Thursday, 9 June 2011

Colombia: the list

Bogota
Hotel Chorro de Quevedo, Calle 13B #1-53, La Candelaria, Bogotá: run by the eccentric Italian Massimo, Hotel Chorro is on the edge of La Candelaria, the city's old centre (COP$110,000 B&B)
Bogota Bike Tours, Carrera 3 #12-72, La Candelaria, Bogotá: run by an American former-journo called Mike, the tours cover the old town and down town. He includes pit stops at a chocolate factory and a coffee roasters, along with a tour of the market where the group samples Colombia's incredible array of fruit (including lots we recognised from home - feijoas, gooseberries, tamarillos, pawpaws). Mike's background as a journalist allows him to pepper the tour with anecdotes and historical information (COP$30,000)
Pequena Santa Fe, Plaza Chorro de Quevedo, Carrera 2 No 13-14, La Candelaria, Bogotá: a cosy little bar on the scummy but cool student hangout of Chorro de Quevedo in La Candelaria. Beers, pizza and a roaring fire
La Jugueteria, Calle 27 #4A-03, Macarena, Bogotá: a crazy barbecue restaurant filled with toys - dolls hang from the ceiling and the walls are adorned with all sorts of old-school amusements including Mickey Mouse, Smurfs, Popeye, M&M, Superman, Donald Duck, Chucky, gumball machines and carousel horses (mains: COP$25-30,000)

Santa Marta
Casa Verde Hotel, Calle 18 #4-70, Centro Historico, Santa Marta: boutique B&B in a refurbished colonial family home. Simple, stylish rooms around a pretty courtyard (COP$165,000 B&B)
Donde Chucho, Calle 19 #2-17, Centro Historico, Santa Marta: fantastic seafood restaurant on Parque Santander. We had the mixed ceviche (octopus, squid, smoked ray & shrimp) (COP$18,000), green salad (COP$6000) and shrimp cocktail (COP$9000)
Ouzo, Cra 3, Parque Santander, Centro Historico, Santa Marta: Mediterranean restaurant serving simple, tasty salads, pizzas and pastas 
El Santo, Calle 21 #2A-52, Centro Historico, Santa Marta: Argentinian bistro with excellent food, drinks and service
Agave Azul, Calle 14 #3-58, Centro Historico, Santa Marta: Mexican restaurant with massive portions run by the same brothers as Ouzo, they also run the hostel next door, La Brisa Loca
Lulo, Cra 3 #16-34 Callejon del Correo, Centro Historico, Santa Marta: cafe / juice-bar, delicious healthy arepas (ground maize patties with a choice of toppings including steak with avocado, grilled peppers, sour cream and pesto, pulled beef with tomato salsa and sour cream) (COP$8000), pitas, wraps, coffee (COP$2500), smoothies and granitas (COP$4000) made with the delectable local produce

No comments:

Post a Comment