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Colombia's Best Restaurants, Spas and Hotels in Cartegena and Bogota

 Conflict has isolated Colombia from the world, and its products, services, and cuisine were also isolated. But we’re rediscovering our cuisine – and Bogota is at the centre of this. Hotel Occupancy rates have soared in recent years and people are returning.  An influx of people escaping Venezuela has also driven demand for fine dining in Colombia.

 Within the historic walled city of Cartagena, Columbia inside Cartagena's premier luxury hotel Casa San Agustin, sits Alma restaurant.  Its colonial Courtyard, the Main Room and the Private Room are places rich in character serving as a backdrop to ancient aqueduct.

Fine Dining Restaurants in Cartagena, Colombia

  Alma restaurant radiates the life of Cartagena de Indias and offers the best of traditional cuisine of the renowned Chef Heberto Eljach in the heart of Casa San Agustin Hotel, where you can enjoy an exquisite seafood casserole, as well as a variety of ceviches, matured meat in various cuts, lobster tail and seafood prepared with traditional cooking, among other dishes.

Luxury Spa's in Cartagena, Colombia

 Breakfast is also served with a spa experience that includes the Aurum breakfast with high tea at the Alma and a 60 minute body massage at Cartagena's best spa Aurum.

 Your palate will go into overdrive at Bogota’s Leo, where chef Leonor Espinosa brings Colombia’s ecosystems and abundant larder to life. Edible debuts might include Amazonian rainforest-sourced cacay nut and babilla (spectacled caiman), forest-dwelling hormigas culonas (leafcutter ants) or pepino melon plucked from Andean woods. Try the 12-step tasting menu is a snip for about $50 USD.

 One of the world’s most biodiverse countries, underrated Colombia has earned its seat at the table – and the people behind Latin America’s Best Restaurants awards agree. Bogota has been chosen to host the fifth edition, which takes place tonight. It’s a sure sign that foodies should take note of this South American country that began its peace process following 53 years of civil war.

 Espinosa, who picked up the prestigious Basque Culinary World Prize 2017 in July for her work reviving the ancestral knowledge of indigenous and Afro-Colombian peoples, isn’t the only fine-dining Bogota chef to focus on Colombian ingredients. At Criterion, Master Chef Colombia co-presenter Jorge Rausch – who cut his teeth at Oxford’s Le Manor aux Quat’Saisons – and pastry chef brother Mark apply French culinary techniques to two tasting menus: the lengthier 10-step number kicks off with a fluffy yam, coastal fresh cheese, roasted aborigine and hogao (creole sauce) cappuccino served in a coffee cup.

 Bogota’s entrance on the scene has been a long time coming. “We’ve been behind the rest of the world because of the violence,” admits Jorge Rausch. “But Colombia now needs to show we’ve got more than just tasty food – extraordinary stories from producers are coming to light because of the peace process.”

 Other Bogota musts include hipster eatery and bar El Chato where chef Alvaro Clavijo deals in well-dressed Colombian comfort food such as lamb, quinoa and chickpeas, while Juan Manuel Barrientos’s sensorial experience at El Cielo awakens taste as well as touch and smell. What’s more, his foundation trains both former FARC guerrillas and demobilized army soldiers in the kitchen – then hires them to work together.

 Harry Sassoon’s eponymous restaurant and Andrés Carne de Res – which has no fewer than two dance floors in its outré restaurant – are also key on the food scene.

 While some of these establishments are found in Zona G (the “Gastronomic Zone”), the area of Chapinero Alto is also making waves. Chef Paula Silva opened soul-food restaurant Hippie here in 2015. “This is the new foodie neighbourhood,” she says. “Lots of small spots have sprung up, converting old houses into cafés, organic specialists and sushi joints because rents are cheaper here. There’s plenty of diversity.”

 Chapinero Alto also houses Plaza de Mercado de Paloquemao, one of Bogotá’s many food markets. Aside from the family run fruit and veg stalls, the markets are also the ideal spot to to try local dishes designed to combat the mountainous city’s cool climes, says Jorge Rausch – who recommends jugo de borojó, a freshly blended crab cocktail (an aphrodisiac, he says) at Plaza Siete de Agosto market, followed by ajiaco (chicken and potato soup), sancocho de costilla (beef rib stew) and pata (beef or pork trotter soup) from the stalls upstairs.

 And then there’s street food. Bogotanos love to snack on maize arepas filled with egg, cheese and ham, fresh fruit like mango biche (salted green mango) and smoothies. Carts are everywhere as we get cravings before work, mid-morning and in the afternoon.

 And though fine dining in Bogota is already attainable on a moderate budget, top chefs are now focusing on casual dining experiences. The Rausches’ latest offering, Local, uses only Colombian ingredients, while at Misia, Leonor Espinosa uses her grandmother’s recipes to recreate fritanga (fried street food) such as caramanola beef pasties and mole de queso (yam and cheese).

 It's time to re-visit Colombian fine dining.