7 Best Restaurants in Southern Chilean Patagonia, Chile

The idea of a "taste of Africa in Patagonia" might sound unusual, but the fusion menu here is well rehearsed and flavor combinations are well-tuned and tasty. With bamboo shoots adorning the walls, you might forget you are in Puerto Natales, but then you'll see the local seafood, Patagonian lamb, and king crab on the menu, presented with enticing ingredients like masala curry, mango, and coconut cream. Top it all off with a Calafate sour.

Named for the grandmother of the chef, who was said to have cooked like a goddess, Damiana Elena is a culinary experience you won't soon forget. Housed in a cozy Victorian home with high ceilings, the restaurant has no fixed menu; instead, the chef cooks eight different dishes each night, and the waiter explains them at your table. Expect to stay awhile as you linger over enormous portions. The culinary delights include exquisitely prepared dishes like pasticciata, a cannelloni au gratin stuffed with spinach and chicken, or, if you're lucky, mouthwatering gnocchi with slow-cooked lamb. 

This place became one of the most popular restaurants in Punta Arenas by adding a French and European twist to typical Chilean seafood and meat dishes. Layered king crab lasagna and guanaco with calafate berry reduction are house favorites, as well as their signature pâté. La Cuisine is small, so it's best to make a reservation in summer.

Just a short distance from downtown, the popular La Marmita is warm and inviting, charmingly decorated with an old kitchen stove, spatulas, whisks, and wooden children's toys from yesteryear. There's often live jazz music, which seems to make menu standouts like charquicán de cochayuyo (pumpkin stew) and guanaco steak even more delicious. To warm the cold Magellanic afternoon, try their legendary caldillo de congrio (conger chowder). From the vegetarian menu consider the zucchini trilogy filled with tomatican, black beans, and quinoa. They also offer several regional beers, Chilean wines, and tasty natural rhubarb and Calafate juices. Don't forget to leave room for dessert: the chocolate pyramid with Calafate mousse is an explosion of sweet flavors. The place fills up, so make sure to book ahead.

This trendy restaurant inside a funky shipping container is almost always packed, and for good reason. Their menu is an ode to the centolla (king crab), the rare, highly prized crustacean which is caught in the frigid, turbulent waters of the region's fjords. The crab legs (served in a delectable sauce of white wine, merkén, and parsley) and the chupe de centolla (savory crab cake cooked with white sauce and cheese) are both outstanding, or you can opt for an entire king crab served cooked in its shell.

An evening dining at the Singular is a quintessential Puerto Natales experience where old-world charm meets modern Chilean cuisine in a stylish and historical setting. Smartly dressed and attentive waiters welcome you with a long list of aperitifs and hand you fur-bound menus that list exquisitely original Patagonian dishes like ceviche of fresh king crab and seafood; guanaco steak with native cracked wheat; and locally caught rabbit with homemade pickles. The historic and handsome setting, along with roaring fireplaces and sultry jazz, make the Singular an unforgettable visit.

An evening dining at the Singular is a quintessential Puerto Natales experience where old-world charm meets modern Chilean cuisine in a stylish and historical setting. Smartly dressed and attentive waiters welcome you with a long list of aperitifs and hand you fur-bound menus that list exquisitely original Patagonian dishes like ceviche of fresh king crab and seafood; guanaco steak with native cracked wheat; and locally caught rabbit with homemade pickles. The historic and handsome setting, along with roaring fireplaces and sultry jazz, make the Singular an unforgettable visit.