Mesa Franca
Colombia
Mesa Franca is a restaurant and bar in Bogotá’s Chapinero district, where chef Iván Cadena explores Colombian Creole, mixed and Indigenous culinary traditions. The current house on Calle 61 centres on a wood fire, used to bring smoke and warmth into both the cooking and the dining space. The bar is integral to the concept. Tom Hydzik develops cocktails around local flavours and traditional drinks, including viche from Colombia’s Pacific coast, while María Paula Amador directs the service. Founded together in 2016, the partners connect their kitchen to responsible national producers. The restaurant’s name recalls a generous family table beneath a mango tree in Tame, Arauca, a gathering place that informs its relaxed approach to hospitality.