Café
Azahar Parque 93
The Parque de la 93 café of Azahar, a Bogotá roaster that buys high-grade Colombian coffee directly and serves it daily from 7:00 to 20:00.
Pastelería La Florida
A downtown tea room and bakery founded in 1936 by a Spanish exile, famous for its chocolate santafereño and traditional Bogotá pastries.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic tea room and bakery
- Area
- Centro, Bogotá, Colombia
- Price
- $ · Budget
Good to know
- Chocolate santafereño
- Pastries
- Breakfast
Why we recommend it
Pastelería La Florida is one of the classic places to try chocolate santafereño, the hot chocolate ritual most associated with old Bogotá. Its story begins in 1936, when José Granés, a Spanish pastry cook and Republican who had left Spain to escape Franco's regime, opened a tea room in the city centre after a spell in Cali. It quickly became popular with foreigners and fellow exiles, and it has been part of the life of downtown Bogotá ever since.
The bakery's best-known recipes came from a partnership between Granés and Eduardo Martínez, who arrived in Bogotá in 1940 and worked his way up from cleaning bread tins to baker. Together they developed recipes including the house chocolate santafereño. In 1970 Martínez bought the business from Granés's children, and his daughter Elsa Martínez now runs it, after a period in which her brothers were in charge. The Colombian press has described it as a business that kept going through the city's upheavals, including the Covid-19 pandemic.
The original premises were on Carrera Séptima at Calle 20. On 4 September 2002 La Florida reopened half a block away, in a house on Carrera Séptima at Calle 21, where it trades today. The draw is the chocolate santafereño, alongside the bakery's breads and desserts. It works for a mid-morning break, an afternoon snack or a light breakfast before a day downtown.
La Florida suits anyone curious about Bogotá's traditions, families and older visitors who like a traditional sit-down café. It is a budget-friendly stop compared with the specialty coffee bars of Chapinero, and a good contrast with them: the pleasure here is in an old recipe and a long-running family business rather than single-origin beans. Allow 45 minutes to an hour to sit and enjoy it.
The tea room is on Carrera Séptima near Calle 21, in the centre between La Candelaria and the Centro Internacional. The Torre Colpatria viewpoint is a short walk away around Calle 24, and the Museo del Oro and Parque Santander are a few blocks south, so La Florida makes an easy break between sights. Check opening times locally, as they are not published online.
Pastelería La Florida FAQs
When was Pastelería La Florida founded?
In 1936, by the Spanish pastry cook José Granés.
What is it famous for?
Its chocolate santafereño, the traditional Bogotá hot chocolate, along with its breads and desserts.
Who runs it today?
Elsa Martínez, daughter of Eduardo Martínez, who bought the business in 1970.
Where is it?
On Carrera Séptima at Calle 21 in central Bogotá, where it moved in 2002 from its original site at Calle 20.
Is it expensive?
No. It is a budget-friendly, traditional tea room.
How long should I allow?
About 45 minutes to an hour for chocolate and pastries.
What is nearby?
The Torre Colpatria viewpoint, Parque Santander and the Museo del Oro are within walking distance.
Is it good for families?
Yes. The traditional tea room suits families and older visitors.