Anyone who doesn’t like Chilean food won’t give it a chance. Santiago is full of traditional restaurants that have been serving good local food for years and have become part of residents’ daily lives. And, like any good metropolis, the bohemia doesn’t stop there and the coexistence of people from all over the world added some spices to the gastronomic tradition. See now a list of tips for bars and restaurants in Santiago. They are good options for dinner, a drink or trying a different dish that we have collected on our visits to the city.
Read too: Free museums to visit in Santiago
Important tip: Don’t make the mistake of traveling to Chile without travel insurance. Understand the reason and find out how to get discounted insurance.
National Bar
Huerfanos Street, 1151
With a vintage look without being cool and tables that are always full, Bar Nacional is one of the most traditional restaurants in the center of Santiago. Since the 1960s, it has been serving a huge variety of dishes and natural juices, but the specialty there is Chilean low cuisine, such as Lomo a lo Pobre. Dishes can be a little pricey. To save money, look for sandwiches and empanadas. Official site.
The Piojera
Calle Alleviation 1030
Earthquakes ready to be served at Piojera. Photo: (CC)
With the feel of a neighborhood bar, Piojera completed more than a century of tradition in the Santiago nightlife. It was named after former Chilean president Arturo Alessandri Palma exclaimed: “Y a esta piojera me han traído!?”, upon entering the bar. The most famous drink there is almost a tourist attraction in Santiago – the Terremoto, a sweet mix of pineapple ice cream, white wine, fernet and grenadine. Don’t leave without having one, but be careful: the drink has a reputation for knocking a lot of people to the ground. Maybe that’s where the name comes from. Official site.
Barrio Franklin
The region has emerged in recent years as a new hub for popular gastronomy in Santiago. There are several street food stalls and small restaurants serving roasts, sandwiches, juices and empanadas. The neighborhood is still multicultural and you can also find ethnic food, such as Lebanese, Mexican and Thai. Take the opportunity to digest with a stroll through the streets of colorful houses and stop by the Persian markets that sell antiques. See here a complete guide to Barrio Franklin.
The Vega Central
Davila Baeza Street, 700
Also known as “Feria Mapocho”, Vega Central is a market that has been operating on the banks of the Mapocho River since 1916. The specialty there is fruit and fresh food, but you can also find quick and cheap Chilean food, such as sandwiches, empanadas, huaso rolled (a ham sausage often stuffed with vegetables and eggs), cazuelas and Bean and Noodle soup (Bean Soup With Pasta). Official site.
Tirso de Molina Market
700 Artesanos Street, Recoleta
Also located on the banks of the Mapocho River, in the center of Santiago, Tirso Molina is a popular fruit and vegetable market where you can also find a good atmosphere and food from different parts of the world, especially Chilean and other Latin American countries. . Unlike the neighboring Mercado Central, tourism has not yet inflated the place. Therefore, this is a cheaper and more authentic option, with dishes that do not usually cost more than 10 dollars.
Confectionery Torres
Alameda 1570, Downtown Santiago. Los Heroes Metro.
Located just 600 meters from La Moneda Palace, right in the center of Santiago, Confitería Torres is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. And a curious story illustrates its foundation, in 1879: tired of lending his excellent cook to friends and neighbors, a tycoon decided to open a business for his employee. The place has been frequented by important Chilean politicians and artists. An individual dish costs between R$40 and R$50. Read our full review of Confiteria Torres.
Open from Monday to Saturday, from 10am to midnight.
Rincón los Canallas
Tarapacá Street, 810
Current facade of Rincón. Photo: (CC)
During Pinochet’s dictatorship, this bar was a clandestine meeting point for opponents who wanted to break the curfew and continue to be angry and speak ill of the regime, without fear. The name derives from the dictator’s treatment of people against him. At that time, those who frequented the bar avoided saying their real name for fear of reprisals and, as a result, everyone called each other scoundrels. To enter, you also needed to know the password: “Canalla calling a canalla”.
Today, the bar operates at a new address – close to the municipal theater – and no one needs to use code names there anymore, although waiters still call customers names. canallitas, in a good way, of course. The bar continues to offer traditional Chilean food and its walls are covered with notes left by customers. The dominant soundtrack is protest music by Chilean artists. Official site.
Open every day from 10am to 11pm.
La Peña del Nano Parra
80 Ernesto Pinto Lagarrigue Street
In Chilean culture, a peña is a popular meeting place where traditional music from the country can be heard, with lots of dancing and drinking. This peña located in the bohemian neighborhood of Bellavista meets almost all the requirements. But instead of folk music, the sound there is cumbia, a dance rhythm much appreciated among young people in Southern Cone countries, and rock. The place is very cheap and modest: it operates inside a warehouse decorated with graffiti and hosts local bands every weekend. It’s a good choice for those who want to experience Santiago’s nightlife without wasting gallons. Schedule.
