Shopping in Bogota can be very frustrating if you don't know where to go. In general, brand name clothing, shoes, cosmetics, and accessories are more expensive here. On the bright side, there are spectacular, local leather goods and jewelry that are very reasonably priced. Here's a selection of our favourite places.
Corner stores (Tienda) and pharmacies (Drogeria). The tiendas and Drogerias are everywhere in Bogota.The great thing about tiendas and drogerias is domicillio. Simply collect the business card or flyer of the store closet to your house or hotel and the next time you find yourself in need of something, ranging from beers to snacks to medication, simply call and wait for front door (or porteria) service! Most stores will go out of there way to find your requested items so calling is generally your best bet. Of course, the only downside is that you need some Spanish to be able to communicate with them.
Fine materials and original, understated design is what Shuk is all about. Visit the website or studio to see these beauties up close. We were blown away by their engagement and wedding collection.
Address: Calle 81A #8-31
Phone: 703 2735
Website: www.marianashuk.com
If you need an inexpensive gift or some thank you cards, check out Juanita Manzana. You can see the products on her website and order them directly to your hotel or wherever you are staying. Very convenient and free.
Phone: 317-647-3306
Website: www.juanitamanzana.com
Right in the heart of the emerald district, this small store located in a jewelry mini-mall offers reasonably priced loose emeralds and ones that are already set. Since emeralds are native to Colombia and there is no fixed emerald price world-wide (like in the case of diamonds), this is definitely the best place to buy!
Address: Centro Comercial La Esmeralda, Calle 12 #5-86/83- Locales 4 and 8, Bogota
Phone: 282-8753 or 286-1339
Alfred Kling is one of the first and most important jeweler in Bogota. We randomly walked in the place, not knowing anything about him and he took the time to sit with us and gave us a 15 minutes crash course on diamonds. So, anyone out there who is looking for an engagement ring for your special one, wedding bands or any other jewelry for special occasions, it's worth the visit. The quality of the product AND service is also worth the price.
Address: Calle 93B # 11A-84 (Centro de Deseno Portobelo)
Phone: 635-5121
Website: http://www.alfredkling.com/
It can seem hard to find pretty and simple jewelry in Bogota. A lot of designers prefer to make big, busy pieces with a lot of colors. Don't get me wrong, some of them are beautiful, but if you are looking for something you can wear everyday and at a great price, this designer won't let you down. Everything is hand-made with high quality silver and can be adjusted to your size within a few day, at no extra cost. The address below is their "Atelier" and if you can make it there it's the best since they have the whole collection. However, you can also find their creations in many stores throughout in the city.
Address: Carrera 2B #66-28, Bogota
Hours: Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Phone: 249-7065 or 235-1874
Website : www.lmcojoyas.com
Cheerful, playful, and dainty jewelry that is locally made. Great for gifts, and you will definitely end up buying something for yourself.
Address: Calle 93B #13-26 and Calle 82 #11-75, Bogota
Phone: 616 1065 or 376 4209
Website: www.mercedessalazar.com
Pure gold and precious stone pre-Colombian jewelry. The prices are high because of the fine materials. We suggest the locations in the Andino Mall and on the corner of Carrera 12 and Calle 84. There website doesn't appear to have been updated in the last few years, but don't let that mislead you. Their collection really is something special.
Address: Centro Comercial Andino (Carrera 12 #84), Bogota
Website: www.galeriacano.com.co
Hojas offers functional and beautiful stationery- from notebooks to folders to boxes. Get organized and stay cute!
Address: Calle 83 #14-31
Phone: 218-4248
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-7pm
Website: www.hojas.com.co
Books, paper, pens, computers- it's kind of tough to categorize Panamericana. Check out their website for a better idea. Panamericana has locations all over the city (and Colombia), so if you go to the puntos de venta tab on top of the homepage you can find the location nearest you.
Address: Carrera 15 #72-14 (with many other locations throughout Bogota)
Phone: 313-1941
Website: www.panamericana.com.co
A big superstore where you can find everything from the latest fashion trend to electronics. When you shop for clothes, it's all separated by brand. The stores are far from the city center, so plan to go with time as you may hit traffic going or coming back from there.
Website: www.falabella.com.co