Nightlife!
Bars
La Candelaria has many bars, most of them catering to the hostel/university crowd (the neighborhood has about ten private universities).
You’ll find lots of bars on and near the Plaza del Chorro, which is a fun hangout itself, with handicraft sellers, storytellers and jugglers. There’s another concentration of bars and nightlife, a bit less formal and louder and cheaper, at Carrera 4 and 15th St., just down the block from the Cranky Croc hostel. You’ll hear the noise and see lots of people out on the street. There, you’ll find salsa (Cubantigua, on 15th St. and Marti on Carrera 4) and rock, in places like the Lymbo Bar, also on Carrera 4.
La Tartine – 3-88 12th St. – The name of this French bar/restaurant means a peasant bread prepared with vegetables and meat. The owner, a Frenchman who fought with the French Foreign Legion under a false Canadian identity, prepares many traditional French foods and sells beer, cocktails and (Chilean) wine.
Makondo – 18-51 4th Ave. Tel: 696-8327 This one’s named after the fictional town created by Colombian Nobel-prize-winning novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The bar owner is a big Marquez fan. I’m not, but I do like literature. Coffee, drinks, beer, cocktails. Karaoke contest Thursdays and Saturdays.
You’ll find numerous small bars just south of the Plaza del Chorro, in the Calle del Embudo (to the east) and the Callejon del Embudo (to the west), where many sell chicha, a traditional drink made from fermented corn. The callejon is named Embudo, or ‘funnel,’ because it narrows at one end.
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.
, on 14th St. between Carreras 2 and 3, has the Fatima Bar, which hosts bands most Friday and Saturday nights. They usually charge cover only after about 1 a.m.
Sue II hostel, which is around the corner on 3rd Ave., also has a bar.
And Villa Candelaria Hostel, on 3rd Ave. near 16th St., holds parties Wednesday nights, usually with live music. Cover is 5,000 pesos, which includes one beer.
Baltazar For a taste of La Candelaria’s university life, check out this loud, crowded bar, with its monster mask wall decorations. 5-49 13th St.
– Bogotá’s leading microbrewery has opened a bar in La Candelaria. Classy European-style home brews. But be prepared to pay three or four times as much as you would to chug a blue-collar brew. On the corner of Carrera 4 and Calle 12D.
Chicha
One of several chicha places in the Callejon del Embudo, near La Plaza del Chorro.
Chicha is a traditional Colombian fermented drink which can be made out of maize (corn), yuca (cassava), or even fruits such as apples. Often, Colombians make their chicha from corn and panela – sugar obtained from sugar cane. Traditionally, chicha is fermented for months, but some commercial chichas get fermented for only a week. In any case, expect a rich corn taste.
You’ll find lots of chicha in the Callejon del Embudo, running north from La Plaza del Chorro. La Casa del Chibcha (the Muisca indigenous word for the drink) is on 14th St., right around the corner from the Callejon.
Like alcohol on wheels? Get onto the party bus, which leaves the the Sue Hostel on 16th St. every Friday night at about 10 p.m.
– This alternative cultural center opened in January 2010 and plays lots of electronic music and shows leftist video documentaries. No. 2-51 17th St. (La Concordia)
Puerto Capitulo – Calle 10 #1-37 This household on 10th St., just below Carrera 1 (south side) does circus shows most Sunday afternoons after 4 p.m. Then they go around the corner for more circus on 9th St. Free admission, but bring food. Write them at puertocapitulo (at) gmail (dot) com. Do be particularly cautious in this area, especially in the evening. X
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Music
The of Bogotá’s website has information about much more than classical music, including hip-hop, traditional Colombian music, and more!
Salsa
, Cl. 20 ( Av, Jímenez-Eje Ambiental) n- 00 – 06 East Tel: 317-501-6174 Fixed line: 243-2549 Near the top of the Eje Ambiental, beside the University of the Andes, across the road from the park and police station, is one of the neighborhood’s best known salsa joints. Unpretentious and informal, inexpensive (6,000 pesos cover includes two beers), lots of regular people who love to dance. Generally open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Lots of salsa, as well as other music.
El Candelario – On the corner of Carrera 5 and 12th St. – Salsa, rock and R&B. Restaurant is open Mon.-Sat., the club on Fridays and Saturdays.
Cubantigua Cafe/Bar - Son, guajira, mambo music – 15th St., just off of Carrera 4. More older, classic salsa – but not all of it Cuban. Also cool to just hang out and listen. The slogan ‘Environment of Old Habana’ and the portrait of Celia Cruz on the sign makes clear that this joint’s owners aren’t celebrating La Revolucion of Che and Castro, which is a real relief.
– 1776 5th Ave. Tel: 243-1630 / 341-2319 – A bit north of La Candelaria, on 5th Ave., near 17th St. Saturday plays salsa, Weds. is funk and R&B. Also samba and currulua. Wednesday is the big night. Live music many weekends. Check out their excellent website.
The Bamboleo – 13-34 5th Ave. Salsa and reggaeton – Opens weekends and some weeknights. Also check out the owner’s fish restaurant two doors south.
Marti – 14-48 4th Ave. – Salsa – Thurs-Sat. nights. No cover! (But drinks cost a bit more.) And those things on the shelves really are LPs!
For more salsa information, also check out: and
Circo Cuenta Teatro, who often put on impromptu , put on circuses and concerts in their theatre on Calle 14, across from the Mercado de la Concordia.
Rock
Lymbo Rock – 15-64 4th St. 493-9270 – Heavy metal, big-screen TV.
Kaldí – 3-79 Jimenez – 566-9331 – Rock, pop cafe.
Papyros - 15-68 4th Ave. Cocktails, warm drinks and rock music in English and Spanish.
Heavy Metal
The Teatro Metropol, 6-31 24th St., seems to be a popular venue for heavy metal concerts. Call: 562-7978 They have a .
If you’re into punk, check out this .
Reggae
Jamming – 15a-37 3rd Ave. – Right beside the Villa Candelaria Hostel. This small, fun place is crowded and full of music. Also, vegetarian food during the day.
Congo Club – 5-67 13th St. Open only Thurs. and Fri. evenings, until 3 a.m.They spread sand on the floor for barefoot dancing, no matter that we’re far from the coast. Bob Marley photos decorate the walls, drinks include cocktails, coko loco and one named hot sex. Check it out.
Lions – 4-19 15th St. – These reggae boys speak English, too. Open Thurs-Sat. nights.
– 3-22 14th St. Occasional reggae and other events. Close to Fatima and Sue II hostels. Check ‘em out on Tel: 314-269-7394 .
Tango
El Viejo Almacen – 4-30 15th St. Tel: 243-3356 – Nothing fancy about this 44-year-old bar, just a big room with tango and milonga music; lots of atmosphere and lots of wine for sale. Live music occasionally, and most weekend nights a pair of pro tangoists dances between the tables.
Find electronic musical events at
Classical
For more sophisticated music, check out the of Bogotá. Actually, on their website you’ll find blues, hip-hop and lots of other stuff. Here’s the .
, on the back side of the old Hotel Continental (now mostly apartments) (Calle 16 No. 4-03), holds a variety of concerts. Info: 315-324-5733.
Find lots of info on events in Bogota on and on
North of La Candelaria
La Bodeguita del Centro
5-81 24th St.
A hole-in-the-wall place. Across the street and a bit east from the Museum of Modern Art. Musica antellana (not to be confused with musica anti-yanqui), consisting of salsa, pachanga, descarga…
Open Thursday thru Saturday nights 6 p.m. till 3 a.m.
Other Neighborhoods
In recent years, , located above the Bullfighting Stadium, has become known as a fashionable neighborhood frequented by telenovela stars. La Macarena has a good variety of ethnic restaurants. Definitely more expensive than La Candelaria. But don’t go further north or uphill from there, as the barrio turns rough.
Bogotá’s best known nightlife area is the Zona Rosa/Zona T, located around 81st. St. and Carrera 1 in theneighborhood , an upscale area with U.S.-style joints like the Bogota Beer Co. and Hard Rock Cafe. Parque de la 93, a bit further north, has lower-key bars and restaurants. The Zona Rosa is in , known as Bogotá’s gay neighborhood.
Gambling
Gambling is legal, and casinos are plentiful, particularly along 7th Ave. and on the Plaza San Victorino. But don’t expect Las Vegas.
Movies
Free artsy movies shown at the Cine Club Teatro Metro, on 34th St. No. 13-28 . Tel: 813-7596. Check out their schedule on . You have to make your reservation by e-mailing them at: cineclubteatrometro@gmail.com
Check out the nearby .
More info about happenings on
Location
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