6 Must-Try Vegan Restaurants in Bogota, Colombia

It was just days before I was set to head to Colombia, and I started to think, oh no, what in the world am I going to eat? Will this tip be an extravaganza of beans and rice, 3x a day? Should I be shoving an endless supply of protein bars in my suitcase?

You’d think that with as much trip planning as I do on a daily basis, when it comes to my own travel, I wouldn’t leave things as important as this to the last minute! Well, luckily for me and now you, the crisis was quickly averted as I quickly started Googling vegan options in Colombia’s capital, Bogota.

Very quickly, my Google Map turned into a sea of little pink hearts signifying all of the vegan and vegetarian restaurants that Bogota has to offer! Honestly, I was blown away — there were so many options that I quickly became annoyed with myself for not adding extra time. Maybe you’re about to feel the same!

After wandering through the rain (don’t go to Bogota without an umbrella and rain jacket), this colorful little café was a welcoming beacon. The walls are covered with posters proclaiming animal liberation, colorful art, and even a bright pink wall covered with cartoon rats creating what looks to be their own feast. Obviously, this spot isn’t hiding its personality.

Here is where I learned that tomato juice isn’t really tomato juice. When I asked for the juice of the day, I was told tomato, and I must’ve made a face as the server responded, “No, it’s delicious.” So, I reluctantly went along with it (I’m glad I did). Later that day, on a fruit tour at the Paloquemao Fruit Market, I learned that Colombia is home to a beautiful fruit called the tree tomato — it’s delicious!

Aside from unique juices, the menu focuses on veganized traditional Colombian cuisine with favorites like papa y no carne or arepa de no huevo. I was a little adventurous, mostly because I’m gluten-free and sometimes just have to accept whatever they can make for me, so I went for a version of one of the traditional stews. It was a zesty mix of flavors — a little spice with a little citrus, but surprisingly, my favorite part was the corn. Unlike in the northern hemisphere, this corn had an amazing texture with a bit more chew and flavor. Another great corn-focused dish to check out (if they have it) is the Mazorca — the corn is picked when it’s still tender and served with cheese and different tangy sauces.

This is one of those places that I really wish I could’ve visited more than once — I wanted to try everything! It was interesting to learn that the café originally started as an MBA thesis project. The idea was to create a place that utilizes a variety of plant-based ingredients, supports local entrepreneurs, and is mindful of its impact on the planet, from which De Raiz was born.

From the little dessert case stocked with locally sourced cacao to the veganized arepas choclo, it’s clear the amount of care that went into creating this concept while also honoring local flavors and traditions. As I mentioned, the menu includes so many things to try, and it was the first place that I’d found the vegan version of arepa choclo, which you might be thinking is chocolate, it’s cheese! Colombians love cheese, so take this opportunity to try the veganized version of the traditional favorite.

One major mistake I made was not saving room for dessert. They always have a rotating mix of dark chocolate cakes, pies with peanut butter, brownies, and more. All of which would pair perfectly with a bright pink beet latte!

Multiple locals recommended this vegan-friendly chain to me, and at first, I thought, yeah, but will it really be vegan-friendly? I honestly blew it off, but ended up visiting one of the locations during a work lunch. I’m so glad that I serendipitously ended up there because the mission of this place is fabulous, and so are the vegan options!

It’s a Certified B Corp and considered the number one chain and one of the most respected companies in Colombia. In the beginning, the women behind the restaurant started with the mission of only hiring single moms and women in need, and offering benefits such as health care and housing aid. Since the business has grown so much, they don’t exclusively just hire women now, but it shouldn’t be a surprise if you walk into a location and only see women from the front of the house to the back. They also source produce from small farmers in a region historically victimized by armed conflict.

On the vegan side, they have an outstanding selection of sweet and savory crepes! Mine was filled with plantain, house-made tofu cream, avocado, and more — once I finished it, I wanted another one! They also have a great selection of fresh fruit juices. I wish I could’ve gone here more than once. One more important note: if you want to visit on the weekend, make a reservation or you’ll wait a while to get a table!

No visit to any city is complete without stopping at a vegan bakery, am I right? As far as I could find, this is the only vegan bakery in Bogota! But with the fantastic number of options in the city, I doubt it will be the only one for long.

As soon as you walk in, you’ll be smitten by the bubblegum pink interior decorated with flowers and colorful sprinkles — If you weren’t in a good mood before, you will be now. Every day the dessert case is filled with a mix of must-try donuts like chocolate peanut, passionfruit, Oreo cookie, and it doesn’t stop there! You’ll also find cakes, brownies, a lineup of cute cookie jars filled with all of the favorites, and a separate case with gluten-free options! Phew — that’s a lot of sugar.

So, if you need to balance all that sugar, they have a food menu, too! You can enjoy burgers, pasta, sandwiches, and more. One last thing: another local favorite that you can try here is limonada de coco (coconut lemonade, technically limeaid). Traditionally, it’s made with coconut and cow’s milk; I only found vegan versions at vegan spots. The creamy and tart treat is super delicious. Don’t skip it!