These days I don’t long for a curry quite as much as I did when I arrived in Colombia. What was once a mild obsession has be neutralized by the passage of time and now exists as a mere lingering memory of spicy goodness past.

I also don’t miss sandwiches quite as much, or cheese, or decent wine and beer. I’ve got used to replacing these things with other things that are more local and, therefore, cheaper. It’s a familiar story for any expat, and it’s the sort of thing that can, at times, make you miss home. In Colombia (and especially when you travel to Bogota), however, you might not have to miss out on your home luxuries quite as often as you think. No matter how many arepa stalls are scattered around the city, you can still find a delicious sandwich with a little bit of looking.

Here’s my definitive list of what you’ll miss and where to get it when here in Colombia (mainly Bogota!).

Bread

The most basic of basics but as anyone that has visited Latin America will know, that fluffy, white, cloud-like heavenly loaf of bread you get back home is an elusive commodity here. Step forward:

Crepes & Waffles
You get delicious rolls served with every meal, the Panne Cook is rocking’ and the crepes are delectable.

Archies
Another chain type restaurant, and another place you get good bread on the side.

Carrulla
The big daddy of supermarkets. Great, cheap French baguettes and an assortment of other breads.

Arbol del Pan

My personal favorite and soon to be yours if you live in Chapinero. The best bread and pastries in the city are tucked away on Calle 66 with 4a. Not to be missed, they even have the seal of approval of my French housemates.

Nick’s
The best place in town for a sandwich, no debate (kr 9 with 79a).

Cheese

Love cheese that’s not rubbery, sweaty and tasteless? South America is going to be a tough continent for you. Still, there are possibilities:

Carulla
Again Carulla is a great place to visit for cheese. They’ve got a good, if slightly expensive, selection that even includes English cheddar.

La Hamburgueseria
This might seem an odd selection, but after you try the Blue Cheese burger, you’ll see where I’m coming from.

Casa del Queso

Offering the best selection of cheese in Bogota, Casa de Queso is a must-visit for any fine-dining cheese aficionado. Located in Usaquen, on the Septima with calle 113.

Beer

Beer isn’t exactly a hidden entity in Bogota, but where to get the best beer?

Bogota Beer Company

The daddy of home-brewed beer in Bogota, this place still provides some of the best in the city.

Monkey House
Monkey House (Cll 70 # 9) is one of the best pubs in town, and boasts an enormous selection of beers from all over the world.

Britannia Pub
Run by a Welshman, you might expect this pub to offer some of the best beer in town. And you’d be right. The Sierra del Tigre is one of the best I’ve tried here.

El Monje
Hidden away among otherwise commerical locales in the north is El Monje. Styled like a Swiss Chalet, their selection of beers is as excellent as it is unexpected. Just got to get to Carrera 19 with 106 to find it…

Wine

The Wine Store
One of the best selections of alcohol in the city, undisputedly. This might not be the cheapest place to go, but they’re stocked full of wines and other delicious beverages. They also offer wine tasting every night of the week, great stuff. Cll 81 with 10.

Carulla
Ok, again. It might be obvious but they’re everywhere in the city and the selection is pretty good, so a good option if you’re stuck.

Restaurante Nueve

A restaurant hidden behind closed doors, it’s located on Calle 70a with 10a. Not only does it have a great selection of wine, but also an incredible menu. Highly recommended.

Curry

Curry, it’s been said, makes the world go round. It used to for me, anyway, when I lived in England. Check out the following places for the pick of the bunch in Bogota:

India Gourmet
For a long time the undisputed curry champion in Bogota, it now faces some stiff competition, although India Gourmet will always have the prize location (kr 19b with 92).

Wok

Not for Indian-style curries, but delicious none-the-less. Big, tasty Thai curries that really aren’t very hot at all.

Dhaba
The pick of the bunch for authentic curry, Dhaba (www.dhaba.com.co) is a little difficult to get to (Cll 28 with 24) but completely worth it once you’re there. Delicious curries, cheap beers and an English-speaking owner make me feel right at home.

Any more suggestions? Leave them in the comments or chat with us on Facebook and Twitter!

Paul