Bogotá, Colombia
+ food tour
Food and drink you must try
Ajiaco – traditional chicken, corn, and potato soup that warms you from the inside out
Crispy arepas – flattened corn cakes traditionally eaten for breakfast, often filled with cheese, eggs, or meat
Obleas – sweet wafers filled with arequipe (a caramel-like spread), jam, or cheese with cream
Chiguiro – capybara, the largest living rodent and a close relative of the guinea pig. It usually features on any mixed meat platter you order in Bogotá
Tamales Colombianos – a combination of rice, chicken, and vegetables served wrapped in banana leaves
Chicken and beef empanadas – meat and vegetable pasties made with corn pastry
Huevos Pericos – scrambled eggs flavoured with tomatoes and spring onions
Almojabana – cheese bread – perfectly spherical rolls made with precooked cornmeal, fresh cheese, butter, eggs, and milk, shaped and deep-fried
Aji Picante – spicy dressing made from onions, peppers, garlic, chilli, coriander, and lime juice, sprinkled all over everything!
Patacon con Hogao – corn bases topped with mashed plantain, grated cheese, and aji picante. They sound weird, but they taste surprisingly good!
Chicharron con Papa Criotta – pork pieces with yellow potatoes
Bocadillo con Queso – a slice of white cheese with a slice of guava paste. This cheap snack is sold from stalls all over Bogotá. The combination of salty cheese and sweet guava paste is one of those heavenly combinations that you didn’t know was missing from your life!
Hot chocolate – the ubiquitous Colombian drink sometimes served with cheese (yes, really!)
Strong black coffee – Colombia is the world’s third-largest producer of coffee. Until four or five years ago, all the quality coffee was exported and locals were left to drink ‘tinto’, a poor imitation of the real thing. Now, more of the good stuff stays in Colombia for us all to enjoy!
Lulada – a combination of the juice of the lulo fruit (a relative of the pineapple, known as naranjilla, meaning ‘little orange’ in Spanish ), lime juice, water, and sugar, sometimes with added alcohol.
Coconut lemonade
Restaurants and cafes to try
La Puerta Falsa – a cheap cafe close to Plaza de Bolívar that serves the best empanadas
Cécile Espresso Bar – a great coffee spot near Museo Botero
Andres Carne de Res – a lively restaurant famous for its steaks
Origen Bistro – specialising in Colombian cuisine. Try the trucha – pan-fried trout, a local speciality
Tolú (Mamá Luz) – a food stand in La Perseverancia market specialising in traditional dishes from Colombia’s Caribbean coast and the regions surrounding Bogotá like shrimp ceviche and goat stew