The Independent recently declared Bogotá, the capital of Columbia, to be ‘the best place for a foodie to visit’. This came as a surprise to many! However, there’s a lot more going on in Bogota than many people realize in terms of cuisine, and the British medium was absolutely right to declare the city to be one of the planet’s hottest foodie spots right now.

So what’s to eat there, and where? Leo is particularly notable. This establishment is owned and operated by Leo Espinosa, who won the Best Female Chef award in Latin America.

She uses unique Colombian ingredients such as leafcutter ants, caiman, and exotic jungle fruit, elevating them to a whole new level of class and flavor. Her 12-course tasting menu is quite expensive by Colombian standards, but it’s pretty affordable for international samplers at less than US$50.

The restaurant Criterion and its chef Jorge Rausch is another foodie hot spot. This French-influenced restaurant has foodies everywhere licking their lips in anticipation, serving some of the finest quality gourmet food in Latin America. It is owned and operated by the Rausch brothers, who have been at the core of Bogotá’s culinary revival in the past decade and are celebrities in the city.

If you don’t have the budget to dine at such standout venues, don’t worry – there are many excellent alternatives serving great dishes at good prices in the capital city of Columbia.

Highlights from this long list include Andres Carne de Res, Abasto, Misia (also owned and run by Leo Espinosa restaurant), and El Chato.