96 Best Restaurants in Colombia

We've compiled the best of the best in Colombia - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.

El Laboratorio de Café

These guys do coffee right: they send an in-house team to local cooperatives to select the best microlots, which are then ground and roasted daily in accordance with their flavor profile. Every modern brewing method is on hand, and you will be expertly guided to the proper preparation based on the chosen beans. With tables overlooking Plaza Botero, this is a great place to rest and recharge with a pastry and cuppa while exploring the historic center.

El Olivo Food House

Two restaurants in one, the Food House's Spanish owners have drawn on a wealth of travels to put together tastefully designed dishes with fresh, top-quality ingredients. Downstairs, the burger bar, Madison, channels a vintage American diner, with suitably killer milk shakes and chunky, pure-beef burgers with inventive toppings. Upstairs, and closer to home, El Olivo serves a modern market cuisine with Mediterranean roots and shares the space with a small gallery showing local artists. The effort put into sourcing quality products, and the owners' attention to detail, shines through in their food, with rich sauces, perfectly crisped croquetas de bacalao, and the paella which is sure to become a house favorite.

El Patio

None of the cutlery matches, the plates are a hodgepodge of styles, and the small dining room is crammed with tables, but all this simply adds to the restaurant's eccentric charm. It's in a great location a couple of blocks from the Plaza de Toros Santamaría in the bohemian neighborhood of La Macarena. Try one of the masterful salads or the delicious veal parmigiana.

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Empanadas Argentinas y Algo Mas

Marked by it’s faded green door and small flag, this tiny kiosk brings a slice of Argentina to the streets of Usaquen, complete with a faded Quilmes beer sign on the wall. Great empanadas grace the menu, as well as a few other treats like a sandwich de milanesa (an Argentinean beef schnitzel sandwich) or alfajores de maizena (a layered corn-flour cookie with a dulce de leche filling and coconut sprinkles).

Gaucha Resto Winehouse

$$$

Another hotspot in the Getsemaní nighttime firmament, Gaucha is a steak house seemingly lifted straight from the streets of Buenos Aires. Classy minimal styling includes weathered whitewashed walls; heavy, bare wooden tables; a chequered tile floor; and oversized wicker lampshades that create soft dappled light. Of course, the design takes a backseat to the star of the show, a range of quality cuts of meat, well-sized and impeccably grilled. The classic bife de chorizo (sirlion strip steak) is excellent, but rest easy that more typical and richly flavored Argentine cuts like the vacio (flank) or tira de asado (Argentine short ribs) are superbly done and worth trying. Splurge on a good bottle of Malbec—there's a decent selection—and don't pass up the classy starters.

The Grog Rocky Cay

$$$

For lunch with your toes tucked in the sand and delicious seafood on your plate, The Grog is the spot. Ask for a table under one of the trees on the beach, and with piña coladas in hand, order fresh and tasty dishes like the arroz caribe, a stir-fry with grilled shrimp and octopus. This is a great place to see the day to its end.

Helena Adentro Restaurant

Equal parts art gallery and bar-restaurant, Heleno Adentro is a slice of young and creative Colombia, bursting with color and eye-catching design, with funky, repurposed antiques dotted here and there. The impressive bar and fruity cocktails are the main draws here, backed up by a short menu of local dishes with contemporary stylings designed to share and snack on. Unfortunately, mains are hit or miss, and service lags at times. The clear-roofed interior patio is the pick of the spaces, particularly at night, when it takes on romantic candlelit hues, but take time to explore the whole restaurant—each room is a visual treat.

Home Burgers

Sometimes you just need a good burger, and that is the simple premise behind Home Burgers, a modern diner-style salon with a fast-food counter. The burgers are quality beef, perfectly grilled to your liking, and the fries superb. There’s also an excellent veggie-burger option. Come early if you want to get a table—both Chapinero branches fill up quickly.

Horacio Barbato

$$$

The sister restaurant to 80 Sillas, Horacio is equally well designed, with a great staff and a menu that focuses on simple ingredients. You can't go wrong with anything porcine or slow cooked---the crispy pork belly and homemade pâté are spot-on---and the wine list is filled with quality choices. Upstairs, overlooking a tree-filled patio, is the best place to dine.

I Balcone

Directly above the famous Cafe Havana, I Balcone retains its mantle of go-to spot in the city for fans of thin-crust pizza thanks to an excellent dough and all handmade ingredients. The pasta, also freshly made, is an equally good choice, with the creamy lobster linguine a standout. The interior lacks a bit of love, but get there early to assure a spot at the little tables squeezed onto one of the balconies, and you can enjoy the inevitably pleasant evening and lively street life passing below.

Julia

$$$

Home to some of Bogotás best thin-crust pizza, this Zona G locale is unbeatable for its cozy, low-lit atmosphere and light and crispy pizzas with generous, quality toppings. Tables are tucked between exposed-brick walls and wine displays, with the bar and pizza oven in the back. There are branches in Usaquen and Zona Rosa.

La Canoa Cafe Cultural

$$$

A funky little café with checkered floors and tearoom-style salons, La Canoa's air-conditioned, brightly lit interior makes for a welcome respite any time of the day. The highlight is the selection of pastries and desserts for a snack with coffee. At lunchtime, the daily set menu is delicious and comes at a comfortable price; the homemade panini sandwiches are great, and the seafood salads are always a winner---try the Mediterráneo (shrimp and capers).

La Condesa Irina Lazaar Restaurant

Plain white walls, simple wooden tables, and tiled floors set the scene at this neighborhood favorite. Since opening in 2010, this hard-to-find restaurant has gathered fans from every spectrum of Bogotá society for its big-hearted ambience, outstanding, seasonal menu, and easy-on-the-wallet prices. The menu changes constantly, but keep an eye out for shrimp and fish dishes, for which the chef has a particularly deft hand.

La Cosecha Parrillada Restaurant

There are plenty of restaurants in and around the center that have decent offerings, but La Cosecha stands out for quality and service. You can expect generous portions of well-cooked beef and some superb examples of local favorites like lengua a la criolla (beef tongue in a creole tomato and onion sauce).

La Fama Barbecue

$$$

For a taste of the American South, or just a good night out, head out to the hugely popular La Fama for Colombian-Texan-style barbecue. Here you'll find traditional barbecue staples like slow-smoked ribs or brisket as well as more local fare like the hump, a traditional cut of local beef that's marinated for two days and then smoked for 15 hours. The pecan pie is an excellent way to end the meal.

La Fragata

$$$$

With its slowly revolving dining room, this is one of the capital's more unusual restaurants. Somehow the dimly lit, dark-oak interior successfully conveys the sensibility of a 19th-century frigate. The lobster, crab, red snapper, and locally caught rainbow trout are satisfying, but the real draw here is the view.

La Frontera Restaurante Pizzeria

There are no frills here---candleholders are empty wine bottles and food is served on a smoothed slice of a tree trunk---but the pizza comes out thin, crispy, and delicious every time and the beers are cold. It's exactly what you need after a day at the beach.

La Niña Juani

This colorful restaurant is an ode to owner Anna María Morillo's grandmother and the cuisine of the northern coast around Barranquilla and Cartagena. Stop here for your morning arepa con huevo (egg) made from freshly ground corn and served with homemade suero costeño (a local crème fraîche). There are a handful of tables on the sidewalk; inside there's a lively mural of a Cartagena street, and brightly colored bar stools are tucked up to the counter where you can stop for a freshly squeezed juice. Try posta negra, the Cartagena classic of slow-cooked beef in a local cola sauce or some spot-on renditions of Caribbean fish dishes, like red snapper in coconut milk.

La Perla

$$$ | Centro

While Cartagena has a number of excellent ceviche restaurants, La Perla is a standout for it's variety of traditional Perivuan dishes, some novo-Andino styling, and inventive uses of local ingredients. The decor is simple yet elegant and creates an intimate dinner experience in the narrow restaurant, although the dining room can feel a little crowded when full. Peruvian chef Carlos Achinelli offers a short, frequently renewed but always interesting menu, which rewards exploring and reliably impresses with punchy flavors. Favorites are the stuffed squid and the tiradito (paper-thin slices of raw fish) in lime and yellow chili leche de tigre sauce. But don't pass up on the tasty cocktail menu.

La Puerta Falsa

Celebrating its bicentennial in 2016, this traditional Bogotá restaurant in the heart of La Candelaria serves what locals would call "a taste of their grandmother’s kitchen." For breakfast, order the tamal (a classic jungle dish of spiced rice and chicken cooked in a banana leaf) or a hot chocolate Santafereño (chocolate from Santa Fe) with bread and cheese for dipping. At lunch, the traditional ajiaco stew is a sure bet. If you're dining in, grab a seat at the counter opposite the kitchen or head upstairs to one of the tiny wooden tables for a little more elbow room.

La Regatta

$$$

Close to the seafront and all the downtown attractions, La Regatta offers some of the island's best seafood on a deck set right over the water. Head here in the early evening to enjoy a sundowner before diving in to dinner. Reservations are advisable.

La Vitrola

$$$$ | Centro

This friendly restaurant on a quiet corner in the walled city is the result of a New Yorker's love affair with the Caribbean. You can begin with ceviche catalina (fish and octopus marinated in lime juice); then try a zarzuela de mariscos (seafood casserole) or perhaps corvina con salsa de cebollin y jenibre (sea bass with scallion-ginger sauce). Ceiling fans, historic photos, and live Cuban music complete the mood. Be aware of their no-shorts dress code.

Makao Restaurant

Owned by two young Spaniards, the food here is a step above a majority of the town's options. The tapas choices are inevitably good, and the mains on the short menu are all hearty and well prepared; the trout al ajillo (with a creamy garlic sauce) is one of the best in town. A funky soundtrack and solid, rustic, wooden tables make this a comfortable choice any time of day.

Masa

An artisanal bakery and coffee shop, this spot is the perfect place to feed your midafternoon snack attack. The bread is top-notch, and there are plenty of sandwich options for the savory minded. This is also a haven for sweet tooths; try the decidedly Parisian almond croissant or monstrous ice-cream sandwich.

Mi Cocina Restaurant

$$$

An outlet for the Academia Verde Oliva---a cooking school with locations in Bogotá and Villa de Leyva---Mi Cocina serves traditional Colombian fare on wrought-iron tables; the red-and-yellow-tiled exterior patio has the best seats, and you can watch the wood-fired oven in action. The daily lunch special is a bargain, but look out for dishes with longaniza (a local sausage considered a regional delicacy) from neighboring Sutamarchán, or the ajiaco, a traditional Bogotá soup that is prepared superbly here.

Mila Pastelería

$$$ | Centro

This upscale bakery and coffee shop offers touches of quaint, country-style decor and friendly service. Particularly popular for a midmorning coffee break or afternoon tea, the temple of pastry, cake, and silken mousse delivers a welcome respite, and you'll likely end up spending more time than you have planned. The pour-over filter coffee is good, and the lemon-coconut drink—a Cartagena classic—may be at it's best.

Mini-mal

$$$

The inventive, contemporary Colombian menu at this casual eatery features products and flavors from far-flung corners of the country. Look out for giant ants, puffer-fish tails, plantain sushi rolls, and excellent fruit juices. Eclectic decor, colorful mismatched furniture, and a friendly staff make for a lighthearted dining experience that begs repeating.

Ocio

Located next to Museo Nacional, this industrial-style space delivers fascinating modern Colombian bistro food that highlights local Amazonian ingredients. Menu items include flavorful aromatic soups and glazed pancetta with tucupi, which is an acidic, umami-laden sauce extracted from wild manioc. Great service tops off an excellent experience.

Pajares Salinas

$$$

Although the starched-white tablecloths make this popular spot rather formal, the classic Spanish dishes are superb. There's a range of excellent tapas as well as daily specials, and the elegant dining room is decorated with works of art from around the world.

Pasteleria Francesa Restaurant

Under the watchful gaze of the myriad black-and-white photos of Parisian life, the display cases of the village's favorite breakfast spot are heaped with sweet and savory delights like flaky almond croissants, chocolate éclairs, blackberry pasties, and savory quiches---the mustard-and-tomato quiche is a winner. Pair a treat with a cappuccino that comes topped with a mountain of frothed milk. Get in early for breakfast—doors open at 8 am—as the place fills up fast.

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