... in response to Bogota Dec. 20th-23rd, posted by Calipro on Nov 16, 2002Hi Calipro,
I was going to mention some nice restaurants and cafe's in my trip report but thought that your thread would be a good place, since you asked. I have tried all these places except the pizza joint but it came highly recommended by a rolita.
All are good choices.
If you want impecible service and great food the La Fragata in the "World Trade Center" is a good choice. An added nice feature at this restaurant is that the seating area slowly rotates 360 degrees giving a nice panoramic view of the city. (Only a few stories high, but still a great romantic view.) Garlic shrimp is delicious.
Another 5 star restaurant is the El Bunguer at Calle 101 18-18. No view like La Fragata, but very romantic, delicious food, great wine, and superb service. Same killer garlic shrimp and seafood. Both these places are very nice and will impress any special lady.
A notch down in class is the popular Carbon de Palo located at Ave 19 No. 106-12. Lots of barbecued carne y pollo and the trout is nice. I am not talking about the express cafe that bears the same name across the street, rather the larger sit down. Nice live music during dinner.
Restaurante Shamua is very good at Av 19 No 114 70. Great steaks and a nice enclosed patio seating area.
A sleeper is the Chez Jack at Calle 123 No 8-23. Just a whole in the wall, but very inexpensive and nice main courses. The live solo musician that played both times I visited was too Lawrence Welk, but fortunately, his sets were short.
A hip and fun place to go is just outside north Bogota (safe ride there) to Chia at the Andres Carne de res. Eclectic atmosphere, almost zany, so-so food, but the locals like it and is packed on weekends. Even the restrooms were a gas, no pun intended.
Infatti Ristorante Cafe at Calle 119 No 5 84 is a good choice although a bit pricey for what you get. Nice food and great live jazz. Indoor and outdoor seating. Side note: great outdoor craft market up the street from here at the top of hill in a secured parking lot every Sunday. Good place for gift buying.
Across the street on the other corner from the Infatti, is another good choice for a dinner date called the Cafe Restaurante Tinaja Tizon at Calle 119 6-06 Good food, with big portions. Two young street kids always begging for money working this block. I saw this brother/sister duo every time I went to this neigborhood. Don't confuse them with the guys who will watch your date's car for 2,000 pesos.
Just next door to them is a great typical Colombian food place named Tienda del Cafe. Great sopa, coffee, and to die for warm chocolate brownie for dessert. Pollo and carne are good. (Couldn't find any lamb dishes anywhere.)
A great little bakery is the Castellana 104 at Ave 19 No 104 49. There is a small cafe located in the rear of the building that is not as good as the dessert and bakery at the front. You can order the great pastries from the front and use the tables in rear cafe but the breakfast/lunch I had was just fair to good.
Excellent buffet style breakfast (made to order omeletes)with great service is the restaurant located at the Hotel La Fontana, called the Los Arcos. Beautiful hotel, and you might see someone getting married in the small chapel just outside in the enclosed courtyard. If not driving, use the hotel's own taxis when you depart. They aren't yellow and very professional drivers.
Cafe Oma is a trendy place for a cup of joe along with some people watching. Multiple locations but the Calle 93 No 12 55 is a good choice.
Santa Barbara Mall has an excellent gelato/sorbetto accompanied with tinto or espresso. Food in the adjacent food court/ice rink sucks.
The Cafe Jengibre at Cra 11 107 42 (one block behind the LAI agency) is only open for lunch but is great. Try the fresh salmon if available. Nice french pressed coffee. Great staff.
Finally the pizza place called Archie's Pizza at Car. 13 near 82nd or 83rd Street. They also have a second location.
Bon Appetite!
