3 Best Bars in Santiago Centro, Santiago

Hidden on a side street downtown, you might be forgiven for thinking that La Chiminea was just a hole in the wall. Besides towering plates of French fries and happy-hour specials, this place has an undying love of all things Chilean, especially cueca. Come here with nothing but a competitive spirit and a hanky, a dance essential. Classes run Monday and Thursday at 8 pm and cost 2,500 pesos.

This classic of Barrio Yungay predates the current immigration of hipsters and the revitalization of the neighborhood. For nearly 70 years, the kitchens have turned out Chilean specialties such as the heavy-hitting chorrillana, a plate of French fries covered in stewed onions and sausage, and topped with a fried egg. They also teach classes in the stompiest style of Chile's national dance, the cueca brava. Classes are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and cost 4,000 pesos. Given the timing, it's best to dance first, then eat.

A secret meeting place during the Pinochet regime, El Rincón de las Canallas still requires a password to get in (it's Chile libre, meaning "free Chile"). The walls are painted with political statements such as "Somos todos inocentes" ("We are all innocent"). It's a two-story affair, with loads of graffiti and business cards on the walls and ceiling.