Bogotá: 5 Days, 4 Nights, and an Undying Love for Free Breakfast

Listen, I’ve been around the world. I’ve seen things. I’ve eaten at Michelin-starred restaurants where they serve you a single asparagus spear with a micro-dot of aioli and call it a “culinary experience.” But let me tell you, nothing—and I mean nothing—compares to the sheer joy of a free breakfast. And that, my friends, is why I’m giving Hotel Black in Bogotá a solid 4 out of 5 stars. The rooms? Pretty good. The service? Not bad. The free breakfast? Absolutely legendary.

**Not too bad for the price. Open the window for cool breezes and no mosquitoes!**

Day 1: Spirit Airlines and the Great Bogotá Arrival

Ah yes, Spirit Airlines—the great equalizer of mankind. My round-trip ticket from Orlando to Bogotá was a mere $250, a bargain if you enjoy playing luggage Jenga and getting the occasional elbow to the ribcage. After surviving the flight, I landed in El Dorado International Airport, breezed through customs like a pro (aka, I avoided eye contact and prayed no one asked me questions in rapid-fire Spanish), and hopped into an Uber to Hotel Black.

The hotel was $37 a night with taxes and upcharges included, which, if you do the math, is less than what you’d pay for a fleabag motel in the middle of Arkansas. But the real kicker? The rooftop restaurant. The place serves up some of the best budget-friendly meals in the city, but more on that later.

Day 2: Monserrate, Plaza de Bolívar & an Uber Love-Hate Relationship

Woke up, shuffled to the rooftop for breakfast, and immediately understood the meaning of happiness. Fresh pancakes, eggs, sausage, cheese, fruits, and enough bread to build an edible fortress. I ate like I was carbo-loading for a marathon I had no intention of running.

Fueled by free food, I caught an Uber to Monserrate, a mountain with an elevation so high I started reconsidering every bad life decision that led me to this moment. You have two choices here:

Take the cable car like a sane person.
Hike up like a lunatic.

I took the cable car. Even then, reaching the top at over 10,000 feet above sea level made me question my lung capacity. The views? Absolutely stunning. The altitude headache? Less so.

Post-Monserrate, I headed down to Plaza de Bolívar, the historic and political heart of Bogotá. Pigeons outnumber humans here, and if you’ve ever wanted to feel like a Disney princess, bring some corn and get swarmed by them. Or don’t, because birds are bullies.

Day 3: The “Cultural” Experience – Usaquén, Chapinero, and Zona T

The west wall of the hotel rooftop bar for breakfast has a magnificent spread! I didn’t catch all of it, but trust me, it has everything! Rooftop views at Hotel Black while sipping the best-tasting hot chocolate with my breakfast.

After another free breakfast (I was on a first-name basis with the omelet guy at this point), I ventured into Usaquén, a neighborhood that makes you want to quit your job, move to Bogotá, and open a quaint little coffee shop (oh, did I mention, Bogotá is pretty much mosquito free). On Sundays, there’s a flea market that sells everything from handmade crafts to things you’ll buy and immediately regret packing in your suitcase.

Next up: Chapinero. This area is where the cool kids hang out. I stopped at Café Devoción, which served me a coffee so good I briefly considered giving up caffeine entirely because I knew nothing would ever compare.

As night fell, I made my way to Zona T, Bogotá’s nightlife district. I found myself in Andrés DC, a restaurant/bar/insane fever dream of a place where the food is great, the music is loud, and you’ll probably end up dancing with a stranger at some point.

Day 4: Soccer, Street Food, and Shopping

Nothing says “authentic cultural experience” like going to a soccer match at Nemesio Camacho El Campín. The atmosphere was electric, the fans were absolutely unhinged, and I found myself screaming in Spanish despite not knowing half of what I was yelling.

**Dinner at Hotel Black Rooftop restaurant.**

Post-game, I Ubered back to Hotel Black’s rooftop for dinner. The menu had everything from ajiaco (a delicious chicken and potato soup that Bogotá is famous for) to steak with chimichurri for prices that made me question why I pay $30 for a sad burger back home.

Day 5: The Final Breakfast and Uber Ride to the Airport

My last morning in Bogotá started with—say it with me—the free breakfast. I took my time, savoring every bite, knowing that soon I’d be back in the cruel embrace of Spirit Airlines, where not even water is free.

I ordered my final Uber to El Dorado Airport, looking out the window at the city I had come to love in just five days. Bogotá is a place where history meets modernity, where street food is just as exciting as fine dining, and where a hotel’s breakfast can become the highlight of your trip.