Restaurant
Leo
Leonor Espinosa's fine-dining restaurant in Chapinero Alto, built around a tasting journey through the cultures and biomes of Colombia.
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.
At a glance
- Type
- Contemporary Colombian
- Area
- Chapinero Alto, Bogotá, Colombia
- Price
- $$$$ · Luxury
- Opening
- Open daily
- Official site
- elchato.co
Good to know
- Tasting menu
- À la carte
- Vegetarian options
- Online booking
Why we recommend it
El Chato is the restaurant that has done most to put Bogotá on the international dining map in recent years. Chef Álvaro Clavijo opened it in 2017 as a contemporary Colombian bistro, after training at the Hofmann school in Barcelona and Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and working in Michelin-starred kitchens in Paris, New York and Denmark. Its climb through the rankings has been steady: from a highest new entry on Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants in 2018 to second place in 2023, third in 2024 and first in 2025, when it was also named the best restaurant in Colombia.
The kitchen's stated philosophy is cooking from the territory. Menus change regularly to follow the seasons and the produce of the small Colombian farmers and suppliers the restaurant works with directly, and the cooking explores the country's biodiversity rather than a single regional tradition. Diners can choose between an à la carte menu and a tasting menu, and there are vegetarian options, which makes El Chato more flexible than many restaurants at this level.
Opening hours are 14:00 to 23:00 on Mondays and Tuesdays, 12:00 to 23:00 from Wednesday to Saturday and 12:00 to 17:00 on Sundays. Book well ahead, especially for dinner at weekends, through the restaurant's online reservation link, by email or by phone or WhatsApp. A weekday lunch is often the easier slot to secure and suits travellers who want to try the à la carte menu without committing to a full evening.
El Chato suits food-focused travellers, couples marking an occasion and anyone curious about where modern Colombian cooking is heading. Allow around two and a half to three hours for the tasting menu, less for an à la carte meal. If you have dietary requirements, mention them when booking so the kitchen can plan, and ask about the vegetarian menu if you do not eat meat or fish.
The restaurant is on Calle 65 in Chapinero Alto, in the north-east of the city. Leo is a short walk away on Calle 65 Bis, and Afluente, Salvo Patria and Humo Negro are in the same part of Chapinero, so this corner of the city is the place to base yourself for ambitious dining. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are the simplest way to arrive and leave after dark.
El Chato FAQs
Who is the chef at El Chato?
Álvaro Clavijo, who trained in Barcelona and Paris and worked in Michelin-starred kitchens before opening El Chato in 2017.
What are El Chato's opening hours?
Monday and Tuesday 14:00 to 23:00, Wednesday to Saturday 12:00 to 23:00, and Sunday 12:00 to 17:00.
Do I need to book?
Yes. Reserve ahead online, by email at [email protected] or by phone or WhatsApp on +57 321 971 8676.
Is there a tasting menu?
Yes. You can choose a tasting menu or order à la carte.
Are there vegetarian options?
Yes. The restaurant offers vegetarian options.
What awards has El Chato won?
It was No. 1 on Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 and No. 54 on The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025.
What kind of food does it serve?
Contemporary Colombian cooking built on seasonal produce from small local producers, with menus that change regularly.
Where is it?
At Calle 65 No. 4-76 in Chapinero Alto, a short walk from Leo.