Six hundred meters separate the Palacio de La Moneda, seat of the presidency of Chile, from Confitería Torres, one of the oldest restaurants in Santiago. Founded in 1879, Confitería emerged for a reason at least unusual: the cook of a wealthy family of Santiago was so good, but so good, that his boss tired of lending services to his neighbors. He decided to open a business for the cook.
All right! Thus was born one of the most traditional addresses for the indleance in Chile. The central location and, of course, the food, soon began to attract important people. Even some presidents of the country, who became local visitors – the Confitería even has a wall with only portraits of former presidents who ate there.
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One of the most famous of them was Arturo Alessandri Palma, who was president on two occasions in the 1920s and 1930s. He used to leave the Palace and walk to the Confitería, always accompanied by Ulk, a German dogue. Until Confería regulars thought it would be funny to take another German war to meet the presidential dog. The result? Fierce fighting between the two dogs, which have only been separated with buckets and buckets of water, leaving everyone (including the president) wet.
Do you think it’s over? Another presidential gossip involves Ramón Barros Luco, president between 1910 and 1915. He always asked for the same dish: a simple bread with cheese and meat. The cook became so accustomed to the presidential desire that he added the item to the menu. Today, Barros Luco, in addition to the name of a former president of Chile, also christizes one of the most popular snacks in the country.
The presidential tradition doesn’t stop there. The Confitería Torres changed ownership and was completely renovated, gaining a kind of basement. Today, it is there that politicians, artists and important people usually meet. “The vice president was here last week,” one of the restaurant said during our visit to the venue.
But what about the food?
Okay, by then you already understood that this restaurant is full of history, a kind of Café Tortoni of Santiago, although the atmosphere of the restaurant, even because of the renovation, is not as great as the brother I have. But what about the food? Is it good?
I was there at the end of March, during a blogtrip in Chile, at the invitation of Valle Nevado. It was my first meal in Santiago – we stopped there as soon as we got from the airport. And I liked it a lot, mainly because the specialty of Confitería Torres is Chilean food. For you to have an idea, here’s how my lunch was there: oysters with cheese (it’s very good!), salmon and a dessert sorvetaço. To drink, the preference (not only mine, but of almost everyone who was there) was the raspberry juice. And some more things. “Ill with you to the “a” from the “Ill of the “Ill of the “Cermpts” of the “Cermpts” of the “Cermpts.a “Cermpts”””””””””””
How much does it cost? The main course is between 40 and 50 reais, starters and desserts come out for something around R $ 15, which leaves the final bill with something between 80 and 90 reais per person, depending on the so much you eat and drink, of course. A good option for those looking for good restaurants, but with prices that still enter the pocket.
Service: Confitería Torres
Alameda 1570, Downtown Santiago.
Los Heroes Metro Station.
Open Monday to Saturday, from 10am to 00h
Recently Confitería opened branches in the Palacio de la Moneda (it’ll be seen to better serve the president) and Plaza Peru.
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