The next story in Cafe Chronicles takes place in Café Albahaca is in the Chapinero district of Bogotá and was right around the corner from my apartment. It is an unassuming place under a green awning with a chalkboard sign out front that announces the day’s specials. It was, without a doubt, the best place to get lunch near my apartment. For around $3, you would get soup, meat, rice, vegetable, potato, dessert, and a drink. It really could not be beaten. Even though it was always crowded, the service was always friendly and quick. 
Most of the businesses near the restaurant were places that restored furniture. In Colombia, as well as many parts of Latin America, people don’t really throw things away, or if they do, someone is going to try to restore or repurpose them. In this part of the city, there were a number of small shops that were restoring furniture. On occasion, I would peak inside. They were wonderful artists and would almost always be working on a piece that was absolutely beautiful.
The clientele was an interesting mix. You had a combination of people who were working on the furniture, though not many, and there were people in suits that wandered up from 7th avenue and worked in the banks and businesses there. I think that was one of the things I liked about Café Albahaca. There was always a pretty decent cross-section of the Chapinero area there.
In some ways, it always makes me feel like I’m at home when I find places like Albahaca. Even though I don’t live in Bogotá anymore, I still feel as though it is my second home.
Henry James Morello 