Every great city has amazing places that everyone knows. Bogotá hosts several where you can have a great time! Andrés Carne de Res is definitely one of the best places to experience; you’ll never forget it, trust me! Andrés is a blast in every way, and you shouldn’t miss it!
I can’t think of anything more Colombian and wilder (yes, you heard right!) than Andrés. It’s probably the first option I recommend when someone asks me for a cool place to enjoy local food and/or to party in Bogotá. Everyone in this city (locals and tourists) have been to Andrés or at least know where it is. If you are trying to avoid the most touristic places, then Andrés would not be a good option. But I’m here to change your mind because, besides its popularity, places like Andrés teach us a lot about a culture and its people. Once you are there, it will feel like its own little world and it’s impossible not to be surprised. In the end, Andrés is truly a reflection and a celebration of our customs and traditions!
So, what is Andrés Carne de Res?
Andrés Carne de Res was founded by Andrés Jaramillo in 1982 as a roadside grill in Chía (close to Boogtá), but nowadays, it’s much more than that. It was originally a restaurant to enjoy a nice Sunday afternoon with very good local food and tons of fun for the whole family. What is it now, then? It’s still a restaurant, but a dozen other things as well. Andrés is a place to eat, to
There are two versions of Andrés: the one in Chía, which is the original, and the one in Bogotá, which was founded as a smaller version like ten years ago. Andrés in Chía is always great if you want to enjoy a nice afternoon with your family and friends. Besides being huge, it does have supervised areas for kids to entertain themselves and even a doggy daycare center. This is the family facet of Andrés.
Then there’s a point when minors are nicely kicked out to make way for one of the most legendary nights you’ll ever have. So, if you want to have the experience of a lifetime, you have to go partying at Andrés! Chía is unique with its five dance floors, however, it’s also about twenty-eight kilometers away from Bogotá (read our article about places to stay near Bogotá) and the transportation and logistics usually create a bit of a headache. That’s where Andrés D.C. comes in because it’s located in the social heart of Bogotá and it’s much easier to get to. For the party, don’t worry, because it’s as amazing as the one in Chía and unique in its own way. This is the party and social facet of Andrés.
The last facet, which is much more underrated, is the cultural one. You can’t just go to Andrés and not notice all the decorations, the packed walls, the objects hanging from the ceiling, and even the crockery they use. Everything there is the manifestation of our local culture in the form of handcrafted objects that we use on a daily basis. Andrés is really a place that blurs the line between traditional cultural aspects and modern ones; from glowing red hearts and neon signs to Catholic iconography and color lights, everything you can see and touch in Andrés has a meaning and is there for a reason. The surreal decor and design is the real fascination with this place, and that’s why Andrés is truly a jaw-dropping museum of Bogotá’s culture!
The indescribable experience
It’s not easy at all to try to describe what you’ll see and more importantly, what you’ll feel when going to Andrés. It’s like entering a story with lots of other stories within. It’s beautiful and delightful chaos will leave your head spinning and wondering what the hell (in a positive way) is everything you are seeing and experiencing. Andrés is many things, but to help you imagine it better, think about movies like Alice in Wonderland mixed with Moulin Rouge, and you’ll get a glimpse of the atmosphere.
It’s impossible to not be happy at Andrés, it gives you instant joy the minute you walk in. It’s a place where you can indulge in all of your hedonistic desires, for its purpose is to give you satisfaction and pleasure in the form of food, dance, music, and general entertainment. Don’t worry if you can’t dance, it doesn’t matter, you’ll leave your inhibitions once you hit the dance floor (your liver too, because everyone will be drinking heavily as well). Andrés is a place to be yourself, to loosen up, to let go, and forget for a couple of hours anything that might be holding you up. It’s pure, pure fun!
What to eat in Andrés?
Everything, really. But truth is that it will take ages because the menu is a seventy-page colorful magazine of food and beverages. It does take quite a bit to decide what to have if you don’t have a clear idea. Andrés has quintessential Colombian dishes like the baked plantains stuffed with cheese and guava (read our article about Colombian fruits) and delicious drinks and cocktails like the Mandarino. The menu focuses on traditional Colombian food, so to know what to expect, you can always read our articles about food, drinks, and alcoholic drinks you have to try in Bogotá.
It’s not cheap though, so you’ll have to have flexibility in your budget when going. People usually spend anywhere from $50,000 COP ($16 USD) to more than a million pesos ($320 USD). The more people you go with, the better. It does get crowded pretty fast, especially on Fridays and the weekends, so it’s always a good idea to make a reservation on their web page if you do want to eat and have a table.
How to get there?
Andrés in Chía is an hour ride outside Bogotá, so the best option is to take a taxi or an Uber that will be around $30,000-$50,000 COP ($9-16 USD) depending on the day and the time, read our article about Uber and taxis in Bogotá). I don’t recommend going by car because the parking is limited and if you are staying for the party, then, of course, you can’t drive back. It’s located at Cl. 3 #11A – 56 in Chía. Another piece of advice: don’t use the restaurant’s highly overpriced taxi service. Instead, use companies like Easy Tappsi.
For Andrés D.C., just head to Zona Rosa (Rose Zone) in Bogotá. It’s located at Calle 82 # 12-21 inside El Retiro’s mall (read our article about this area of the city).
Andrés Carne de Res is more than a simple restaurant; it’s a culture on its own that is not trying to emulate
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