On the way back from Suesca a few weeks ago, John and I decided to try a pet-friendly restaurant outside of Guasca that we’d heard great things about.
It was close enough to where we were and where we were going. Also, it was apparently very pet-friendly, and the food was all meant to be out of this world. Really, what more could you ask for?
Once we’d packed up the car after an eventful night camping near Suesca, we buckled up for our return to Bogotá. However, we now had one very important stop: Café La Huerta, located just outside of Guasca.
Driving to Café La Huerta in Guasca, Cundinamarca
Getting to Café La Huerta in Guasca was pretty straightforward, even from Suesca. We used Google Maps to get there easily. Just add the name of the restaurant into the search bar and it will come up. You’ll go past Sesquilé and Guatavita – check out the incredible views of the Embalse de Tominé – and around Guasca town to find the finca where the restaurant is located.
The restaurant itself is outside of town, down a dusty dirt path that seems never-ending. Don’t worry though, you’ll be rewarded with some pretty delicious food once you get there.
The drive took about 1.5 hours. We made the most of our time by pinning new campsites and other restaurants we wanted to check out. More on that coming up soon, hopefully!
How pet-friendly is Café La Huerta restaurant?
Café La Huerta is one of the most pet-friendly restaurants we’ve visited recently. Most of the tables had a pup by their side or around them. It was also common to see picture-perfect pups posed around the garden while their moms snapped away.
Mamba was given a fresh bowl of water – which she reluctantly drank, as usual – and a few pats from passerby diners and waiters who marveled at how well-behaved she was in spite of the food constantly passing her by.
All in all, we’d say Café La Huerta is the perfect pet-friendly restaurant for a day outside of Bogotá. With enough green spaces for the pups to wander around without necessarily disturbing other diners, the restaurant caters to everyone of every species.
What to eat at Café La Huerta
As first-timers, we spoke to the waiter for a bit about what we should order. He didn’t disappoint with his recommendations. The waiter mentioned that the restaurant is well-known for its dishes that contain cheese: that’s their specialty. Being the people we are, John and I decided it’d be a crime not to try these famed cheese dishes.
The restaurant started us off with a fluffy “Pan de Sartén” – on the house. This is their version of “grandma’s cornbread” and it was the perfect appetizer. Then, per the waiter’s recommendation, we also ordered the pulled pork (13,500 COP or 4 USD).
If John and I had to choose, we’d probably say that was the best meal we’ve ever had. The pork was perfectly seasoned and came with slices of what can only be described as the best sourdough bread ever. Once we’d tasted that dish, we knew the rest of the experience had to be just as good, if not better.
As our mains, John ordered the “Pechua 7 Quesos” (39,500 COP or 11 USD) and I ordered the “Lomo Azul” (49,500 COP or 14 USD). Both were equally delicious – although we later discussed that nothing could top the pulled park – but I’d have to say my beef was the better choice of the two.
To drink, we ordered two lemonades: fresa and mango biche (7,500 COP or 2 USD).
After reading the reviews, it’s also very clear that the pasta is one of the top dishes to eat at Café La Huerta. Again, anything with cheese is their specialty, so I’m sure the creamy pasta dishes won’t disappoint the vegetarian crowd.
Final thoughts on Café La Huerta
Overall, we had a great experience at Café La Huerta. It met all of our expectations of what a pet-friendly restaurant should be: there was enough grassy space for Mamba to walk around and sniff, the staff was accommodating to her needs, and the atmosphere could not have been better.
There was also a bit of live music for the first 20 minutes or so we were at the table. The atmosphere felt quite fresh and you had all sorts of people there: from larger family groups with children to couples dressed to a T, motorbike drivers, cyclists making a quick stop, and IG-crazed dog moms (me!) finding the perfect spot for an impromptu photo shoot.
Plus, after our campsite dinner and breakfast, we felt it was much-needed to treat ourselves to something a little nicer than our usual pollería pitstop on the way back into town.
