174 Best Restaurants in Chile

Serving traditional Chilean cuisine with a contemporary touch, Café Vinilo prides itself on making its own bread and desserts. They also work directly with their food suppliers, so you can rest assured the rock fish ceviche on your plate was likely caught that same morning by a diver in Quintero, an hour's drive north along the coast. Wind down and settle in to your meal with great jazz, then check out the upstairs art gallery or adjacent boutique with upcycled clothes.

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.

A bit off-the-beaten path, but only about a 10-minute walk from the center of town, this is an excellent nautical-chic café. The tasty, feel-good food prepared lovingly by the marine biologist owners, Francisco and Nuriys, is well worth the effort to get there. Good music and a maritime vibe provide the backdrop as you chow on a plethora of sea dwellers, which is their specialty. You'll also find lamb and other meats on the contemporary menu. Add organic wine, homemade waffles, and nice loose leaf teas, and you are onto a winner.

Surrounded by vineyards, this ever-popular restaurant is a countryside culinary experience serving contemporary Chilean cuisine that celebrates native ingredients: seaweed ceviche, scallop and quinoa risotto, and carne mechada (pulled beef) among them. There's inside seating in a cozy country home, but most diners choose to take advantage of the clement Colchagua weather and the vineyard view from the garden.

This cozy "dumpling house" near the Museo a Cielo Abierto is a soothing oasis of tranquil music, woodsy vibes and excellent Asian street food. It's a great alternative to all the seafood and sandwich restaurants nearby with a completely different menu and aesthetic.

This eccentric restaurant is a Valparaíso institution thanks to its legendary status for inventing the chorillana (thinly sliced beef with fried onions and eggs served atop French fries), a dish that is meant to be eaten communally. There's no menu—choose either a plate of chorillana for two or three, or carne mechada (stewed beef) with a side of French fries, rice, or tomato salad. Glass cases filled with dusty trinkets surround tables covered with plastic cloths in a cramped, dark dining room. You may have to share a table. The restaurant is at the end of a bleak corridor off Calle Condell.

This wonderful café and restaurant is dessert heaven, with assorted pastries baked fresh every day, chocolates galore, and an excellent selection of ice cream. The restaurant also has a varied menu of sandwiches, pizza, and more, and an extensive wine list. In summer, sit at one of the tables outside on the sidewalk. 

French fare is on the menu at this spacious national heritage converted castle with a turret room and gorgeous terrace. At lunch, sample the set brasserie menu with seafood tartare and duck, or for something lighter and also less expensive, try a turkey club or Mediterranean sandwich on focaccia with fresh Chilean mozzarella. It attracts a well-heeled clientele, so you'll want to make a reservation.

While you may not have come to San Pedro to eat pizza, this busy joint serves respectable thin-crust pies. The restaurant itself is not classy, but if you’re looking for a bit of home comfort or takeout for your hotel patio, Charrua is the place. Note that they don't have an alcohol license, but service is speedy and friendly.

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.

One of the German clubs that dot the Lake District, Alemán serves up ample portions alongside prompt service. This is the perfect spot to try Germanic pork and sauerkraut dishes. Open every day, most regulars opt for one of their four or five rotating prix-fixe menus often featuring steak and salmon with soup, salad, and dessert. Don't forget the küchen cake.

Located away from the center of the city, this seafood restaurant treats you to views of Playa Cavancha. Try the sole in Cleopatra sauce, with shrimp, capers, and olive oil; the Thai-style sautéed shrimp; or the paella for two, served by friendly bow-tied waiters.

One of the most traditional restaurants in town, the social club specializes in simple, hearty Chilean fare like conejo guisada (rabbit stew) and arrollado (rolled roast pork). In summer, the courtyard fills with locals lunching under the shady pergola.

Coffee and homemade pastries are the specialties of this café, but old-school (and big) sandwiches, excellent hot dogs, ice cream, and other simple dishes are also available. A classic stop in Temuco since the 1940s, it seems the whole town stops by for a quick lunch during the week, among the clattering of dishes and the army of waitstaff maneuvering their way around the tables.

Organic, fresh, regional produce stars in the indulgent Chilean-international fusion dishes at DaGus Restaurant. The menu is constantly changing, but standouts include pasta dishes and sandwiches like the "Terrible Pollo," a large grilled chicken affair with pesto, tomato, arugula, olives, and melted cheese. 

Owner Carmen has managed to attract locals and tourists alike with her immensely popular restaurant that serves affordable, typically Chilean home-style dishes, ranging from soups and stews to roast meats and fish. Warm bread is served with a killer pebre (spicy salsa), and the lunch specials are the best value in San Pedro.

Just outside of Vicuña is the small settlement of Villa Seca that has attracted attention in Chile due to their use of solar-powered ovens. Delicias del Sol is one such restaurant serving Chilean-style lunches and desserts all cooked outside beneath the sun's rays. While the meals themselves can be a bit hit-or-miss, it's a worthwhile experience see how Chile is embracing the region's overabundance of sun in eco-friendly ways. Desserts are especially good here. Try the ice-cold papayas in their juice, leche asada (a roasted and toasted milk flan) and the ultra-Chilean classic mote con huesillo (dried peaches cooked in sugar, water, and cinnamon with husked wheat).

This long-running bakery on the road up to Cerro Alegre prepares more than 80 different varieties of empanadas, including surprising combos like cheese, salmon, and capers or cheese, mango, and pineapple. The dough is crispy, the service is friendly, and the line out front moves fast.

Small sharing plates with Asian flair plus a fantastic cocktail list make for a fun and tasty experience at Demencia. Chef Benja Nast plays with colors and flavors (think: scallops in a fresh herb salsa with a chili pepper kick). Sister project to the fine dining restaurant De Patio upstairs, the restaurant's location on the main avenue means it can be noisy, but the music covers much of the traffic.

A Chilean institution, this 70-year-old fast-food chain is impeccably clean, and the service is fast and friendly. It's the place to try an Italiano (a hot dog with tomatoes and avocado) or chacarero (hot dog or beef sandwich with green beans, tomato, and chili pepper). Order a jugo de chirimoya (custard apple juice) with your hot dog and take a seat at the bar.

The most happening spot on the waterfront, this sprawling restaurant serves fresh seafood, pizzas, and shared plates of various European-inspired cuisine. It also transforms into a great spot to enjoy a few drinks, regular live music, and DJ events.

This rotisserie restaurant prepares some of the best roasted chicken in Chile—a good thing, because it's the only item on the menu. The thatched-roof terrace is a great place to kick back after a long day of sightseeing. Known for: chicken, fast service.

Popular with locals, this rustic restaurant is housed in a building from 1840 and today serves delicious Chilean food. The early republic-themed decor and waiters clad in the traditional garb of the Chilean cowboy, or huaso, narrowly avoid coming off as contrived, but ultimately present a fitting backdrop for the plethora of hearty local fare. With its several intimate dining areas off the main salon and good selection of wines from the nearby Elqui Valley, this is a good place to enjoy a romantic, candlelit meal. 

Homemade sandwiches and pizza anchor the diverse menu at this favorite local hangout. Try the "El Gordito," an oversize steak sandwich with lettuce, guacamole, egg, and French fries. The friendly owners also serve up a mouth-watering pizza according to your preference (you choose the four ingredients).

Located inside a former gas station, this restaurant has seafood, Chilean classics, and pizza on the menu. While the overall experience here can be hit-or-miss, Drive In remains one of the more popular lunch and dinner spots for Copiapó locals.

The place to get comfort food, this lively restaurant has outdoor seating and is open from 1 pm until late in the evening. Rock music blares; the stars shine above; and the steak sandwiches, hamburgers, burritos, and quesadillas hit the spot. 

This waterfront restaurant is the place to eat in Quemchi. They have an ample menu, but it's the dozen types of empanadas—filled with beef, cheese, clams, salmon, or crab meat, to name a few—that impress most.

Standard Chilean fish and seafood plates are the main dishes to try at this favorite stop for travelers going through Quellón. The service is friendly; plus, getting here includes a nice walk along the waterfront. Order a schop (draft beer) to wash it all down. 

Just off the main square is this popular restaurant that serves delicious lunches and early evening meals, including meat entrées, pizzas, and vegetarian options. Be sure to try the costillar de cerdo al horno (pork ribs), and if you can, nab a table in the pleasant courtyard with its excellent view of the surrounding hills. Prices are reasonable, service is good, and there is an impressive wine list.

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.