Colombia (Lonely Planet, 5th Edition) - Jens Porup [62]
Cha Cha (Map; 311 257 1972; www.elchacha.com; Carrera 7 No 32-36, piso 41; cover COP$25,000-50,000; 10pm-4am Thu-Sun) Atop the old Hotel Hilton in Chapinero (with sweeping city views), the glitzy Louis XVI–meets-art-deco club brings in fairly casual locals for a mix of DJs spinning various rhythms del noche – rumba, salsa, electronica. And Sunday night is ‘Sungay’ night.
NORTHERN BOGOTÁ
Salomé Pagana (Map; 218 4076; Carrera 14A No 82-16; cover free to COP$15,000; 6pm-3am) For Zona Rosa, it’s a surprisingly divey, red-walled salsateca, run by the gray-haired collector César Pagano, who hits the black-and-white checkered dance floor most weekend nights. A mix of locals come for salsa and son cubano wearing whatever: tennis shoes or high heels.
Gaira Café (Map; 636 2696; Carrera 13 No 96-11; cover after 8pm COP$20,000; 9am-10pm Mon-Wed, 9am-3am Thu-Sat, 9am-6pm Sun) Vallenato legend Carlos Vives’ ultrafun dancehall/restaurant for live vallenato – or modern takes on it. Locals pack in for food and rum drinks, and dance in the tight spaces around tables to an 11-piece band. Cocktails are about COP$15,000, sandwiches and salads from COP$11,000.
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GAY & LESBIAN BOGOTÁ
Bogotá has a large, frequently changing gay scene, mostly centered in Chapinero. Browse www.guiagaycolombia.com/bogota, in Spanish, for more details on dozens of varied clubs and bars, or check online listings from Colombia Diversa (www.colombiadiversa.org), a not-for-profit organization promoting gay and lesbian rights in Colombia.
On a small road (between Carreras 9 and 13) in the heart of Chapinero, Theatron (Map; 249 2092; www.theatrondepelicula.com, in Spanish; Calle 58 No 10-32; cover free to COP$250,000; 9pm-late Thu-Sat) is made from a huge converted film house, with three dance floors (and themes) and various parties. It’s men only at Theatron’s slick annex here Lottus. Outside you’ll see Turkish baths and a ‘hostal.’
There are dozens of bars in the area. LaOficina.com (Map; 249 4948; Calle 59 No 13-22) is a low-key kick-starter bar for late night parties, with no cover and crowds dispersing after midnight. Bianca (Map; 314 5187; Calle 72 No 20-90; 7pm-late Mon-Sat) is a women-only rumba bar.
Meanwhile, Cha Cha hosts a full-on ‘Sungay night’ that benefits Bogotá’s Colombia Diversa organization (cover COP$15,000).
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Vinacure (Map; 255 8355; Av Caracas No 63-52; cover COP$20,000; Wed-Sat) An unreal makeover of a historic theatre, this camp electronica disco has a giant flesh-to-flesh dance floor for fun-seeking bogotanos of all persuasions; all eyes equally fasten onto the red-curtain stage for wild drag queen karaoke shows later on.
Alma (Map; 622 8289; Calle 85 No 12-81; cover COP$20,000; Wed-Sat) Bogotá’s beautiful, snobby, ritzy crowd elbows its way into this new Zona Rosa three-floor club that varies its musical styles – salsa, rock, electronic, funk. Don’t be surprised to be turned away.
El Sitio (Map; 616 7372; www.elsitiobar.com; Carrera 11A No 93B-12; cover from COP$20,000; noon-1am Mon-Tue, noon-3am Wed-Sat) This ultratrendy bar/restaurant off Parque 93 has a large interior and frequent rumba bands.
WESTERN BOGOTÁ
One place in way west Bogotá (about 6km west of La Candelaria) that’s starting to get local attention is the so-called Cuadra Picha (or ‘Rotten Block’; Calle 6 Sur & Carrera 71, near Av 1 de Mayo), a block-plus full of loud, welcoming open-front bars geared for many working-class partiers that’s attracting some Zona Rosa folks. It’s safe, well lit, and you can stroll from one venue to the other as there is no cover charge. Clubs indicate their styles (vallenato, rumba, electronica, Iron Maiden) – not that you won’t hear the blasting music. It’s busiest on weekends, but is open nightly to 5am or 6am.
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Cinemas
Bogotá has dozens of cinemas offering the usual Hollywood fare. Major universities have cineclubes (film clubs)