In the last episode I talked about the main tourist attractions in Bogota, the 4 churches you should visit, the 4 museums you should go to, and the best places to have breakfast, lunch and dinner typical food. However, in this episode I’m going to reveal what to do in Bogotá as a local. I’ll offer alternative and different plans, less touristic, because they are more popular among locals. In today’s episode we leave the historic center and La Candelaria to explore other areas of the city.
Best Food in Bogotá
First, I want to take you to the places where you can find the best food in Bogota, and for that I am going to recommend 4 areas preferred by the locals.
Parque de la 93
My first recommendation is Parque de la 93. Although Bogota has many parks, this one is special because it is surrounded by restaurants where you can find options for any kind of culinary craving. Asian food, Italian, international, French, coffee, everything! Here anyone can find a restaurant with the food they like. Sometimes, in this park there are big screens to watch soccer games or markets with small stores of local entrepreneurs. At Christmas time, you will also find a Christmas market. It is a very popular place, easily accessible and with a wide gastronomic variety. A restaurant in this area that I recommend for breakfast or a snack is called “Al Agua Patos”. This place is relatively new and brings a novel concept to the food, where all dishes are served on a toast made of corn that they call “pato”. The ducks with egg or granolas are delicious and offer a culinary experience unlike anything else you can try. Another place I recommend in Parque de la 93 is called “Café Renault”. This restaurant is part of Leo Kats restaurants, but it offers all the variety of dishes found in Zona K restaurants, so you will find a huge variety of options. Asian food, Italian food, sushi, soups, hot dishes, meats, whatever you are craving for, you will find it here, so I think it is a good option for those who are looking for variety.
Usaquén
The next area, very similar to Parque de la 93, is Usaquen. Usaquén also has a park and around it there are numerous restaurants, cafes, bars and anything else you might want to visit. In the evenings, it is a popular place to have dinner or a drink, and on Sundays at noon there is a flea market where you can find handmade products. Something interesting about Usaquén is that there are not only restaurants around the park, but also in all the nearby streets. It is a very nice area to walk around, have a coffee and enjoy Bogotá. There are many restaurants here that I like, but I want to recommend 2 in particular. The first one is Italian cuisine and is called “Italia Rústica”. It is a restaurant owned by chef Andrei, who also has other restaurants in Usaquen that offer Mediterranean or Greek food. However, the Italian one is my favorite, the food is delicious and the place is also very nice. My second recommendation is an Asian restaurant called “Osaki”. This place offers a wide variety of dishes and personally I am a fan of their ramen. In addition, the restaurant is also very nice to visit. If you have time, I suggest you also have a coffee or an ice cream in the Usaquen park and walk through its streets.
Zona T
My next recommendation is the T Zone. This place gets its name because there is a T formed by two pedestrian streets that are full of restaurants. This area is also close to big stores of international brands, such as Zara, Nike, Bershka, Adidas or Pull and Bear. It also has several shopping malls: Andino, El Retiro and Atlantis. Zona T is very popular during the evenings, especially on weekends. You will always find many open bars, places to have a drink and a lot of people. My two favorite restaurants in this area are two chain restaurants that are found all over Bogota and are probably the favorites of Bogotanos: Crepes and Waffles and Wok.
The first, Crepes y Waffles, may sound like a dessert or sweet food restaurant, but they actually offer a wide variety of dining options. Whether it is breakfast, snacks, lunch, coffee or dinner, you can go to this restaurant at any time and you will always find delicious dishes for every occasion. I would like to make a special recommendation for their ice cream. The Crepes and Waffles ice creams are my favorite in all of Colombia. They are delicious, have a great variety of flavors and are very natural. They also offer seasonal flavors with specific ingredients from the country or exotic fruit ice creams from Colombia. I really recommend trying these ice creams.
The second restaurant, Wok, is very interesting because it is very concerned about its social responsibility. It is an Asian restaurant, but its menu varies according to the catch of the day. All the fish they use comes from the Pacific Ocean, specifically from a department called Chocó. Both restaurants mentioned above are concerned about supporting communities in Colombia, so they hire mothers who are heads of households as waitresses. Going to these two restaurants means enjoying a delicious meal and supporting Colombians.
Zona G
My fourth and final recommendation for dining is Zona G. This area has numerous restaurants and some streets are closed so you can enjoy your meal outdoors, at outdoor tables. Here you will find slightly more expensive restaurants, but many are renowned because they not only offer delicious food, but also a unique dining experience. Two of the most renowned are El Cielo and Criterion. The first, El Cielo, is the restaurant of chef Juan Manuel Barrientos. It offers a multi-sensory experience and theatrical dishes. This restaurant is more expensive, with an approximate price of $60, but you are paying not only for the food, but for the whole culinary experience that El Cielo offers. Criterion is similar, an elegant and expensive restaurant owned by the Rausch brothers, two well-known chefs in Colombia. Like El Cielo, this restaurant offers authentic signature dishes that will give you an unforgettable dining experience. In both restaurants you can try the tasting menu, which will allow you to try several small dishes and savor the best of each place.
Doing Local Things in Bogotá
Well, now you know the 4 favorite places to eat in Bogota: Parque de la 93, Usaquen, Zona T and Zona G. Now, I’ll tell you about three more plans that will allow you to enjoy Bogota like a local.
Play Tejo
The first is playing tejo. Tejo is a sport created in Colombia and is played by 90% of Colombians. According to the Secretariat of Culture, this sport originated more than 500 years ago by the Muiscas, the indigenous community that inhabited Cundinamarca. At that time, shuffleboard was known as “turmequé” and was part of their ceremonial festivities. Today, tejo consists of throwing a small circular metallic object at a board with a circle, similar to a target, and four strands at each corner. The objective of the game is to explode the fuses and whoever manages to explode the most fuses wins. Although it is fun to play, tejo is also a social event where there is always beer and food. The best places to play shuffleboard are Turmequé, with a cost of 15,000 pesos per person, or the Club de Tejo la 76, with a cost of 70,000 pesos per hour.
Ciclovía
The second plan you can make to enjoy Bogotá like a local is to join the ciclovía. Every Sunday morning, the main streets of the city are partially closed to become exclusive for bicycles. Many people come out to bike, walk, skate and enjoy the weekend. The most popular streets for the ciclovía are Carrera Séptima and Calle 26. A large number of Bogotanos go out every Sunday to exercise and enjoy themselves with friends and family. Along the streets you will find food and water stands provided by the government, and you can ride along the ciclovías until 2 pm, at which time the streets reopen to vehicular traffic.
Visitar a Park
The third plan you can do as a local is to visit a park. I don’t know how many parks the city has, but I think Bogotá is one of the cities with the most parks in the world. Green areas accompany us everywhere, so a good option is to go to a park to read, exercise, have a picnic, walk or just rest and relax. Three popular parks are Parque del Virrey, Parque del Chico and Parque del Country. All three are beautiful, spacious and perfect for enjoying a sunny day in Bogota. There is a fourth park that is much larger called Simon Bolivar Park. This park has multiple sections, such as the Parque de los Novios, which has a large lake, the Parque Central Simón Bolívar, where big concerts or festivals like Rock al Parque or Salsa al Parque are held, and the Botanical Garden José Celestino Mutis. This immense park has 5 km of bike paths and is considered the “lung of the city” due to its extensive green areas, abundant vegetation and its location in the heart of the city.
Best Hikes in Bogotá
And speaking of parks, in Bogota there are many plans that you can do to be in contact with nature, such as tours and hikes in the hills and mountains of the city. To end this episode, I am going to recommend three “green” plans that you can do in Bogota.
Climbing the Cerro de Monserrate
The first, and probably the most popular, is to hike up the Cerro de Monserrate. As I mentioned in a previous episode, Monserrate is one of the highest mountains in Bogota and at the top is a church and a viewpoint. Although you can go up by cable car, it’s more fun to do it on foot. However, I must warn you that there are a lot of stairs and due to the altitude of Bogota, you can easily get tired. The climb can take about an hour, but if you feel tired, you can take breaks and take your time. The important thing is not only to get to the top, but to enjoy the path, which will take you through the mountain via stairs. The pedestrian path to Monserrate is located next to the cable car station and is open every day, except Tuesdays, from 5:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Quebrada la Vieja Hike
The second trail you can do in Bogota will also take you hiking in the mountains, and is called Quebrada La Vieja. This trail takes you into the mountains of the eastern hills for 5.7 km. Along the way you will see a variety of birds, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled and enjoy the sounds of nature. This trail is only open from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., so it is advisable to arrive early to be able to complete it. I will provide you with a link to check the schedules and get all the information you need to complete this hike.
Trails in Chicaque
The third and last place I recommend you to enjoy hiking in the middle of nature is called Chicaque. Chicaque is a natural park located 30 minutes from Bogota. It has more than 20 km of trails to walk, so if you like nature and hiking, you can dedicate a full day to explore this place. In Chicaque you will find three streams and seven different trails to explore. The entrance fee is 18,000 pesos, approximately 4.5 dollars, but it is worth it, as it is a natural conservation park where you can discover all the natural beauty that is close to the city. I will provide you with the link with information about the trails so you can explore them and choose which one you like the most. Also, if you dare, you can stay overnight in this park, which can be an excellent option for a short getaway from Bogota.
