Restaurant
El Chato
Álvaro Clavijo's contemporary Colombian restaurant in Chapinero Alto, opened in 2017 and named No. 1 on Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants list in 2025.
La Puerta Falsa
A traditional eatery beside the cathedral, trading since 1816, known for ajiaco santafereño and tamal tolimense.
At a glance
- Type
- Traditional Bogotá food
- Area
- La Candelaria, Bogotá, Colombia
- Price
- $ · Budget
Good to know
- Historic premises
- Traditional dishes
Why we recommend it
La Puerta Falsa is one of the oldest places to eat in Colombia, and it trades on Calle 11 just behind the Catedral Primada, a few steps from Plaza de Bolívar. Its founding date is given as 16 July 1816, and the business has been run across eight generations. In recent years it has been included on TasteAtlas's list of the world's most iconic restaurants, and over the years its customers have included presidents and journalists as well as the many visitors who seek it out today.
The story told about its origin is a local legend in its own right. According to the version reported in the Colombian press, a dispute between the parish priest and a neighbour led her husband to open a small stall selling aguapanela, a drink made from cane sugar, to people coming out of Mass. Another story holds that Manuela Sáenz came here to buy sweets for Simón Bolívar. Whatever the precise history, the place has become a symbol of the old city.
The menu is short and traditional. The two dishes most people come for are the ajiaco santafereño, Bogotá's signature chicken and potato soup flavoured with the herb guascas, and the tamal tolimense, spiced rice and chicken cooked in a banana leaf. Both make a full lunch, and sweets have been part of the place's story since the days of Manuela Sáenz. It is a good place to try Bogotá's food culture without the formality of a sit-down restaurant.
It is a popular stop on the La Candelaria circuit, so expect to wait at busy times, particularly around lunch and at weekends. Going mid-morning or mid-afternoon improves your chances of a seat. It is a budget option suited to solo travellers, couples and families, and it fits easily into a day of sightseeing in La Candelaria. Have cash in pesos ready for a smooth visit.
The restaurant is on Calle 11 at number 6-50, beside the cathedral and close to Plaza de Bolívar. The Museo Botero is a short walk east along Calle 11, and the Museo del Oro is a few blocks north, so La Puerta Falsa is a natural lunch stop between the main museums of the historic centre.
La Puerta Falsa FAQs
How old is La Puerta Falsa?
Its founding date is given as 16 July 1816, and it has been run across eight generations.
What should I order?
The ajiaco santafereño, Bogotá's chicken and potato soup with guascas, and the tamal tolimense.
Where is it?
At Calle 11 No. 6-50 in La Candelaria, beside the Catedral Primada and near Plaza de Bolívar.
Is it expensive?
No. It is a budget-friendly traditional eatery.
Will I need to wait for a table?
It is popular, so expect to wait at lunchtime and weekends.
When is the best time to go?
Mid-morning or mid-afternoon, outside the main lunch rush.
Is there a story linking it to Bolívar?
According to a story reported in the Colombian press, Manuela Sáenz came here to buy sweets for Simón Bolívar.
What is nearby?
Plaza de Bolívar, the cathedral, the Museo Botero and the Museo del Oro are all within walking distance.