La Octava
La Octava is a craft cocktail bar on Circular 1 in Laureles, tucked into a small ground-floor space that seats about 35 people. The interior is deliberately moody: dim pendant lights, a dark wood bar counter, exposed brick, and shelves lined with spirits. The cocktail menu rotates seasonally and draws on Colombian ingredients. Aguardiente, Colombian rum, tropical fruits, and local herbs show up in drinks that feel inventive without being gimmicky. The bartenders are skilled and happy to discuss the menu or make something off-list based on your preferences. The pace is slow and intentional, a cocktail bar in the proper sense rather than a place to pound drinks before heading to a club. The crowd is Colombian professionals and the growing Laureles expat community, mostly in their late 20s to 40s. Weeknights are quiet and conversational. Friday and Saturday bring a wait for the handful of tables.
Where to stay near La Octava
Hotels and rentals within walking distance.
What to Expect
A quiet, dimly lit cocktail bar where the bartenders take their craft seriously. Conversation flows easily at the bar counter. The space is small enough that it feels full with 20 people.
Intimate, warm, and unhurried. It feels like a secret that the neighborhood hasn't fully discovered yet.
Jazz, soul, and lo-fi at low volume. The music complements rather than competes.
Casual but put-together. The crowd dresses a notch above the typical La 70 bar.
Cocktail enthusiasts, date nights, and anyone who prefers conversation-friendly drinking.
Cash and cards accepted. Nequi payments available.
Price Range
Cocktail 25,000-35,000 COP, beer 12,000-15,000 COP, non-alcoholic drinks 15,000-20,000 COP
Cocktail ~$6.25-8.75/~5.70-8 EUR, beer ~$3-3.75/~2.75-3.40 EUR
Hours
18:00-00:00 Tue-Thu, 18:00-01:00 Fri-Sat, closed Sun-Mon
Insider Tip
Ask the bartender to recommend something based on your spirit preference. They take pride in customizing drinks. Arrive before 20:00 on weekends for a table. The aguardiente sour is a house favorite.
Full Review
La Octava stands out in Laureles because it's doing something different from the aguardiente-and-beer formula that dominates La 70. The cocktail program takes Colombian ingredients seriously, and the results are drinks that taste rooted in place rather than copied from a Brooklyn bar manual.
The aguardiente sour is a good starting point. It treats Colombia's national spirit with the same respect a Peruvian bar gives pisco, and the result is a balanced, citrus-forward drink that converts even people who think they don't like aguardiente. The seasonal menu changes every few months but consistently features tropical fruits and local herbs in combinations that work.
The space is small, which is both the charm and the limitation. On a Tuesday night, you can sit at the bar, chat with the bartender, and work through the menu at your own pace. On a Friday, the same 35 seats fill by 9 PM, and you're standing near the door waiting for a spot. There's no overflow seating and no outdoor space, so timing matters.
Pricing sits between the cheap La 70 bars and the premium El Poblado lounges. At 25,000-35,000 COP per cocktail, you're paying a fair premium for the quality and the attention. Beer drinkers can still get a craft option for 12,000-15,000 COP. The value proposition is strong compared to similar bars in Poblado charging 40,000+ COP.
The Neighborhood
On Circular 1, one block south of the main La 70 strip. The surrounding area has restaurants and smaller bars, with the main nightlife corridor a short walk away.
Getting There
A 5-minute walk from La 70. Uber from El Poblado runs 15,000-20,000 COP. Estadio metro station is about 12 minutes on foot.
Other Venues in Laureles / La 70
Son Havana
Salsa bar and dance club on the La 70 strip with live bands on weekends. Popular with local salsa dancers. A good place to practice if you know the basics.
Bendito Seas
Casual neighborhood bar on Carrera 70 with cheap aguardiente and beer. A local favorite for pre-gaming before hitting the bigger venues on the strip.
La Tienda del Gordo
No-frills corner spot that's become a Laureles institution. Cheap drinks, plastic chairs on the sidewalk, and a genuine barrio atmosphere free of tourist markup.
El Social
Craft beer bar and casual hangout on La 70 attracting a younger professional crowd. More curated than the typical corner tienda, with Colombian microbrews on tap.
Panorama Rooftop
Rooftop bar with views across the Laureles rooftops. Cocktails and house music on weekends, more relaxed midweek. A step up from the street-level beer spots.
El Tibiri
Classic salsa club on La 70 with live orchestras on weekends. The dance floor fills with serious salseros and the energy is authentic, not performative.