Bogota Bee-Bop

Here are some of my picks & they aren't those mentioned in the guidebooks (sorry Lonely Planet & Fodor's):

1) Crepes & Muffins (Chapinero & Septima/7th)
2) Crepes & Waffles (any location)
3) Frida's (Super *****)
4) Oma (better than the Juan Valdez coffee shops which are somewhat reminiscent of Starbuck's). This is in La Zona Rosa.
5) Al Wadi (in La Macarena??) I just know that it's an awesome Middle Eastern restaurant in the bohemian section of Bogota & up what feels like 130, 000 stairs....

So, forget Andres Carne de Res, unless you've got the brass for it ($$$) & L'Jaim in La Candelaria is under new ownership (& neither the food nor the service is all that attractive). Don't let your friends trick you into drinking chicha either, this is a really potent & thoroughly disgusting drink!

If you are traveling to Villa de Leyva, walk around until you find an older gentlemen wearing a jaunty little cap & a cane who is the owner of Rincon de Bachue Restaurante Cra. 9 No. 15A-15. Don't worry, he can spot a foreign traveler from a mile away & will seek you out & chat you up. For the best Colombian B&B, stay @ Casa/Hotel Villa Cristina Calle 10 No. 3-78: (03) 313 3901833- 300 5686528 (Don Elirio).

I've been to Bogota 3x & still love it more each time. I have a lot of travel spot tips, but HEY, this is a blog for Foodie's!