly valued, especially since Colombia was gripped by civil war at the time. Supposedly, a woman seeking her missing son gained entry by bewitching the guards with her wonderful cooking. Today, the building is a fancy apartment building. labrujarestaurantecafe( at )gmail( dot )com.
Asian
La Totuma Corrida – Japanese food – 13a-58 2nd Ave. Tel: 284-9462 This restaurant is in the ‘Calle del Embudo,’ or ‘funnel alley,’ a passageway leading to the Plaza del Chorro. The chef’s father immigrated to Colombia from Japan. A real rarity here.
Oishi Oriental Food – 3rd Ave, right across the street from Villa Candelaria Hostal - Tel: 286-3811. Teriyaki, spring rolls, rice, pasta – prepared in the back of a small cafe.
Crazy Mongolian Bbq – The owner, who is Colombian, explains that his recipes include fried shrimp – probably rare in land-locked Mongolia – because Genghis’ Mongol hordes flipped over their shields and cooked up whatever they found while rampaging across Asia and parts of Europe. The Mongols conquered half of the known world – but not Colombia – until now. On 15th St., across from the Cranky Crok hostel. Tel: 342-6580
Satsuma Sushi Lounge – 3-55 12th St. – Classy sushi place.
Italian
Gelateria Italia – Italian ice cream, crepes. There are two Gelaterias on La Jimenez, on either side of 7th Ave., at 4-66 and the other at 7-33 La Jimenez. Tel: 286-4348.
Garda Restaurant/Bar – 14-48 4th Ave. – Tel: 283-5989 Italian food, at a price.
Da Vinci – 3-48 10th St. Includes a delicatessen.
The Hotel Abadia Colonial – 2-26 11th St. Tel: 341-1884 The hotel’s restaurant serves Italian and Colombian dishes. Open 12 noon til 10 p.m.
Coffee Shops
Cafe La Estación – 5-14 14th St. Tel: 334-2372 A cafe inside an 1886 railcar – or, rather, a railcar turned into a cafe. Unfortunately, Colombia’s rail system has been abandoned – today, there are only a few lines which carry coal and the Tren de la Sabana, which runs north of Bogotá.
La Gata Golosa – 12-58 3rd. Ave. – A small, friendly, sunny place, next door to Bogota Bike Tours. They also have dance classes!
Cafe del Sol – 3-54 14th St. – Coffee, of course, and right around the corner from Bogotá Bike Tours.
There are also two Juan Valdez cafes on 11th St., one beside the Botero Museum and another on the corner below the Gabriel Garcia Marquez Cultural Center.
Mitho Cafe Galeria – 14-83 2nd Ave. Tel: 243-3431 – In the Mitho’s warm, dark interior, you’ll find beer, wine and light food to the rhythm of classic rock, ballads and the cancion social – music with a social message, sung by Latin America’s leftist troubadores.
San Felipe Cafe-Restaurante – On the corner of 12th St. and 2nd Ave. Tel: 243-3158
El Duende 2-99 10th St. Tel: 342-0426 Cel: 310-570-3724
This charming little restaurant, whose name means leprechaun, serves coffee, cocktails and other light fare.
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La Peluqueria (The Hairdresser’s)
Tel: 352-2585; 15a-47 3rd. Ave. La Candelaria, Bogotá
This colorful place, run by a group of young women, cuts hair, hosts parties, exhibits art, sells fashionable used clothing and serves coffee and drinks. Open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Cafe el Maná - 13-50 Carrera 1 (Calle del Embudo) 363-9861 This small, warm cafe/bar plays lots of mellow music in English and Spanish. You’ll hear Mercedes Sosa, Silvio Rodriguez and other Latin troubadores, while sipping warm wine, canelazos and tequilas made with maracuya juice. The name refers to a seed and represents prosperity. Opens at 1 p.m.
Shalá – 13a-59 Carrera 1 (Calle del Embudo) Tel: 243-5372 Named after a Greek goddess, this cafe/restaurant serves light food including crepes, picadas, patacones and hamburgers, as well as drinks such as coffee and canelazos.
Yumi Yumi – 16-40 3rd Ave. Cel: 317-352-8317 Juices, cocktails, Thai curry, sandwiches. Open Mon-Fri: noon til midnight. Sat: 6 p.m. ’til midnight. Closed Sundays and holidays.
Donde Homero – 4-11 15th St. Homero is an older guy with a face full of characte who’s run his little hole-in-the-wall cafe longer than he’s willing to mention. The decor’s a mix of stuff he’s collected over the years, and he often plays salsa tapes. Serves tea, coffee and beer.
Other Restaurants:
San Alejo Cocktails and International Food Av.Jimenez No.3-73 Tel:334-6171/271-9045 E-mail: sanalejocaferestaurante (AT) yahoo.com
Crepes and Waffles No. 4-55 Ave. Jimenez
La Candelaria Cafe, Restaurant, Bakery No. 12-16 5th Ave. Tel: 281-4329
Wraps and Bowls - Meats and pastas in bread pockets and wood bowls. A bit upscale by La Candelaria standards, Wraps and Bowls has a nice interior and one of the neighborhood’s few salad bars. 4-37 15th St. Tel: 312 -592-5321 .
Jamming Cafe-Bar reggae – 15a-37 3rd Ave. This small, dark cafe serves coffee and veggie hamburgers during the day and turns into a reggae club at night.
Taccato’s – 14-48 4th Ave. – 283-3538 – A bar-restaurant with a barbecue and wi-fi.
Restaurante La Vide en Rosa
4-34 14th St. (Across from the Dann Colonial Hotel) Tel: 284-1609
Fish, meats and pasta in a pleasant, red-tinged space, with prices that aren’t too high.
La Casona del Museo
Cafe, restaurant, as well as handicrafts and emeralds. Located just north of the Gold Museum
5-24 16th St. Tel: 243-9628
Want to go further? La Macarena, a small, trendy, fashionable neighborhood twenty blocks north of La Candelaria. La Macarena has outdoor cafes and bars and Chilean, Arabic, Asian, Colombian and other restaurants, including one named ‘Food Rice.’ Further north, the Zona Rosa, Zona T and Parque de la 93 are popular dining and nightlife areas – but all are much more expensive than is La Candelaria.
