What to do in Bogota?
August 15, 2009 5:53 AM Subscribe
Bogota, Colombia for a week ... any suggestions?
Lucky me, I get to spend the coming week in Bogota. I have local friends so I have good advice about safety and good company for most excursions. But I'm still interested in suggestions, especially those involving indigenous culture and politics, music, and modern art.
Lucky me, I get to spend the coming week in Bogota. I have local friends so I have good advice about safety and good company for most excursions. But I'm still interested in suggestions, especially those involving indigenous culture and politics, music, and modern art.
Best answer: Andres Carne de Res. Your local friends probably know about it. Ask them to take you there. If they take you, I'll be jealous.
posted by Stylus Happenstance at 7:52 AM on August 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Stylus Happenstance at 7:52 AM on August 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Hey,
Lots of things to do in Bogota. If you like old-fashioned buildings and history, take a look at La Candelaria Neighborhood. Plenty of good restaurants and lovely spots. Have lunch or dinner at Usaquen (Amarti is your best bet, is a italian restaurant but with a unique colombian touch). Go to La Mazorca in La Calera (a small village 20 kms away from Bogota, at the oriental mountains) to have a delicious typical snack. And yes, go to Andres Carne de Res!
If you´re feeling like going out of the city, don´t miss the Catedral de Sal in Zipaquira. It´s one hour away by car and it´s one of the modern wonders of the world.
What else? At night, you can go to Pravda (Zona T) to have some of the best Martinis in town, try Wok to have excellent thai and oriental food or Colombia Restaurant (Calle 85) to enjoy the best colombian gastronomy (some suggestions: ajiaco (special chicken soup, sobrebarriga (tender meat with potato and rice), etc). Don´t forget to ask for a Club Colombia beer!
Last but not least, take a look at the handcraft market around Calle 26 or Calle 19 con 3ra. Lots of nice souvenirs at good price.
I can go on, but for one week, this should do it.
Disfruta el viaje!
(BTW, I´m from Bogota but I live in Spain since 2000!)
posted by Matrod at 8:12 AM on August 15, 2009
Lots of things to do in Bogota. If you like old-fashioned buildings and history, take a look at La Candelaria Neighborhood. Plenty of good restaurants and lovely spots. Have lunch or dinner at Usaquen (Amarti is your best bet, is a italian restaurant but with a unique colombian touch). Go to La Mazorca in La Calera (a small village 20 kms away from Bogota, at the oriental mountains) to have a delicious typical snack. And yes, go to Andres Carne de Res!
If you´re feeling like going out of the city, don´t miss the Catedral de Sal in Zipaquira. It´s one hour away by car and it´s one of the modern wonders of the world.
What else? At night, you can go to Pravda (Zona T) to have some of the best Martinis in town, try Wok to have excellent thai and oriental food or Colombia Restaurant (Calle 85) to enjoy the best colombian gastronomy (some suggestions: ajiaco (special chicken soup, sobrebarriga (tender meat with potato and rice), etc). Don´t forget to ask for a Club Colombia beer!
Last but not least, take a look at the handcraft market around Calle 26 or Calle 19 con 3ra. Lots of nice souvenirs at good price.
I can go on, but for one week, this should do it.
Disfruta el viaje!
(BTW, I´m from Bogota but I live in Spain since 2000!)
posted by Matrod at 8:12 AM on August 15, 2009
Best answer: I was in Bogota for a few days on each end of a tour of Colombia in February. The museums and landmarks we went to were pretty cool (like, you probably already know about the Museo del Oro and Cerro Montserrate stuff like that--definitely check those out).
Otherwise, I had a lot of fun just walking around La Candelaria and chatting with people. I stumbled across a guitar shop in La Candelaria (Cr 1 and Calle 12 area) and had the guy make me a guitar. He talked to me about Colombian music and instruments and what not for a while, and some other friendly interesting people came into the shop who also were happy to give me Colombian guitar tips, talk about Obama, etc.
Also in that area is the La Plazoletta del Chorro de Quevedo (I think it's called), which is a little plaza by a university with a bunch of cafes and bars. Lots of people playing music and selling art and students talking politics and all that, and the coffee there even isn't Nescafe.
Feel free to memail me if you've got any other specific questions or want me to look up addresses for you or anything. Otherwise, have a great trip!
posted by substars at 8:18 AM on August 15, 2009
Otherwise, I had a lot of fun just walking around La Candelaria and chatting with people. I stumbled across a guitar shop in La Candelaria (Cr 1 and Calle 12 area) and had the guy make me a guitar. He talked to me about Colombian music and instruments and what not for a while, and some other friendly interesting people came into the shop who also were happy to give me Colombian guitar tips, talk about Obama, etc.
Also in that area is the La Plazoletta del Chorro de Quevedo (I think it's called), which is a little plaza by a university with a bunch of cafes and bars. Lots of people playing music and selling art and students talking politics and all that, and the coffee there even isn't Nescafe.
Feel free to memail me if you've got any other specific questions or want me to look up addresses for you or anything. Otherwise, have a great trip!
posted by substars at 8:18 AM on August 15, 2009
Best answer: Strongly seconding what Stylus Happenstance wrote above: Andres Carne de Res. You'll not experience anything else like it in your lifetime. Go on a Sunday afternoon and stay there into the night.
Also, the Fernando Botero Museum is quite fantastic and is in an interesting old part of the city.
posted by General Zubon at 11:51 AM on August 15, 2009
Also, the Fernando Botero Museum is quite fantastic and is in an interesting old part of the city.
posted by General Zubon at 11:51 AM on August 15, 2009
Huh, looks like I'm headed to Bogotá, too. Fourcheesemac, if it's possible (and if this post is still a'kickin by the time you get back), would you mind posting a few Best-of suggestions from your few weeks there?
And great suggestions, Matrod. If you know of any particularly good Bogotáno websites or other hidden gems, please feel free to go on (and glad you mentioned La Candelaria area-- think I'll be staying around there ... just need to find a dirt-cheap hotel/hostel).
posted by NolanRyanHatesMatches at 5:48 PM on August 20, 2009
And great suggestions, Matrod. If you know of any particularly good Bogotáno websites or other hidden gems, please feel free to go on (and glad you mentioned La Candelaria area-- think I'll be staying around there ... just need to find a dirt-cheap hotel/hostel).
posted by NolanRyanHatesMatches at 5:48 PM on August 20, 2009
Hey NolanRyanHatesMatches,
Unfortunately, I don´t know about good hotels / hostels in La Candelaria area. The only one that I know (been there) is the Hotel de la Opera (http://www.hotelopera.com.co/web/paginas/documento.php?id=262&PHPSESSID=1c34a9fa762a222b4f381f9d695ecb1f). It´s not cheap, but it´s worth it. It´s located a stone throw from the Palacio de Nariño and Plaza de Bolivar, and the place is simply astonishing!
But, if you´re on a budget, I´ll recomend a different place to stay. It´s a B&B located in a residential area in the north of Bogotá, very near to Autopista Norte (one of the most important roads in Bogota, since allows you to go from north to south or viceversa in no time) and within a short distance (10-15 min walking) to shopping malls and restaurants. It´s called Hostal Bogotá Real (http://www.hostalbogotareal.com/hostels_in_bogota.htm). I stayed there for almost three weeks and felt like home. Prices are around USD 35-40 per night, including breakfast. There´s no curfew and the owners are nice and helpful.
Enjoy your visit!
posted by Matrod at 2:47 PM on August 22, 2009
Unfortunately, I don´t know about good hotels / hostels in La Candelaria area. The only one that I know (been there) is the Hotel de la Opera (http://www.hotelopera.com.co/web/paginas/documento.php?id=262&PHPSESSID=1c34a9fa762a222b4f381f9d695ecb1f). It´s not cheap, but it´s worth it. It´s located a stone throw from the Palacio de Nariño and Plaza de Bolivar, and the place is simply astonishing!
But, if you´re on a budget, I´ll recomend a different place to stay. It´s a B&B located in a residential area in the north of Bogotá, very near to Autopista Norte (one of the most important roads in Bogota, since allows you to go from north to south or viceversa in no time) and within a short distance (10-15 min walking) to shopping malls and restaurants. It´s called Hostal Bogotá Real (http://www.hostalbogotareal.com/hostels_in_bogota.htm). I stayed there for almost three weeks and felt like home. Prices are around USD 35-40 per night, including breakfast. There´s no curfew and the owners are nice and helpful.
Enjoy your visit!
posted by Matrod at 2:47 PM on August 22, 2009
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posted by gman at 7:42 AM on August 15, 2009