La Puerta Falsa: One Of The Most Famous Restaurants In Bogota

La Puerta Falsa (Calle 11 No 6-50), in Bogota’s historic La Candelaria District, is one of the oldest and most traditional restaurants in the city: it dates back to 1816, and, without wanting to make the place sound too old-fashioned, you can definitely tell! Located just off the Plaza Bolivar, in the main tourist hub of the city, La Puerta Falsa always has a long line of travelers wanting to verify Anthony Bourdain’s claims for themselves, plus a regular and loyal clientele who seem to come back time and again.

What Can You Eat at la Puerta Falsa

This, it seems to me, is for two principal reasons: the first is the excellent food. La Puerta Falsa is the place to go in Bogota for delicious, traditional Colombian food. What especially stands out are the ajiaco (a hearty soup of potatoes, chicken, cream, and capers) and the tamales (which some claim are the best anywhere in the capital). It’s also the place to visit for an unusual Cundinamarca specialty: hot chocolate with cheese. Sounds weird, right!? However, in the hands of La Puerta Falsa, it’s a delight: rich, steamy chocolate combined with thick, gooey cheese makes for a heart-warming combo on a cold Bogota day.

La Puerta Falsa’s Atmosphere

The second reason is surely the old-world charm and atmosphere of the place. It seems especially popular with See Colombia’s team (possibly because we seem to be mostly comprised of flat-cap aficionados and therefore fit in pretty well with the wood-paneled walls and 1800s atmosphere), and is a lovely place to relax with some delicious food. It’s a little cramped, so don’t expect to be able to fit a large party in here, but as small restaurants go, it’s a real treat.

So, there you have it: there are other places in Bogota that are hipper, where the food is more contemporary, or where the staff is more glamorous. However, if given a choice, I will always take a lazy Sunday in la Puerta Falsa, a steaming bowl of ajiaco in front of me and a mug of hot chocolate and cheese next to that.

Tips for La Puerta Falsa

• Arrive early or embrace the line – it’s worth the wait.
• Must-try dishes: tamal, Hot chocolate with cheese, and sopa de ajíaco.
• Open at 8 a.m. (instead of 7h30), so plan accordingly for early flights.
• For quicker seating, split your group into smaller parties.
• Don’t forget to ask for the homemade salsa picante.

Going to Bogotá soon?

I wrote some excellent guides about Bogotá. Here are the ones our readers recommend:

• Where to stay in Bogotá
• Best Bogotá day trips
• Things to do in Bogotá

Author’s note: This article was originally published by Chris on the site www.seeColombia.travel. It has now been edited by Thomas Espeute, following the acquisition of SeeColombia.travel by Tomplanmytrip.

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