Essential Tips for Exploring Bogotá’s Culinary Scene

Choosing the right restaurants and dishes is just the start of a memorable food adventure; every city has its own set of challenges, from getting around to dining customs. In Bogotá, the high altitude can lead to headaches if you’re not prepared. But don’t worry—Dinogo has you covered. From must-visit neighborhoods to crucial packing tips, find everything you need for the perfect trip.

What to Wear

Visitors often think Bogotá’s tropical reputation means it’s warm, leading them to pack as if they’re headed to the Bahamas. However, at nearly 9,000 feet above sea level, the climate is cool year-round with average highs in the mid-60s and lows in the mid-40s. Plus, indoor places often lack central heating, making soups and hot chocolate local favorites.

Bring a swMytour or two and dress in layers. The sun at this altitude is intense, so temperatures can rise quickly when it shines. Also, pack an umbrella or rain jacket—rain is a daily occurrence, varying from brief showers to extended downpours. Locals are accustomed to it, but it’s easy to spot unprepared tourists scrambling for cover at the first drop.

Managing the Altitude

As the fourth-highest capital city globally, Bogotá’s altitude can lead to various effects, from mild headaches and tiredness to nausea and vomiting. This can be quite inconvenient when you’re aiming to indulge in as many arepas as possible.

The best advice is to take it slow. Avoid morning workouts until you’ve adjusted, and postpone your visit to La Calera, a higher mountain town, until later in your stay. If you start experiencing altitude sickness, try coca tea—a local remedy made from dried coca leaves (yes, from that coca plant). It has a green tea-like taste and provides a mild stimulant effect similar to caffeine, with additional benefits for altitude adjustment.

Navigating the City

Exploring on Foot

Bogotá’s grid-like layout, with its numbered streets and major carreras running north-south and calles running east-west, makes it quite pedestrian-friendly. Many popular spots for dining, drinking, and shopping are conveniently located along the eastern edge of the city by the foothills, so you could easily get by without needing a car for most of your visit.

Cycling

As one of South America’s most bike-friendly cities, Bogotá boasts extensive bike lanes that are safely separated from vehicular traffic. Since launching an e-bike program in 2018, the city has embraced cycling further, with nearly 76 miles of streets reserved exclusively for cyclists and pedestrians every Sunday during the Ciclovía.

Using Uber

For longer journeys, such as trips to the historic center or to Andrés Carne de Res in Chía, a car is necessary. Uber is the recommended choice. Use the app as you normally would but opt for Uber Black, since UberX is technically prohibited in Bogotá. To avoid issues with authorities, where UberX users are asked to sit in the front seat, it's safer to choose the slightly pricier but still reasonably affordable Uber Black. Ironically, the Black cars are all white and are officially registered rideshare vehicles.

Taking Taxis

Taxis are widely available in Bogotá and generally convenient, though it’s recommended not to hail them off the street. Instead, use one of the two main Taxi apps — Smart Taxi or EasyTaxi — which will dispatch a car to you quickly. Note that card payments may not always be accepted, so be sure to carry cash.

TransMilenio

Bogotá’s TransMilenio public transit system is a complex network of color-coded buses that can be challenging to navigate, even for locals. The red buses are the most straightforward option, running north and south along the city’s major route, the Séptima. Tickets are available at TransMilenio stations, with a one-way fare costing around $2,300 COP (about 75 cents).

Traffic in Bogotá is notoriously heavy—comparable to LA or Houston levels. It's particularly congested on weekends when leaving the city and during rush hours between 7-9 a.m. and 6-8 p.m. To avoid delays, steer clear of cross-town trips during these times or budget an extra 20 to 30 minutes for your journey.

Gratuities and Dining Etiquette

In Bogotá, tipping isn’t a major custom. Most sit-down restaurants add a “voluntary” 10 percent service charge to your bill, which you should accept. Smaller cafes and coffee shops might have a tip jar for loose change. It’s rare to tip taxi drivers unless they’ve managed to get you from La Candelaria to Usaquén in under 10 minutes during rush hour (which would be quite impressive!). Tourist-focused hotels may have their own tipping guidelines, but generally, you pay the listed price.

Typically, water is not served automatically at restaurants, and if you request it, you’ll be charged for a bottled version. While asking for free tap water is fine, you might be the only one drinking it since most diners prefer juice, beer, or wine with their meals.

When paying with a credit or debit card, the law mandates that the card reader be brought to your table for security purposes.

Regarding the exchange rate, seeing a bill with a figure like 120,000 might be surprising, but remember that approximately 3,000 Colombian pesos equal one U.S. dollar. Some restaurants have even dropped the last three digits from their prices on menus, so don’t hesitate to ask if the amounts are unclear.

Key Neighborhoods to Explore

Usaquén

This northern neighborhood, once its own small city, still features a charming central plaza and unique architectural style. Now a favorite among tourists, it boasts walkable cobblestone streets, a bustling Sunday craft fair, and menus in English. The area is known for its larger, corporate-style restaurants that fill up with visitors on weekends.

El Chicó/Parque 93

Part of the broader Chapinero district (more on that shortly), El Chicó is an upscale area known for its stylish, mid-range hotels such as B.O.G., Click Clack, and NH Bogotá Urban 93 Royal. It features two major parks: the smaller Parque 93 and the larger Parque El Virrey. You’ll also find Azahar 93, one of the city’s trendiest cafes, in this neighborhood.

Zona T

Known as “La T,” Zona T is a T-shaped intersection within the upscale Zona Rosa. It was the first modern restaurant hub in the ’90s, pioneered by chefs like Harry Sasson with their contemporary takes on Colombian cuisine. Recently, the area has evolved into a bustling shopping and nightlife hotspot, filled with large, always-packed clubs and bars.

Rosales

Rosales captures the vibrant cultural energy of Chapinero’s neighborhoods (more on those below), but with a more upscale, residential vibe. The area is home to a selection of noteworthy restaurants and offers a central location with charming, tree-lined streets. It’s a great spot to stay, with a range of hotels and Airbnbs available.

Chapinero

This expansive district, featuring upper- and upper-middle-class areas, is home to several trendy, artistic neighborhoods at the heart of Bogotá’s culinary scene. Nestled between Usaquén to the north and the historic La Candelaria to the south, Chapinero is also known as the city’s hub for LGBTQ+ culture.

Chapinero Alto

Think of Chapinero Alto as Bogotá’s answer to Silver Lake or Bushwick. Here, you’ll find a trendy mix of third-wave coffee shops, taco joints, craft cocktail bars, and some of the city’s most sought-after restaurants—all nestled among charming houses, apartments, and local shops. What was once a quiet residential area at the foot of the mountains is now a vibrant part of the larger Chapinero district. Many original homes have been repurposed into eclectic businesses, ambitious Mytouries, bars, and cafes. The area's original appeal for chefs from popular spots like Salvo Patria and El Chato was its affordability compared to traditional dining districts, but now its hilly streets are among Bogotá’s most coveted real estate.

La Macarena

La Macarena, with its array of museums, art galleries, and restaurants, is regarded as Bogotá’s bohemian core. The area’s green, rolling hills provide a picturesque setting, and nearby Plaza la Perseverancia is a hotspot for lunchtime vendors offering Colombian staples like tamales and ceviche.

La Candelaria

The historic center of Bogotá, with its cobblestone streets, majestic government buildings, and colonial architecture, is brimming with charm. Here, you'll find major tourist attractions like the famed Museo del Oro, the Plaza de Bolívar, and the popular snack spot La Puerta Falsa, known for its chocolate, tamales, and ajiaco. While you don’t need to stay in this area, it’s worth spending a day wandering the winding streets and soaking up the local landmarks. Don’t miss lunch at Prudencia, a standout restaurant in the area. The nearby cable car to Monserrate offers stunning views, a mountaintop church, and a traditional food market.

The Markets to Explore

Plaza de Mercado Paloquemao

Undoubtedly the premier market in Bogotá, Plaza de Mercado Paloquemao is vast, enclosed, and lacks scenic beauty, but it’s a treasure trove of produce from across the country, presenting a feast for the senses with exotic finds for most visitors. You’ll also encounter stalls offering local breads, pastries, empanadas, salpicón (a fruit cocktail with optional ice cream), and an exceptional lechonería specializing in slow-roasted pig stuffed with meat and rice, along with giant, juicy banana leaf-wrapped pork tamales. As group tours become more common, vendors are less welcoming to casual visitors. Be courteous, avoid lingering, and purchase anything you handle.

Usaquén Flea Market

Every Sunday, the cobblestone streets of Usaquén turn into a sprawling craft market, featuring indigenous artisans with wooden boxes and vibrant woven bags, alongside an array of trinkets aimed at tourists. Among the stalls, you'll find vendors offering empanadas, coffee, obleas (wafers filled with dulce de leche and various toppings), fresh fruit, and mazorca, a delightfully chewy corn grilled over coal. English is commonly spoken here, though the market’s charm is undeniable.

Plaza la Perseverancia

From morning until around 3 p.m., the plaza near the artistic district of La Macarena becomes a bustling open-air market run mostly by women from across Colombia. They serve up regional delicacies like tamales, ceviches, and empanadas, making it a popular spot for locals to grab a hearty, affordable lunch. Be cautious, as the market is known for its pickpockets as much as for its fantastic food.

Don’t Give a Papaya

In Bogotá, there's a saying: “No des papaya,” which translates to “Don’t give a papaya.” It’s a warning to avoid making yourself an easy target or falling prey to opportunists. While opinions on Bogotá’s safety can vary, walking around, especially during daylight hours, feels as safe as strolling through Manhattan’s Broadway. Just stay alert: keep an eye on your surroundings, avoid flaunting your phone, secure your bag, and leave your luxury watch at home. That’s the essence of not giving papaya.

Balancing New and Old

Colombia’s traditional fare—think tamales, hearty amasijos (like arepas and empanadas), soups, and ceviches—is undeniably satisfying. However, the real excitement now lies in the new-wave Colombian Mytouries, where innovative chefs, often with international training, are reimagining local ingredients and age-old techniques with a fresh twist.

This trend of blending tradition with innovation is noticeable everywhere, but Bogotá’s newer dining spots stand out for their bold use of acid, spice, and intense flavors compared to the milder traditional offerings. Increasingly, locals are steering visitors towards cutting-edge restaurants like Mini Mal, El Chato, Salvo Patria, Mesa Franca, or Leo rather than the familiar tamales shop. Enjoy every classic pandebono and cheese-stuffed empanada, but make sure to save room for Bogotá’s most exciting new culinary experiences.