Bogota, the Colombian City People Should Talk About

For some culture, visit Museo del Oro (the gold museum), located in El Centro, or what used to be Bogota’s center in colonial times. In the museum you’ll find archeological collections, part of the country’s heritage, originally found in Colombia, and others recovered from the conquerors. In the museum you’ll get to learn more about Colombia’s history and admire the beautiful gold pieces that will amaze you with the level of detail that the indigenous hands had. The exhibitions are available in Spanish-English.

If you really appreciate art, visit Museo Botero, which is not far away from Museo del Oro and is located in a colonial house in La Candelaria neighborhood. You’ll find 123 pieces of art created by the famous Colombian artist and 85 pieces by other national and international artists.

Afterwards, walk around La Candelaria and be amazed by the beautiful, colorful colonial houses. Stop by Plaza Bolivar, the city’s main square, which is surrounded by historical buildings such as the Palace of Justice, the National Capitol and the Primary Cathedral.

For some shopping and people-watching, explore Usaquén’s Mercado de las Pulgas (flea market) on Sundays. Get some crafts or curiosities and do a coffee tasting at Catación Pública. If you're only interested in shopping, I suggest you go to Calle de los Anticuarios (Anticuarios Street) or to Centro Comercial Andino (Andino mall) to find the best, most fashionable and high-quality brands. Most of these are local, but you will also find some international ones.

For some adventure, hike or take the cable car up to Monserrate, a sanctuary from 1920 where you’ll see the greatest view of Bogota and realize how large the city is.

For a fun night out, go play tejo, a traditional throwing Colombian sport. Imagine cornhole, but with an iron ball (called tejo) and small gunpowder targets. It is actually a lot of fun! Afterward, have dinner and party at Andrés D.C. near Calle 85 where many nightclubs are located.

For an off-the-beaten-path activity, visit Paloquemao, the biggest traditional market in Bogota. Explore around, admire all the amazing flowers and plants, taste the ‘pandebonos’ and sample the fruits. You can’t miss mangostino, papaya, chirimoya, mamoncillo and feijoa!

If you’re feeling extra adventurous in the fruit section, there is a taco place that serves great tacos and horchata for you to enjoy for breakfast or lunch!

Leo (#13 in Latin America’s 50 Best list & #43 in the World’s 50 Best): Beautiful upscale restaurant that gives you the opportunity to explore and savor Colombian gastronomy in a modern and refined setting. In fact, it offers my favorite tasting menu in Bogota!

El Chato (#5 in Latin America’s 50 Best list & #33 in the World’s 50 Best): El Chato is known for its creative approach to Colombian cuisine. It offers unique dishes that showcase a blend of traditional Colombian ingredients and modern cooking techniques.

Mesa Franca (#49 in Latin America’s 50 Best list): Located in the trendy Chapinero district, Mesa Franca incorporates indigenous culinary techniques to its dishes. Try conejo con arroz (rabbit with rice) and the aged cheesecake.

Andrés Carne de Res: For Colombian food, this is the place to go! Don’t forget to order arepa de choclo with cheese, chicharrones and if you feel like staying for the party that starts around 10-11PM, try some aguardiente (the national alcoholic drink).

Central: Head over to this gem for some traditional Colombian seafood and tropical vibe in the heart of Bogota. Enjoy a ceviche de la calle or shrimp rice and for a cocktail, I recommend Como un Lulo (mezcal and lulo fruit).

Wok: Have you ever tried sushi rolls with sweet plantain? Or a sushi roll that tastes like ceviche? Well, this is the place to do that! It is actually one of my favorite restaurants for more casual dinners, and it is well-known for its sustainability and supply chain, in which fresh fish is brought to the middle of the country every day.

Al Agua Patos: If you are craving brunch, go enjoy their patos. These are hard to explain, but they are basically big toasts with various toppings. They also have the best granola bowls!

Dondoh: A modern Japanese grill, this restaurant is a partner establishment of the one with the same name in Peru.