Just a cool spot, with cool people. A semi-industrial vibe, but in the back garden of an almost English-Tudor-style house — you feel transported away from the city when you go in. Good creative drinks, and a great place to go earlier in the evening, before dinner or before your after-dinner plans.
Árbol del PanBakery120 mHas a lot more soul than MASA. It is clearly a passion project of its owner, and it has thrived over the eight years I've been in Bogotá — expanding to two locations, and a bigger space for the first one. The quiche is amazing, the croissants are the best in Bogotá, and I love the granola they make in-house.
Paradisco — Bar de EscuchaSpeakeasy listening bar140 mMy favourite speakeasy and my favourite place to end a night in Zona G. It's above a wine bar; the music taste is very eclectic, but there's always a good vibe. There's a cover. And upstairs they now have a speakeasy within a speakeasy: Petit Comité, the cocktail spot of Tom Hydzik, barman and part of the founding team at Mesa Franca — just insanely cool, and my favourite place to finish the night in the area.
Salón TropicalCaribbean-coast Colombian210 mThe Caribbean-coast sibling of Café Bar Universal, from the same group. A great place to take people visiting Colombia who want a sense of Colombian cuisine that isn't Andean mountain food like ajiaco — it's real costeño food, very well done. Lots of live music, which is a great vibe. Quite expensive, and quite loud, so I only go occasionally — but it's fun.
Café Bar UniversalBistro230 mJust a world-class bistro. I always try to get the whole fish, which is for sharing between two or three people, but the steak frites are probably the best in Bogotá. The place is impeccable: good music, good vibes, good natural light during the day and nice low lighting in the evening. Great for a date, great for a business meeting.