Bogotá is a city that deserves more time than many travellers give it. Behind the busy streets and colourful neighbourhoods is a surprisingly exciting food scene, where contemporary Colombian cooking sits alongside specialty coffee, creative cocktails and neighbourhood wine bars. These are the places that stood out most during our time in Bogotá.
Best Restaurants in Bogotá
Mesa Franca
Mesa Franca takes Colombian ingredients and flavours in a creative, contemporary direction. Chef Iván Cadena works with local produce and cooking over fire, while influences from beyond Colombia naturally find their way onto the menu. We loved how refined and inventive the food felt without losing its Colombian identity. A special restaurant, but still warm and relaxed rather than overly formal.
Dios Bogotá
Dios is both a boutique hotel and a beautiful restaurant in La Candelaria. The grill at the centre of the dining room immediately caught our attention, with dishes built around fire, local ingredients and plenty of flavour. We also loved that vegetables receive real attention here rather than simply appearing on the side. Add a creative cocktail menu and the atmospheric setting and it is well worth visiting for lunch or dinner.
Atlas Chapinero
Atlas was one of our favourite surprises in Bogotá. This relaxed neighbourhood wine bar serves bottles from around the world alongside enough small dishes to easily turn drinks into dinner. Think tostadas, empanadas, hummus, olives and other plates made for sharing. We especially loved the local atmosphere — we ended up talking to several Bogotá residents who clearly consider Atlas one of their regular spots.
Coffee & Cocktails in Bogotá
Tropicalia Coffee
Tropicalia is a lovely introduction to Colombian specialty coffee, with a strong focus on beans grown within the country. Alongside carefully brewed coffee, they make their own pastries, making it an easy stop for a slower morning or afternoon break. We loved being able to explore Colombian coffee in a city so closely connected to some of the country’s best growing regions.
Libertario Coffee
Libertario is another great place to dive deeper into Colombia’s coffee culture. They work closely with Colombian producers and put plenty of emphasis on origin, quality and transparency, with different single-origin coffees to discover. We loved the combination of serious coffee and a relaxed setting — especially the terrace, which makes it very easy to stay for a second cup.
De Una Travel
De Una Travel is all about atmosphere. Set in La Candelaria, the colourful terrace is a great place to sit with a cocktail and watch Bogotá life unfold around you. There is often live music, locals mix easily with travellers and the whole place feels wonderfully unpolished. We only stopped for drinks, but it became one of those simple moments that stayed with us.
Travelling further through Colombia? Discover more of our favourite restaurants, coffee spots and bars in Cartagena and Medellín.
