Salsa Clubs in Bogotá

One thing is for sure, there is a lot of good dancing and music of every type in Bogotá. There are the upscale clubs playing American hip-hop mixed with reggaeton in La Zona T-bouncers and lines and all. There are the underground techno parties that pop up in abandoned buildings in Chapinero. And one of my personal favorites, especially when I want to show out-of-town friends a true Latin scene, is getting a big group together to go salsa dancing. A night out salsa dancing nearly always requires sharing a bottle of aguardiente or rum, meeting strangers, and getting a workout. Here are a few fantastic options:

Quiebra Canto: Like its sibling in Cartagena, this is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike (which means people will definitely ask you to dance!). Quiebra Canto is in a house built in the 170o´s in La Candelaria, you can feel the history in the wooden floors and fireplace. The cover is low, beer is cheap, and the salsa is pure and old-fashioned. Don´t expect a wide range of music, but prepare to hit the dance floor (skills not necessarily required) until the wee hours.

Tel: 243.1630
Carrera 5 no. 17-76
Bogotá
Cover: Depends on the night and the live band, check website for calendar

El Goce Pegano: In an old colonial building in front of Universidad los Andes, el Goce Pegano is known for its pure, traditional salsa and a friendly atmosphere mixed with locals and backpackers. It´s only opened on weekends but never gets so packed that the dance floor is prohibitive.

Tel: 317-501-61 7
Clalle 20 ( Av, Jímenez-Eje Ambiental) no. 00 - 06 este
Bogotá
Cover: 6,000 pesos that can be used toward consumables at the bar

Focus on Street Art: Stinkfish

Stinkfish is a Bogotá-based street artist recognized in the states and all over Latin America. You can see his whimsical pieces all over the city, especially on the crumbling walls of La Candelaria.

Date-night: Best places to take a date for a drink in Bogotá

There are a number of cozy bars that are atmospheric and quiet, perfect to relax and lose time on a romantic night or afternoon out. Here are two of my favorites:

At Café Mágico, you can snuggle up on cushions on the floor in a number of dim, candle-lit rooms on two levels. Cocktails are creative and purely Colombian, using a number of different types of alcohol and tropical juices. The walls are covered with murals depicting archangels and saints, and drippy candles grow in alcoves, all which evoke a chic underground café in Mexico. I´ve never seen her, but apparently there´s even a tarot card reader who can predict a future of love...

Another, equally romantic spot that evokes more of a Swiss mountains vibe, is the Café de la Montaña in northern Bogotá. A restaurant that is actually open for meals all day, it has been voted ¨most romantic cafe¨ and ¨best place for a first date¨ numerous times. With a half price happy hour between 4 and 7, you also don´t have to break the bank to impress your date. Sit at dark tables or cozy up on pillows on the floor and warm up by one of the two fireplaces drinking a tropical cocktail or hot wine (vino caliente). But maybe stay away from the Eukasoluc, a drink that contains almost every imaginable liquor and is restricted to ¨one per customer¨...unless you really need to loosen up!

Devachán Café Mágico.
Phone # 313-1542
Carrera 9, no. 69-16


Cafe de la Montaña
Phone # 214-5312
Diagonal 108a No. 8-11
Parking and live music on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays