The 16 Best Restaurants in Bogotá

Colombia is home to celebrated cuisines that infuse European, Indigenous, and Afro-Caribbean influences. So, if you’re planning to visit the country’s capital, prepare to eat well.

Because you will. This metropolis’s flavors don’t miss, and there’s something for everyone: hard-core carnivores, farm-to-table foodies, street stall aficionados, and folks ticking their way through the World’s 50 Best List.

Here’s our guide to the city’s top spots: from innovative enclaves beloved by locals to restaurants that’ve gained world renown.

1. Tremé

Tremé infuses the spirit of New Orleans and Colombian culinary cues into creative dishes, like prawns on coconut rice or a Cajun take on elotes. The menu also allows you to explore Colombia’s renowned seafood tradition. As if the food weren’t enough of a draw, Tremé boasts live jazz music and top-notch mixology. From smoked ribs to cocktails inspired by the Big Easy, this spot delivers a truly unique dining experience in Bogotá. Read our in-depth review here to get the full flavor of Tremé.

 

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Price range: $$$$
Must-try: Smoked Nola baby back ribs with succotash

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2. Leo

If there’s one word to describe Leo, it’s “excelency” with its refined but impactful decor and incredibly complex flavors distilled into delicately plated bites. In a celebration of the country’s biodiversity, this award-winning restaurant runs on a unique ethos known as CICLOBIOMA that aims to connect humans and nature through sustainable dishes that support local economies. To understand the full story of Chef Leonor Espinosa’s vision, read here.

Leo Espinosa Preparing a Dish

Price range: $$$$
Must-try: A tasting menu

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3. Universal de Hamburguesas

The best burger in Bogotá? Many believe it comes from this food stall in a shipping container. Don’t let appearances fool you; the menu isn’t limited at all, with over a dozen creative beef, chicken, and vegetarian options and tasty sides to match. Not only will you enjoy a warm, casual atmosphere, but you’ll also be supporting an important social cause. For a closer look at what makes Universal de Hamburguesas such a great spot, check out our detailed review here.

 

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Price range: $
Must-try: The “Engalladas:” French fries smothered in nacho cheese and spicy mayo

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4. Café Bar Universal

Café Bar Universal redefines Bogotá’s casual dining scene with an effortless blend of style, flavor, and atmosphere. It’s a place where natural wines flow, small plates burst with creativity, and every visit feels both laid-back and elevated. The menu changes with the seasons, offering you a taste of Colombia reinterpreted through global techniques. The décor feels artistic yet comfortable, the service is friendly, and the vibe makes you want to stay longer than planned. Whether for a quick glass with friends or a full evening savoring unexpected pairings, Universal captures the city’s contemporary dining spirit perfectly. It’s the kind of spot that makes you feel like part of Bogotá’s inner circle, where culinary curiosity and relaxed enjoyment coexist seamlessly.

Dive into our in-depth look at Café Bar Universal and uncover Bogotá’s effortlessly cool dining spot.

 

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Price range: $$
Must-try: The hummus

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5. El Chato

El Chato has earned its place among the World’s 50 Best Restaurants for good reason: it offers one of Bogotá’s most exciting culinary journeys. Chef Álvaro Clavijo transforms Colombia’s seasonal bounty into daring creations that feel both avant-garde and deeply satisfying. Behind its modest exterior lies a stylish, buzzing interior where jars of preserves signal the chef’s obsession with craft, and the open kitchen stages a theater of flavor. Each dish arrives as a surprise — bold, layered, and unpredictable — making the entire experience feel alive and memorable. This is fine dining with warmth, imagination, and soul. Dining at El Chato is not just about food, but about trusting a chef who constantly reinvents Colombian cuisine, pushing boundaries while honoring tradition.

Read our complete experience at El Chato and see why it’s Bogotá’s most celebrated table.

 

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Price range: $$$$
Must-try: A tasting menu

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6. Restaurante Cecilia

When you think of Colombian cuisine, your mind likely goes to arepas, not pasta, but Italian food is one of the strongest aspects of the city’s gastronomic range. And Restaurante Cecilia is at the top of the game. The modern, vibrant space is matched with contemporary, exciting flavors that put a spin on the classics, like pasta with BBQ pulled pork and truffles.

 

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Price range: $$$
Must-try: The pizza with vodka sauce and stracciatella

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7. Los Galenos Restaurante

Take in old-school European charm with a view. This fine-dining spot, located on the eighth floor of a tower, looks out onto the lush Bogotá hills. Los Galenos Restaurante is perfect for a romantic night out or when you’re craving a traditional but perfectly rendered meal, like a tender steak, lamb meatballs, or Peruvian ceviche.

 

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Price range: $$$$
Must-try: The octopus in chimichurri

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8. Cacio & Pepe

This Italian tavern on a sprawling terrace is an inviting stop-off for fresh pasta and stone-fired pizza. But don’t miss out on the menu’s other stars, like fish crudos doused in lemon juice or the slow-cooked pork belly. And if you prefer a night in, you can order Cacio & Pepe’s pasta straight to your door in zero-waste packaging.

 

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Price range: $$$$
Must-try: The linguini arrabiata

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9. Bubu Burgers

Burgers that are also clean eats? Bubu Burger’s has got you covered with sandwiches made with freshly-baked buns, free-range meat, and conservative-free cheese. Enjoy  premium Wagyu or a Korean-inspired burger topped with kimchi. And even an avid carnivore will love the shiitake burger smothered in babaganoush. Go for the burgers and stay for the ambience, which is just as innovative and inviting as the grub.

 

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Price range: $$
Must-try: The original Bubu burger

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10. Pajares Salinas

At this elegant Spanish restaurant, visitors will find recipes inspired by family traditions, decades in the making. Journey through Spain’s culinary heritage via Pajares Salinas’s tapas menu, which has all the classics: serrano ham, patatas bravas, and tortilla española. And be sure to try one of the restaurant’s meaty specialties, like kidney cooked in sherry or oxtail.

 

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Price range: $$$$
Must-try: The house paella

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11. Plaza de Mercado La Perseverancia

One of the best ways to understand a region’s gastronomy is to visit its markets. Even if you don’t grab a bite, you’ll “eat” with your eyes: familiarizing yourself with local produce, sweets, and delicacies. At Plaza de Mercado La Perseverancia, adventurous foodies can check out typical plates, from the country’s most emblematic dish (bandeja paisa) to seafood-forward coastal classics.

 

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Price range: $
Must-try: Bandeja paisa, a mega plate featuring beans, rice, different types of meat, fried egg, avocado, and plantain—all served up with arepas.

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12. El Galápago Campestre

This off-the-beaten-path, country-style restaurant is worth the drive. Meat-forward and rustic, El Galápago Campestre serves up juicy hamburgers and ample beef cuts in the traditional parrilla (grill) style, accompanied by yucca patties, potatoes, or cheesy bell peppers. El Galápago Campestre’s plates invite sharing, so this is a must for groups.

 

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Price range: $$$
Must-try: Chunchullo (fried intestine)

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13. Fortezza

Having a five-star pizza night in the comfort of your home has never been easier. If you’re craving a great slice, head to Fortezza, known for its “real Italian pizza” and a unique way of serving it: frozen. Reheat an authentic bite of Italy in your oven and impress your friends with flavors like margarita, Italian sausage, and mortadella. And while the pizzas may follow traditional Italian cues, the dough is 100% Colombian, made from local wheat and enhanced with superfood chia and flax seeds.

 

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Price range: $$
Must-try: The mortadella and pistachio pizza

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14. Pizzardi Artigianale

Another contender for Botogá’s best pizza is Pizzardi Artigianale, a sit-down spot housed in a bright red shipping container. And the accolades prove it: Pizzardi Artigianale has won Best Pizza in Colombia and ranks highly in Latin America. It even has a certification from the True Neapolitan Pizza Association. Diners won’t just find delicious pies topped with fresh herbs, vegetables, and Italian cold cuts but a range of salads and delectable appetizers, like fried burrata in panko served with pesto sauce.

 

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Price range: $$$$
Must-try: The diavola pie or the fried pizza with chocolate and strawberries

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15. La Puerta Falsa

One of Botogá’s oldest restaurants, La Puerta Falsa, located in the historic La Candelaría District is famed for its ajiaco (chicken, cream, potato, and capers in broth) and tamales. You’ll also find a local delicacy that tastes better than it sounds: hot chocolate with melted cheese. Thanks to this spot’s long-standing renown, you can prepare to wait in line, but the time investment is well worth it—even Anthony Bourdain thought so.

Price range: $
Must-try: The ajiaco

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16. Les Amis Bizcocheria

Satiate your sweet tooth at Les Amis Bizcocheria, a renowned pastry shop with an artisanal menu packed with creative baked goods like guava or pistachio tarts and classics like carrot cake. This bakery also serves up salty delights, like toasty empanadas stuffed with vegetables, cheese, or meat, and sandwiches on traditional Argentinian media lunas, fresh out of the oven. If you want a taste of everything, hit up their brunch.

 

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Price range: $$
Must-try: The almond croissant

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Plan your gastronomic journey to Bogotá

Eager to eat your way through the options on this list? We don’t blame you. And Bogotá has countless other unique gastronomic offerings to share—so many, you could plan a trip around discovering the city’s flavors.
Let the experts at Cielo Travel help you plan a perfect stay in Colombia’s capital. We leverage our insider, local knowledge to recommend only the best hotels and experiences.