You can discover a small, intimate restaurant with a wooden entrance and people standing outside waiting in line if you are strolling through Bogotá’s old city center, Bogotá, Colombia. This is La Puerta Falsa, and it is Bogotá’s hippest and oldest restaurant.
What Is La Puerta Falsa?
La Puerta Falsa means “The False Door.” It is a tiny restaurant. It has been dishing out authentic Colombian cuisine since 1816. And yes, it’s over 200 years old! It’s located in La Candelaria, Bogotá’s “blow-dried” colonial downtown, and locals’ favorite/tourists’ favorite, to boot.
It’s tiny (it’s got fewer than a score of tables inside!), but don’t worry; folks don’t begrudge waiting in line. Why not? Because the grub’s that good!
What You Should Try
La Puerta Falsa offers the following specialty dishes:
Dish Description
Tamales Corn dough wrapped in banana leaves stuffed with chicken, pork, and vegetables, and then steamed. Warm, soft, and comforting!
Chocolate Santafereño A cup of hot chocolate (yes, you read correctly – cheese-filled!) filled with cheese accompanied by bread and a sweet roll almojábana. Suck the cheese through the hot chocolate – it sounds strange, but believe us, it’s amazing.
Ajiaco Chicken and potato soup, accompanied by rice, avocado, and capers. Bogotá’s chilly climate necessitates it.
Also Read: Things to Do in Pereira Colombia: Find the Heart of the Coffee Region
Why People Love It
Ambiance of past eras: The restaurant appears not to have been touched for two centuries. Wooden walls, tiny counters, and vintage photos provide a homey, vintage ambiance.
Home-made flavor: The food here tastes home-made, as though cooked by abuela (grandmother).
Cost-effective: It doesn’t cost much money to enjoy a warm, full meal here.
Speedy service: They are prompt and pleasant even when they have a crowd of people to feed.
Tips Before You Go
Arrive early: It’s small, and it gets crowded fast. Arrive in the morning so you don’t have to wait.
Cash is king: Even though they do take cards, cash is always best.
Local combinations: Order the traditional tamal and hot chocolate combination – that’s what they’re known for!
A Flavor of Colombian History
La Puerta Falsa is more than a restaurant. It’s a bit of Colombian history that still lives on today. Celebrities have passed through the doors, books and publications have mentioned it, and locals have been coming for centuries.
So if you ever find yourself in Bogotá, don’t miss it. Go through the “false door” and get a wee little peek at Colombia that you’ll never forget.