Colombian Chic: Leo Cocina y Cava

Down an unassuming street in the La Macarena neighborhood of Bogotá, Colombia humbly sits one of the city’s sexiest dining spots: Leo Cocina y Cava. It is here that Chef Leonor Espinoza saturates Colombian comfort food – mainly from the coast – with intense doses of creativity to produce fresh, contemporary dishes with a clean presentation and knock-out appeal.

From sea bass wrapped in banana leaves, to whitefish ceviche, to raw tuna encrusted with Santanderean ants – a Colombian speciality – the menu features a plethora of seafood, fabulously executed, justifying why Leo Cocina y Cava is often called one of the world’s 50 best restaurants.

A minimalist design fused with a touch of old-school colonial style in the dining room further accentuates Espinoza’s talent at merging the traditional and the contemporary. And in this small, chic, space, it’s not unlikely to see the Chef herself talking to customers or meticulously adjusting flowers or place settings. Details matter.

So next time you’re in Bogotá, go beyond coffee and chocolate to experience something uniquely – and fabulously – Colombian.

Leo Cocina y Cava
Calle 27 B 6-75
Bogota, Colombia
+57.286.70.91

[First photo via henaoca on Flickr; second courtesy of pat on Flickr.]