Travel Beyond: a guide for your stay in Colombia

Welcome to the country of colors and flavors! We want to join you on the great adventure of discovering Colombia, so we have created this blog to give you recommendations of all the things you can’t miss, and the must-know. Let’s make the best out of your vacations with Beyond Colombia!

Amazing Colombian Food: Best Spots and 3 price ranges in Bogotá

Travel on a Budget price range:  up to 12,000 COP (around USD 3)

El Dorado Empanadas

These are the locals favorite. You can find them anywhere at any time, and you will always see a Colombian eating one when they have a break. It’s a small snack made with a thin dough filled with anything your imagination can handle and then baked or fried.

The typical Colombian empanada one is made with corn dough, filled with any meat and rice/potatoes or just good ol’ plain cheese. The most important thing is the aji casero, the typical hot sauce made of chillis, lemon juice, onions, tomatoes.

El Dorado Empanadas are our favorite, not only because of the empanada itself but their sauce: aji casero that they make themselves, so you can have an authentic Colombian snack in Bogotá. The empanada costs 3.900 pesos and you can find meat or chicken stuffed. Our recommendation is to try both. 

Where are they located? Right next to the Gold Museum, in this spot, so you can enjoy the museum with a stomach full of colombian flavors. 

Nativa Arte y Comida

Nativa is a great option for vegetarians in Bogotá. Finding meat-free food might be difficult in Colombia, but Nativa serves vegetarian pastas, rices, and other international dishes, as well as the typical Colombian lunch menu, which is the one we recommend the most. For a great price (around $25.000 COP), quality and taste, visit this restaurant in the heart of La Candelaria neighborhood.

Where is it located? Right next to the Chorro de Quevedo! Here you can find them

Not on a budget: up to 40.000 COP(approx. USD 10) per person

Pasteleria Florida

Pasteleria Florida takes you back in time to the 1930’s when it was founded. There, you can enjoy the traditional breakfasts like tamal and other pastries with a good cup of Colombian coffee or the famous “chocolate santafereño”.

Make sure to have a seat in the Republican hall on the second floor, where you can actually relive the Bogotá old days, and be part of their tradition of having “onces”. The Onces are an afternoon snack popular amongst different generations of Colombian families. Their milhojas de arequipe and almond tart are our personal favorites for those with a sweet tooth.

Where can you find them? Right here! Just 15 minutes away from the historic center. 

Quinoa y Amaranto

Another one for the veggies! Quinoa y Amaranto serves healthy lunches focusing on balanced meals, whether it is vegetarian or with organic meat. Another cool thing about them is the fact that they buy their products from small local producers. Healthy and conscious!

The best part is that they're located right in the historic center of Bogotá! Visit them here!

Not worried about the budget: more than 60.000 COP (approx. USD 15) per person

Puerta de la Catedral

Located one block from the main square, the windows look out to the wall of the cathedral. It might seem like a tourist trap (just ignore all the other guys showing the laminates picture menu out front), but they actually have great traditional food. Don’t miss their ajiaco, one of the best in town, and bandeja paisapatacon with hogao, and sancocho. It’s also a good place for having breakfast.

Be sure to visit them right here!

Leo Cava y cocina

Leonor Espinosa, one of the most significant, upcoming female chefs in the country, takes a twist on Colombian food. Her restaurant, Leo, serves modern versions and combinations of all your typical ingredients. It is considered one of the best restaurants in the country! It is definitely worth a visit!

If you're looking for a nice special dinner, even a romantic one, this is certainly the place to go. Visit it here, in the north of the city. 

Bonus:

What better way to try as many of Colombia’s local fruits, foods and drinks at once than our Free Food Tour? If you are into trying a little bit of all the Colombian delights like pan de bono, arepa, obleas and much more, check out our Free Tour which runs Monday to Friday at 2pm. For more information and reservations, visit our page.

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