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Bars and clubs are scattered all over Santiago, but a handful of streets have such a concentration of establishments that they resemble block parties on Friday and Saturday nights. Pub crawls along Avenida Pío Nono and neighboring streets in Bellavista yield venues aimed at a young crowd (the drinking age is 18). Across the river and further west, Lastarria hosts a busy bar scene. To the east in Providencia, the area around Manuel Montt and Tobalaba metro stations attract a slightly older and better-heeled crowd.
What you should wear depends on your destination. Bellavista has a mix of styles ranging from blue jeans to basic black and, in general, the dress gets smarter the farther east you move, but remains casual.
Note that establishments referred to as "nightclubs" are almost always female strip shows. The signs in the windows usually make it quite clear what goes on inside. The same is true for certain cafés with blacked-out windows, called "cafés con piernas" (literally: coffee with legs).
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.
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