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Just outside of Bogotá in the town of Chía, there’s a great place to go have an enjoyable dinner – the famous Colombian steakhouse Andrés Carne de Res. With odd decorations on every inch of the walls and ceilings, an enthusiastic and fun staff, and loud music and dancing, this place is a spectacle in itself.
The Menu
The food is a bit expensive and slightly above average but you’re guaranteed a good time. The menu is 62 pages long and has seemingly endless choices, but the most popular are the meats.
On my first visit in April 2015 I had a decent ribeye steak. The flavor was there but it was a bit tough. I also asked for it rare and it came out medium-well.
On my second visit in March 2018, I had a t-bone cooked rare to perfection while Marisol had a filet mignon. Both steaks came with an arepa and choice of potato.
Important Info
On Friday nights, the restaurant charges a cover whether you’re there for the party or just having dinner. On Saturdays, the cover is even higher. Many come dressed to impress and others are in casual clothes. Anyone under 18 is not admitted after 5:30pm.
Getting There
To get to Chía from Bogotá, take the Transmilenio to Portal del Norte and jump on a bus labeled for either town. To and from Chía, it’s just under a half hour.
It’s also possible to visit the restaurant on a day trip from Zipaquirá. From Zipa to Chía, the ride takes about 30 minutes. If eating at Andrés Carne de Res, the bus can drop you off right in front of the restaurant if you ask.
Keep note that the last bus from Chía to Bogotá leaves at 9:30pm, otherwise its an expensive taxi ride back to the city. Ask the parking attendant to call you a taxi to the bus stop – the walk isn’t very safe.
If you’re driving, there’s a parking lot across the street .
Hotel Puerto Madero
If you need a place to stay instead of going back to Bogotá for the night, I can sort of recommend Hotel Puerto Madero. It’s in a quiet neighborhood and features spacious rooms with modern amenities. Although we didn’t stay there after a night at Andrés, it made for a good overnight stop on a long drive home.
There were a few problems, however. First of all, we weren’t happy with the plastic liner under the sheets. Secondly, there were spots on the blanket, which probably explains the necessity for a plastic liner. Thirdly, they only put one towel in the bathroom even though we had booked for two. We didn’t realize this until the morning when we were getting ready to shower. Finally, the room was ice cold and there was no heating and not enough blankets. I guess I should also mention that the bed was quite small for two.
On a positive note, other than the spots on the blanket, the room was very clean. Staff was also very helpful. They ordered a pizza from Archies, a chain restaurant that happened to serve one of the best pizzas I’ve had in Colombia. Unfortunately, we had to leave too early to try the complimentary breakfast.
Branch in Bogotá
There’s also an Andrés Carne de Res in Bogotá. We didn’t visit. We were told the original in Chía was the best one to experience.
