Chris Blattman

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Colombia bound

I’m going to be in Bogota for two days and Cartagena for five. Any advice on restaurants, places, music, or street food to sample?

16 Responses

  1. Just remembered something else. In Bogotá, go to sopas de mamá y postres de la abuela. They have traditional soups and deserts from different regions of the country.

  2. Bogota:
    “Andres Carne de Res” is the best restaurant/cultural center/carnival/salsa club/bar I’ve ever been too.

    Cartagena:
    Try to make it to Playa Blanca…day trip boat ride to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. I stayed out there for days…$2 hammock rentals and $4 whole fried fish white sands and clear warm water.

  3. It´s good to know that you are coming to Colombia. I live in Bogotá, and if you want exotic food I would recommend Mini mal (http://www.vive.in/restaurantes/minimal/LUGAR-WEB-FICHA_LUGAR_VIVEIN-3630677.html), because everything is prepared with exquisite colombian ingredients, such as tamarindo, lulo, arazá, copazú (the latter an amazonic fruit). La puerta falsa is defenitely a great recomendation. If you want to be a bit more fancy, you can go to leo cocina y cava. (http://bogota.vive.in/restaurantes/bogota/leococinaycava/LUGAR-WEB-FICHA_LUGAR_VIVEIN-3596138.html)
    In Cartagena you can go to la cocina de socorro, great seafood. I would recommend you to have arepa de huevo for breakfast, try jugo de corozo, níspero and zapote (juices), cocada (coconut dessert), carimañola, arroz con coco, and all the sea food you can have.
    You can email me at clarasofiagomez@gmail.com if you have any further questions. I hope you enjoy your visit.

  4. For street food you’ll find a lot of fruit vendors, try the mango biche con sal and chontaduro.
    In Bogota, don’t miss museo de oro.
    In Cartagena I would avoid the beaches in the city, and go to the nearby islands (most hotels have cabanas there. The arroz con coco and patacones are great.

  5. I recommend a flight to Buenos Aires for some home-cooked yummy goodness. ;-)

  6. In Bogotá, I would have to recommend Hamburguesas El Corral – the BEST hamburgers in the world. Also, for a taste of the most typical food from the Andean region, try out Don Jediondo – a chain of food stalls easily found in many shopping malls. Any empanada is always well received; but for a different experience, try Empanadas de Pipián, which originate from the Cauca region. Also very nice, is Fulanito’s – which specializes in food from Cali and Valle del Cauca (excellent sancocho and lulada). Typical ajiaco and puchero from Bogotá can easily be found – e.g. in Casa Vieja. If you want to try out some asian-colombian fusion, check out Wok. I also agree with comment about breakfast in La Florida – good tamales. In Cartagena, you have to try the juices (my favorites: níspero and tamarindo), as well as seviche (quite different from the peruvian style) and the most exquisitely simple dish: mojarra frita con arroz con coco y patacón pisao. My favorite bar in Cartagena used to be Quiebra Canto – not sure if it’s still going on, but was a great rumba with classic salsa in a fantastic centric location.

  7. I lived in the Candelaria historic section of Bogotá last year and there are plenty of wonderful little places to eat around there… One tiny place called Dos Gatos y Simone around Cr. 7 y Calle 16 with light, fresh plates, and a few others on Cr. 3. If you’re there on a weekend, check out the mercado de las pulgas in the Parque de los Periodistas or the bigger one on Av. 19. Definitely see too where Jorge Eliécer Gaitán was killed in the Candelaria. To second what’s been said, lulo and maracuyá juices are heavenly. And if you have time to play around Cartagena, I can’t recommend Parque Tayrona enough!

  8. I spent spring break in Bogota last month. Two things you must do:

    (i) Andres Carnes de Res
    Easily the best restaurant in the hemisphere, ney, the world. Its more of a dream than a restaurant.

    (ii) Hike up [or try and break the unconfirmed running world record of 34 minutes] Cerro de Monteserrate. Breathtaking views of the city. Do it on Sundays.

  9. I have to second the fresh juice recommendation. On street food, you can get empanadas pretty much anywhere. These are smaller and less pastry-like than Julia’s in DC. Make sure to try all the different kinds of “aji” (hot sauce). Also, make sure you have a breakfast of “caldo de papa” and “arepas on queso”. For fun, try any of the restaurants/bars etc in the “zona rosa”. Have a great time!

  10. You have to go to “andres carne de res” in Bogotá and the “Club Colombia” restaurant near the Andino.

  11. In Bogotá you can have a traditional breakfast at “La Florida” (carrera 7ª con calle 21) or the “Puerta Falsa” (near the Bolivar Plaza), it’s very good. Also, remember to bring an umbrella because it’s a little rainy these days.

  12. Echoing Gabriel, I’d recommend tasting the wonderful “lulada”, which is made with fresh lulos and cane sugar. There’s also the lulo juice, but that’s not so amazing.

  13. Arequipe, the colombian version of Dulce de Leche- served on a wafer- can be bought from many street vendors. Delicious!

  14. Hi Chris, I go to Bogota for work a fair amount. I am sure you will have plenty of recommendations, however, take advantage of all the great freshly squeezed juices you can get at any restaurant or food place. Drinking fresh juice in Colombia (Bogota) is like drinking Coca Cola for Americans. In fact, my coworkers always kid me that I tend to favor the American Juice (Coca Cola) when I am on the road.

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