Musician-turned-chef Tomas Rueda's restaurant, Tábula, in Bogotá focuses on high-quality ingredients and carefully prepared, family style dishes.
Slow Roasted Beef Shank with Aji, Papas Criollas smoked in butter and Pastel del Choclo with panela
Slow Roasted Beef Shank
Tábula · Bogotá · Website · Directions
80 Sillas is a wonderful place for dinner in Usaquén. It's based on the well thought out concept of British chef, Andrew Blackbourn. He believes that 80 seats is the ideal number of seats to provide the best ambiance but also be super efficient in the kitchen. He's been in Colombia for over 20 years and puts his own gastronomic touch on Colombian comfort food, focusing on basics and quality ingredients.
80 Sillas · Bogotá · Website · Directions
Salvo Patria is hidden in the slopes of Chapinero. It's situated on a corner, in a quaint, old-timey, two story house with exposed brick, hard wood floors and large sun lit rooms.
The concept is simple, dishes themed around Colombian cuisine, using few, but really flavorful ingredients. Salvo Patria also takes its coffee seriously, buying directly from farmers in Huila and Tolima, so most people hang around after lunch to enjoy a cup of coffee.
At night the place doesn't completely transform, but the vibe changes as cocktails flow out of the bar non-stop and small plates fill the tables. It's a great way to get the night started.
Pulpo a la Plancha
Bondiola de Cerdo Braseada
Milhoja de la Patria, Arequipe y Vanilla
Salvo Patria · Bogotá · Website · Directions
Hours
Saturday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 9am - 6pm
Sunday, Thursday: 10am - 5pm
Monday, Friday: Closed
Admission
Monday - Saturday and Holidays: $4,000 COP
Sunday: Free
Museo de Oro · Bogotá · Website · Directions
La Principal is great for a leisurely lunch or casual dinner. Their dishes are interpretations of regional dishes from all over Colombia with an ultra modern twist and stunning presentation. They really value design, which shows in everything from the decor to the menu to how dishes are plated.
Crema de Ñame is a velvety soup whose main ingredient is ñame, a large tuber originally from Africa brought to Colombia during the colonial period. The ñame is blended with cream, sweet chili and purple onions. Served over fried queso costeño, platano maduro and ñame chips, then topped with fresh coriander.
Crema de Ñame from the Sinu region
1 // Marranitas Fried plantain stuffed with chicharrón also called Juan Valerio in Tolima and Cabeza de gato on the Caribbean Coast
2 // Carimañolas Fried yucca pie stuffed with ground pork and beef cooked in cumin
3 // Aborrajados Fried ripe plantain stuffed with mozzarella cheese and guava jam served with ají chili sauce
Surtido de Fritos served with avocado cream, hogao and sweet and savory ají
1 // Arepa Guajira
2 // Arepa Boyacence
3 // Pandeyuca de Achiote
4 // Pandebono
5 // Arepa Encocada
6 // Almojábana
La Parva, artisenal breads from many different regions, baked in a wood fired oven
Trout sausage seasoned with guasca and onions, served over anise flavored mashed squash made with aguardiente and wrapped in a corn husk. Topped with fried trout skin, beet chips and grilled red onion. Savory ají on the side.
Salchicha de Trucha
Guanábana, lulo and queso campesino ice cream over crumbled cookies with dark chocolate cookie bark and a side of home made cotton candy.
Helados Artesenales
La Principal · Bogotá · Directions · Facebook
Usaquén is a neighborhood north of Chapinero. It used to be its own town, but the city grew around it and now it's part of Bogotá. On Sundays there's street market where you can find artisans and vendors selling things like ponchos, mochilas, jewelry and more.
