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Restaurants Overview

Santiago can be overwhelming when it comes to dining, as hundreds of restaurants are strewn about the city. No matter what strikes your fancy, there are likely to be half a dozen eateries within easy walking distance. Tempted to taste hearty Chilean fare? Pull up a stool at one of the counters at Vega Central and enjoy a traditional pastel de choclo. Craving seafood? Head to the Mercado Central, where you can choose from the fresh fish brought in that morning. Want a memorable meal? Trendy new restaurants are opening every day in neighborhoods like Bellavista, where hip Santiaguinos come to check out the latest hot spots.

In the neighborhood of Vitacura, a 15-20 minute taxi ride from the city center, a complex of restaurants called Borde Río attracts an upscale crowd. El Bosque, an area along Avenida El Bosque Norte and Avenida Isidora Goyenechea in Las Condes, has a cluster of restaurants and cafés. The emphasis is on creative cuisine, so you'll often be treated to familiar favorites with a Chilean twist. This is one of the few neighborhoods where you can stroll from restaurant to restaurant until you find exactly what you want.

One of the most pleasing aspects of the city's dining scene is the relatively low price of a fine meal. It's difficult to find an entrée in the city that tops $15. And many who assume that the best vintages have been exported are pleasantly surprised by extensive wine lists with good prices.

Remember that Santiaguinos dine a little later than the rest of us. Most fancier restaurants don't open for lunch until 1. (You may startle the cleaning staff if you rattle the doors at noon.) Dinner begins at 7:30 or 8, although most places don't get crowded until after 9. Many eateries close for a few hours before dinner.