If Colombia’s capital Bogota isn’t already on your list of gastronomic destinations that’s about to change; the high altitude city is filled with noteworthy dining venues that are transforming the image of Colombian cuisine. We take a look at five of the best restaurants in Bogota, which together lead the way in this evolving food scene.
Harry Sasson
Instagram @sommelierinpty
Widely considered to be one of Latin America’s best restaurants, Harry Sasson stands out for its unique fusion of international cuisine, taking inspiration from across Asia and Europe, as well as Latin American. The chef this restaurant takes its name from has a number of dining spots across the country, including Club Colombia, but this is the one that best represents his culinary expertise. While the food here is diverse in style, the menu encompasses a number of local favorites like empanadas and wood-roasted meats. These dishes can be paired with wines from an exceptionally extensive menu of labels from around the world.
Matiz
Instagram @matiz_restaurante
Located in the Chico neighborhood of Bogota, Matiz has been a highlight of the city’s fine dining scene since it opened in 2004. Since 2014 chef Arnau Barenys has been behind the cuisine here, creating Mediterranean and European influenced specialties that reflect his Catalan roots. Try seafood plates like tuna tataki in sesame crust or lobster tail on toasted noodles cooked paella style, or opt for meat dishes such as suckling pig with sweet apple puree flavored with cinnamon and orange, and duck magret with mango textures and shallots au caliu. Follow these with one of the restaurant’s classic cocktails.
Leo
Instagram @leoescocina
Run by the mother and daughter team, chef Leonor Espinosa and sommelier Laura Hernandez-Espinosa, Leo is considered one of the best restaurants in Bogota, winning awards for its imaginative fine dining plates. The dining experience here is based on the study of Colombia’s different biomes and ecosystems, showcasing dishes reflecting local products and ancestral knowledge. This approach results in beautifully presented plates encompassing ingredients like crab, sweet veal, honey and goats’ cheese. The coffee then comes from the community of Guamal while traditional drinks such as wild cane spirit come from other ethnic communities.
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Rafael
The Bogota restaurant of revered Peruvian chef Rafael Osterling provides the city’s gastronomes with a taste of creative Peruvian fare. Within a contemporary fine dining space combining industrial elements with tropical plants, diners can choose between signature dishes like grilled ceviche with fish of the day, shrimps and green banana toasts, alongside plates like crispy shrimp tempura with Akishizo mirin sauce, cucumber, mango, avocado and cashew nuts salad, and spring rolls with duck, crab, shrimps and Asiatic dips that exhibit Peru’s diverse culinary influence. After dinner head to the bar for cocktails and a dessert such as crisp coconut cannelloni with passion fruit foam.
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Villanos en Bermudas
Instagram @villanosenbermudas
Nicolas Lopez from Salta in Argentina and Serge Meza from San Luis Potosi in Mexico are the two chefs behind this award-winning restaurant in Bogota known for taking inspiration from culinary tradition while simultaneously trying to break away from convention. With the idea that gastronomy needs to be subtle, simple, direct and focused, the chefs endeavor to give diners a new culinary experience as they taste exciting and innovative cuisine in a warm convivial space. The menu here changed daily encompassing fresh produce and served in seven-course tasting menus. The three-story restaurant also houses a cocktail lounge and bar.
