4 Best Restaurants in Bogotá, Colombia

Arguably one of Bogotá’s best fine-dining experiences, chef Leonora Espinosa's eatery was among the first to explore the potential of Colombia’s vast range of products, from the caiman pâté in an Amazonian pepper broth to giant ant bottoms (yes, ant bottoms) from Santander crusting a rare tuna steak. Espinosa forged bonds with isolated communities to incorporate flavors and ingredients previously relegated to obscurity, and combines them here using modern techniques. The 12-course tasting menu offers a glimpse of these far corners and really shines with its drink pairings, which range from well-chosen wines to cocktails with locally brewed liqueurs. The service is five star, and the space quietly impressive. For a more budget-friendly option, serving smart but traditional creole dishes, check out her second restaurant, Misia, just across the road.

Specializing in masterfully prepared seafood and white-glove service, Casa San Isidro would be worth the trip for the location alone. Perched 2,000 feet over Bogotá on top of the Cerro de Monserrate and accessible only by cable car, you'll dine fireside as a pianist provides the soundtrack. The French-influenced menu includes plenty of local dishes---a wide range of ceviches, Amazonian yellow catfish, and tropical blue crabs---to keep things interesting. Be sure to leave by midnight, Cinderella, before the last cable car returns to the streets below.

With its slowly revolving dining room, this is one of the capital's more unusual restaurants. Somehow the dimly lit, dark-oak interior successfully conveys the sensibility of a 19th-century frigate. The lobster, crab, red snapper, and locally caught rainbow trout are satisfying, but the real draw here is the view.