How The New W Bogota Is Making Colombia Sizzle

It’s been a few months since the W opened in Bogota’s tony Santa Barbara neighborhood (embassy row) with much ado. The arrival of the W gives the burgeoning city a decidedly sexy destination that serves not only as a hip place for weary travelers to lay their heads, but also a hot spot for the beautiful citizens of Bogota.

As is often the case with W Hotels in whatever city they may be, W Bogota is definitely the place to go—even if you don’t have a room. The action starts at the bar, which is dimly lit and very upscale. Cocktails are of the best ingredients, and there are lots of nooks to get cozy.

The natural progression would be to then head to dinner at MARKET, which boasts one of the best chefs in the city serving up farm-to-table continental fare. Favored dishes include bacon-wrapped Shrimp, house-made pasta with parmesan, and asparagus and fresh mushrooms. Travelers won’t feel guilty opting to eat there a few times during their stay, as MARKET really is a destination.

W makes nightlife easy with Au Room (that’s Au as in the periodic symbol for gold—a theme that runs throughout the hotel—and mineral-rich Colombia). It’s just down a low, winding corridor, meant to evoke a mine shaft, another nod to Colombia’s gold-mining industry. The tiny, opulent club is the perfect to experience high-end international nightlife. It’s all the better if you’re staying at the hotel and can arrive via elevator. Starting around 11pm, well-heeled Colombians start to file in—a decidedly good-looking crew in designer duds in darker hues than you might expect.

When it’s time for bed, be it in one of the W’s regular rooms or a special room like the Extreme Wow suite, it might be time to put on a cozy, emerald green robe from Esteban Cortazar. W has collaborated with the former Ungaro designer to create a sumptuous wearable perfect for Colombia and Bogota’s chilly temperatures.

“I’ve always loved good bath robes, so I knew right away that this would be the special item I would design for W Hotels when they approached me for the collaboration,” explains the designer. “I wanted to create a cozy, deliciously soft and sexy robe in my favorite color—hunter green.” The designer really made it his own by adding his signature screw detail in the form of gold hardware.

After a spot of partying, it’s time to head to a well-appointed room boasting uber-comfy beds and amazing bath and body products from Bliss that make all the difference. Tempting as it may be to stay up all night at Au Room, we recommend getting a good night sleep so you can take advantage of the hotel’s sprawling gym and all that Bogota has to offer in terms of shopping, and dining the next day. Not sure what to do? Give local Bogota’s “W Insider” Jonathan Schmidt a ring—if he hasn’t already called you that is. They’re good like that. Book here. 

And now for our traveler’s pix from the property.