Fodor's Expert Review Mercado Central

At the Central Market you'll find a matchless selection of edible products from the sea. Depending on the season, you might see the delicate beaks of picorocos, the world's only edible barnacles; erizos, the prickly-shelled sea urchins; or heaps of giant mussels. If the seafood doesn't capture your interest, the architecture may: the lofty wrought-iron ceiling of the structure, reminiscent of a Victorian train station, was prefabricated in England and erected in Santiago between 1868 and 1872. Diners are regaled by minstrels in the middle of the market, where a few larger restaurants compete for customers. You can also find a cheap meal at the smaller restaurants around the edge of the market.