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. There’s also lots of activity on Fourth Ave. and 15th St. There’s another concentration of bars and nightlife, a bit more bohemian and informal and probably a lot cheaper, at 5th St. and 15th Ave., just down the block from the Cranky Croc hostel, where you’ll hear lots of noise and see lots of people out on the street.
Recently, ‘Pubs’ have proliferated. Why pubs, rather than German bier gardens, isn’t clear. One example is the Buckingham Pub – 2-52 17th St. – Tel: 609-7148 (Around the corner from Platypus, La Candelaria and Sue hostels.) The Buckingham’s owner says there’s a trend, but he couldn’t explain why not German beer houses instead? Anyway, they’ve got a dart board and football on the screen, and lots of foreign beers – For the first time in South America I saw Budweiser. And isn’t it owned by the Brazilians now? Close by, at 3rd Ave. and 19th St., is the grammatically-named Beer Classic Pub.
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 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.
The Fatima Hostel, 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.
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.
El Eje – 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)
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Music
The Symphony Orchestra of Bogotá’s website has information about much more than classical music, including hip-hop, traditional Colombian music, and more!
Salsa
Goce Pagano, 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.
Quiebra Canto – 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: Salsa Bogota
Freddy does salsa classes at 2-16 8th St. Cell: 301-522-8651
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 facebook page.
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.
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 and lots of wine for sale. Live music occasionally, and most weekend nights a pair of pro tangoists dances between the tables.
Classical
For more sophisticated music, check out the Symphony Orchestra of Bogotá. Actually, on their website you’ll find blues, hip-hop and lots of other stuff.
Find lots of info on events in Bogota on Vive.in and on http://www.radionica.gov.co/
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.
Gambling
Gambling is legal, and casinos are everywhere, especially along 7th Ave. and on the Plaza San Victorino. But don’t expect Las Vegas.
