The city of Bogota is a sophisticated metropolis with a decidedly liberal stance that supports equal rights for LGBTQ people as well as same-sex couples. It’s also a great gay travel destination, with a neighborhood called La Candelaria that’s dotted with more than a dozen gay bars, dance clubs and other places to hang out (including Theatrón, which just happens to be the largest year-round LGBTQ nightclub in the Western Hemisphere).
There are more than just gay bars in Bogota. There are gay restaurants, too. During my most recent visit to Bogota, I visited El Recreo de Adán (which translates, more or less, to “Adam’s Playground”), a casual eatery with two locations in Colombia’s capital: the Zona Rosa, an upscale neighborhood know for its dining and shopping, and Chapinero, the neighborhood with the city’s largest concentration of LGBTQ nightlife. I visited the latter location, which sat on the same block as my Airbnb rental in Bogota.
You can tell this Bogota restaurant is a casual, festive place as soon as you enter.
Colorful and attractive décor includes lots of rainbow colors, and there are even games you can play at your table, including Jenga, Uno and Parcheesi. This place is built for selfies, with caption-bubble signs that say things like “curiosa” and “sexy” that you can hold up over your head.
A personable waiter introduced himself and presented a bunch of coasters, face down, in his hand, asking us to randomly choose one. Mine said “disponible (“available”). The menu is basic (club sandwich, salchipapas, pizza rolls) but the food is decent, and you go to El Recreo more for the fun ambiance than for gourmet cuisine, anyway.
The drink menu for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages is rather creative and extensive, with multiple variations on a chart for each drink (I had a very tasty lemonade, which I chose to be made with “red fruits” and was served in a mason jar glass with a cherry).
This Bogota restaurant offers a variety of promotions and specials every week, including half-price cocktails, wings-and-beer specials on Tuesdays and “nacho Wednesdays,” so be sure to check their Website before you go.
Dinner at El Recreo de Adan can be an ideal way to spend a relaxed evening, or as a starting place before heading out to explore the city’s vibrant nightlife.