Colombia - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 500

Ì Quinua y Amaranto C 11 No. 2-95, La Candelaria;
map p.498. A tiny place with an open kitchen and delicious,
largely organic and vegetarian set lunches (COP$13,000).
Sample dishes include black bean soup and mushroom
risotto. Also sells wholewheat empanadas , bread, eggs and
coffee. Tues-Fri 8am-7.30pm, Mon & Sat 8am-4pm.
Wok Cra 13 No. 82-74, Zona Rosa, also next to the Museo
Nacional W www.wok.com.co; map p.496. This chain of
trendy restaurants has all-white modern decor and a
menu that was clearly constructed by someone who
knows about Asian food. Choose from heaped noodle
salads, Thai curry, sushi, tempura and much more. The
shrimp speared on sugar-cane stalks with Vietnamese
dipping sauce are seriously tasty and the lemonade is
among the best in town. Spice fans should ask for extra
chilli. Mains start around COP$17,000.

5

city from its 30th-floor location, this spot attracts a diverse
crowd. Fri & Sat 8pm-very, very late.
Goce Pagano Cra 13A No. 23-97, Downtown; map p.496.
Less is more in this divey watering hole, which has a simple
dancefloor and Bogotá's largest rack of golden-era salsa LPs.
Owner Gustavo is a throwback to the era when the revolu-
tion was fought listening to salsa; you won't forget your visit.
Take a taxi as the area is unsafe at night. Thurs-Sat only.
In Vitro C 59 No. 6-38 W www.invitrobar.com; map
p.496. Popular with local students, this aquamarine-lit
lounge changes moods with the hour, from quiet cocktail
bar early on to late-night dance joint embracing diverse
musical styles on different days of the week, including
electronica on Thurs and salsa on Fri. Shows locally
produced short films on Tues & Wed.
La Puerta Grande Cra 12 No. 93-64, Zona Rosa; W www
.lapuertagrande.net; map p.496. With different Spanish
themes throughout, this eclectic venue is a restaurant
serving excellent traditional tapas with DJ/live music areas
scattered throughout. Wed is live flamenco night, Thurs
is live rock, and DJs hit the decks on the weekend. Cover
COP$16,000. Mon-Sat noon-3am, Sun noon-5pm.
Theatron C 58 No. 10-42, Chapinero W www.theatron
depelicula.com; map p.496. A neon-lit wonderland, this
colossal gay club is spread over three floors and six rooms,
some of which are men only. Also hosts live shows, which
attract a mixed audience. The COP$25,000 cover charge
on Sat night gets you a cup and access to an open bar
(until 2am).
Yumi Yumi Cra 3A No. 16-40; map p.498. A pint-sized
cocktail bar on Parque de Los Periodistas offering delicious
but potent drinks. Try the coconut mojito or the maracuyá
caipiroska . Dangerously, cocktails are always 2-for-1 (around
COP$16,000). Also does food until 9pm, including chunky
imaginative sandwiches and cheap, tasty Thai curry on Tues
& Wed. Has a second (more expensive) branch in the Zona
Rosa on the corner of Cra 13 and C 84.

DRINKING AND NIGHTLIFE
Rumbear , literally to dance the rumba, is how locals
refer to a night's partying, which invariably involves
heavy doses of dancing. Bars and discos in La Candelaria
attract a somewhat bohemian, often studenty crowd,
while their fluorescent-lit counterparts in the Zona Rosa
in North Bogotá (around C 83 and Cra 13) appeal to the
city's beautiful people. Virtually everywhere shuts down
at 3am. Take taxis to and from your destination.
Bogotá Beer Company C 12D No. 4-02, La Candelaria;
map p.498; Cra 12 No. 83-33, Zona Rosa W bogotabeer
company.com. Artisan brews including stout and wheat
beer, served in bottles and on tap, fourteen seasonal
microbrews, plus excellent pub grub to soak them up. One
of the few places that is busy even on a Mon night. Daily
noon-2am.
The End Aparte Suites Tequendema, Cra 10 No. 27-51;
map p.496. After all the clubs close and Bogotá's night
owls go home, The End (aka Piso 30) is where the after-
party continues until past sunrise. With great views of the

Ì TREAT YOURSELF
Andrés Carne de Res C 3 No. 11A-56, Chía W andrescarnederes.com. Suburban legend
Andrés Carne de Res must be seen to be believed. A 1000-capacity restaurant and salsa club
that looks like something from a Tim Burton film, it is the biggest all-singing, all-dancing party
in the Colombian capital. The four floors (Hell, Earth, Purgatory and Heaven, the last with large
roof terrace) are decked out in a kind of gothic burlesque, with live salsa music and staff
dressed as circus performers and coquettish chambermaids who parade around dragging
non-dancers to their feet. The menu is 62 pages long and features no fewer than nine pages of
alcoholic drinks as well as countless eating options, such as the steaks they are famous for.
There's live music, and the party runs until 3am Fri & Sat (cover COP$20,000), finishing a bit
earlier the rest of the week (COP$10,000 after 10pm Thurs). The location is far out - 23km north
of the city, and if you don't want to splurge on a taxi (around COP$190,000 return, including
waiting time), many hostels run party buses to Andrés on Saturday nights; for COP$50,000, you
get the transport there and back and booze along the way. For those who can't make it to the
original and best, there's a more sedate version at C 82 No. 12-21, Zona Rosa.