Casa Vieja

Casa Vieja is a long-running Bogotá restaurant chain dedicated to rescuing classic Colombian recipes, with its flagship at Carrera 10 #26-60 in the Centro Internacional, Bogotá, Colombia. The signature dish is ajiaco santafereño, the capital's traditional soup made with three potato varieties, chicken, corn and guascas, served with capers, cream and avocado on the side. The menu also covers other highland classics, including puchero santafereño, sancocho, tamales and sobrebarriga criolla, a slow-cooked beef flank dish. The focus is on generous, home-style portions rather than innovation, so the restaurant works as an introduction to the dishes Bogotá families eat at weekend lunches. Rooms are traditional in decoration, with wood, textiles and Colombian craft objects, and the atmosphere is warm, family-oriented and moderately noisy at busy lunches; dress is casual. Prices are moderate, roughly COP 35,000-70,000 per person (about $11-22), and a bowl of ajiaco is usually enough for a full meal. Service concentrates on lunch, typically 12PM-4PM daily, with dinner at selected branches. Other branches trade in Usaquén, Zona G and on Avenida Jiménez, which makes the restaurant easy to reach whichever part of the city visitors are exploring; the flagship near Carrera 10 suits a day that includes the Museo Nacional, the Parque de la Independencia or the historic centre. Reservations are recommended for groups and Sunday lunch, when local families fill the rooms. Weekday lunches are quieter. Visitors curious about Bogotá's food identity often order ajiaco first and then add a tamal or a plate of sobrebarriga to share. Vegetarians will find limited options because the traditional recipes are meat-centred, and allergies should be mentioned when ordering. Taxis and ride-hailing are simple, and the branches near Avenida Jiménez are close to central sights.