"Seven decades of Castilian roasting in Bogota: chef Jose Pajares' whole lamb shoulder and suckling pig anchor a deal-making dining room that never chased trends."
About Pájares Salinas
Saturnino Pajares, a Spanish immigrant, opened a small place called Salinas in Bogota in 1953, shopping the La Macarena market each morning. By the 1980s it had moved to Calle 96 as Pajares Salinas and was serving 300 covers a day. It is now run by his son, chef Jose Augusto Pajares, who has held the kitchen for more than two decades.
The restaurant appears on The World's 50 Best Discovery list as a Bogota institution. Where the city's modern flagships — Leo and El Chato — chase new Colombian cooking, Pajares Salinas does the opposite: it keeps a Castilian repertoire exactly as it has been for seventy years.
The Kitchen
The kitchen is built around the oven. The paletilla de cordero — lamb shoulder roasted whole until it falls off the bone — is the house signature, joined by chuletas de cordero (lamb chops seared and fragrant) and a Castilian cochinillo, or roast suckling pig. Iberian classics fill out the rest: snapper a la bilbaina and hake done Basque-style.
Mains land roughly in the COP 60,000-120,000 range, fair for the portions and the address. The cooking is patient and traditional — the point is consistency across decades, not reinvention.
The Room
The dining room is formal in an old-Madrid way: white linen, dark wood, career waiters who have worked the floor for years. It is the kind of quiet, grown-up room where a long lunch and a bottle of Rioja can run well into the afternoon, which is exactly how Bogota's business class has used it for generations.
Best for closing a deal
Pajares Salinas is a deal-closing and client room above all: formal service, a serious wine list and a quiet, traditional setting that signals permanence. It also suits a milestone anniversary for diners who prefer classic over contemporary.
Not for
Not for diners hunting modern Colombian tasting menus or a casual, fast meal — this is a formal, tradition-bound Spanish dining room.
Frequently Asked
How old is Pajares Salinas?
It traces to 1953, when Saturnino Pajares opened a small restaurant called Salinas in Bogota; it has run as Pajares Salinas on Calle 96 since the 1980s.
What is the signature dish at Pajares Salinas?
The paletilla de cordero — a whole lamb shoulder roasted until it falls off the bone — alongside lamb chops and Castilian roast suckling pig.
Who runs the kitchen?
Chef Jose Augusto Pajares, son of the founder, who has led the kitchen for more than twenty years, keeping the Castilian repertoire intact.
How much does Pajares Salinas cost?
Mains run roughly COP 60,000-120,000, with a deep Spanish wine list; it is mid-range for the quality and the Chico address.
Is Pajares Salinas good for business meals?
Yes. Its formal room, attentive service and quiet setting have made it a fixture for Bogota business lunches and client dinners for decades.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Pájares Salinas
Reservations via the Pajares Salinas site or by phone. Long lunches are a house tradition.
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Practical Information
AddressCalle 96 # 10, Bogota
NeighbourhoodChico / Calle 96
CuisineSpanish / Castilian
PriceMains ~COP 60,000-120,000
Dress CodeSmart / formal
SeatingFormal dining rooms
ReservationRecommended, especially for lunch
