99

Mesa Franca

Bogotá

Innovative Colombian cuisine made for sharing

Mesa Franca

On the Pass

Iván Cadena

Leading the pack of hip restauranteurs building a creative food scene in the cool Chapinero neighbourhood, chef Iván Cadena serves small plates of farm-to-table bistro cuisine at this innovative Bogotá eatery. Cadena worked as a sous chef at Lima’s Central restaurant before opening Mesa Franca with sommelier Maria Paula Amador in 2017, and today’s creative menu is inspired by his upbringing on an Arucanian farm: think tender beef heart with horseradish and guava vinegar, goat’s cheese with a sweet apple and sourdough crumble, and braised local mushrooms with a silky potato purée and hazelnut chimichurri.

A highlight is the experimental cocktail menu from Anglo-Polish mixologist Tom Hydzik. Try the Chichiperro Pepino for a refreshing tipple of cucumber extract, mint and chichiperro chilli pepper with mezcal verde.

Contact