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Vitacura is, without a doubt, the destination for upscale shopping. Lined with designer boutiques with SUVs double-parked out front, Avenida Alonso de Córdova is Santiago's equivalent of Fifth Avenue in New York City or Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles. "Drive" is the important word here, as nobody strolls from place to place. Although buzzing with activity, the streets are strangely empty. Here you'll see names like Emporio Armani, Louis Vuitton, and Hermès. Other shops are found on nearby Avenidas Vitacura and Nueva Costanera.
Providencia, another popular shopping district, has rows of smaller, less luxurious boutiques. Avenida Providencia slices through the neighborhood, branching off for several blocks into the parallel Nueva Providencia. Shops continue east to Tobalaba metro, after which Avenida Providencia changes its name to Avenida Apoquindo and the neighborhood turns into Las Condes. To be on the cutting edge, head south to Avenida Italia (close to Salvador), where there are several blocks of shops stretching south from Bilbao. Converted row houses and workshops have been given over to (mostly) home design stores, cafés, and restaurants with courtyards in back. Girardi street also has several antiques dealers.
Bohemian Bellavista attracts those in search of the perfect thick woolen sweater or the right piece of lapis lazuli jewelry. Santiago Centro is more down to earth, while the Mercado Central just north of Parque Forestal sells ocean-related products, and nearby markets Vega Chica and Vega Central sell cheese, fruit, meat, eggs, vegetables, cleaning supplies, signs, and many other items. Shops are grouped together by type.
Shops in Santiago are generally open weekdays 10–7 and Saturday 10–2. Malls are open daily 10–10.
In the countryside, men often wear texanos (cowboy hats), paños (formal hats), and chupallas (flat-brimmed hats). If you've ever wondered where to buy these proper toppers, head to Donde Golpea El Monito. At this downtown shop, in business for a century, the store's friendly staff shows customers the differences between each hat and how to wear them. Also for sale are spurs, ponchos, and other huaso (Chilean cowboy) essentials.
West of Estación Mapocho and at the end of Avenida Brasil, this complex is filled with antiques dealers. They are used to foreigners coming and poking around, some of whom have been known to fill entire containers with jewelry, chandeliers, ceramics, and crystalware to bring back home.
Take a quick peek across the street to the skate park at Parque de Los Reyes, where some of the best skateboarders in Chile practice on weekends.
Santiago's downtown mall includes sporting goods stores, a food court with fast food restaurants, and public bathrooms. It's close to the Mercado Central and has free Wi-Fi in the rest areas and food court.
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