Andres Carne de Res: The #1 Place To Go While Visiting Bogota

“…but listen…no matter what you do…you HAVE HAVE HAVE to go to Andres Carne de Res in Chia.  It’s a little drive…and there is Uber, (Medellin has Uber English, not sure about Bogota).  This is one of the most insane awesome places I have ever been.  It’s a restaurant that ends up being a dance place.  All locals.  This guy turned like a barn into an eatery.  He made all this metal artsy shit.  And people walk around in costume.  I saw a midget in a Naval Commanders outfit.  And the food is incredible.  They bring a brazzier to your table and cook the meat there.  It’s probably one of my favorite places I have ever been.  DO NOT MISS THIS PLACE!!!  Also there is a version in the city of Bogota-it’s nice, but it’s nothing like the one in Chia.  I have been to both…Chia was off the chain.”

This was my cousin’s exact quote regarding Andres Carne de Res in Chia…and as soon as I read it, I knew I had to go. It was also perfect timing, since I was spending Thanksgiving in Colombia and was planning on enjoying a large Colombian meal (and if some dancing and drinking were mixed in, so be it).

Driving through Chia, we were wondering where we would end up. Chia is a smaller town, much different than Bogota, and about 45 minutes to an hour outside. However, I knew as soon as I spotted a massive building with quirky lit up decorations outside, that we had arrived.

We walked in to find a labyrinth of wooden tables and colorful wall-to-ceiling décor. Bright red lights dangled throughout the rafters, intertwined with Spanish sayings pointing every which way. This was one of the most interesting restaurants I have ever been in, overflowing with funky trinkets and eclectic knickknacks. There is so much going on, it’s almost as though you’ve been transported to Cirque du Soleil.

The menu at Andres Carne was the most extensive I’ve ever seen. I’m the most indecisive person at ordering food (probably in the world, try me), and I never thought I would be able to narrow down what I wanted to eat at Andres. There were probably 70 pages, and I’m not exaggerating. We finally ended up ordering Mojitos (which came in a huge bowl), guacamole, a queso appetizer, a garlic shrimp dish, and two large steaks.

All of the food was amazing, but what I really want to talk about here are the cocktails. Not only are the cocktails delicious, they’re strong, and they give you the whole shaker with it. Meaning when you order one Cosmopolitan (which was our third drink order), you actually receive about three.

Needless to say, when the bill came, we were ready to hit the dance floor.

Andres Carne in Chia is also amazing for visitors because there are a ton of locals. Everyone is super friendly and happy to be there, which always makes for a great experience. I danced a lot that night, but I also had tons of conversations with local Colombians and got frequently spun into a salsa. I even Facetimed my family at some point throughout the night and had some of my new friends wish them a happy Thanksgiving. If I told you that we spent 7 hours straight at Andres Carne in Chia that night, I wouldn’t be lying.

Tips for visiting Andres Carne de Res in Chia:

• Go early. If you arrive after 8pm, you will have to pay a cover
• Take an Uber from Bogota, which should be around $20
• It is only open Thursday-Sunday, so plan accordingly

I’m not sure when I will return to Colombia, but when I do, I’ll be returning to Andres Carne de Res in Chia.