7 Best Restaurants in Puerto Montt, The Lake District

The older of Cotelé's two locations in the city (the other is at Rengifo 867), this restaurant has the look and feel of a typical quincho (barbecue), with wooden walls and tables with the grill in the middle. Here, it is strictly about meticulously preparing the best possible steaks. The waiter takes your order by showing you cuts of raw meat and asking you to choose from either a tender fillet, sirloin, or rib-eye steak. While you munch on a delicious sopaipillas con pebre (fried bread) and sip your pisco sour or red wine, the meat is cooked on a grill in front of you and then served with salad and potatoes. The result is a steak of world-class distinction.

Founded in 1973, this Chilean-German seafood restaurant is located on the coast about 15 minutes west of Puerto Montt and is considered an institution in the area. The interesting decor and sea views are nice, but it's the beautifully prepared seafood and, in particular, the curanto that draws crowds. Fresh produce from the well-kept garden further makes lunch here a delight. Tour groups frequently fill the restaurant in summer, so reserve ahead.

This Italian restaurant has good pizza, but they're best known for their creative pastas. The restaurant is housed in a modest blue building, with a rustic wooden interior and informal atmosphere. They also serve some fish plates.

More than a dozen small kitchens and eateries at this enclosed market 3 km (2 miles) west of Puerto Montt along the coast road prepare southern Chilean seafood favorites like curanto, a potpourri of shellfish, meat, and potatoes, and paila marina, a hearty seafood stew with mainly shellfish. Each kitchen has separate tables and counters. Don't expect set hours, but most open around 11 am for lunch and serve for about three hours. Every day in the January–March high season, they reopen from 6 to 9 for dinner. The rest of the year, most of the kitchens close some days of the week. In the same complex is a colorful fish market and stores selling local handicrafts.

Nestled on a steep hill in a nondescript neighborhood, the decor here is no frills, but the view of the city is spectacular and the food is some of the best in Puerto Montt. They offer daily set menus for 12,000 pesos, including an appetizer, drink, and dessert. The gourmet fare changes daily, but like its namesake, its almost always somewhat spicy, and includes meat, fish, and seafood options.

If you need a change of pace from the ubiquitous seafood in Puerto Montt, this is a great option. Roast-beef plates, roasted ribs, chicken, and steaks are all great. Service is friendly, but be aware that it is normally packed on weekends.

A mom and pop–type restaurant you won't soon forget, this simply adorned restaurant makes you feel right at home. Seemingly everything on their varied, unique Chilean menu, from seafood to beef to chicken, looks and tastes delicious. The place is often packed, so making a reservation is advised.