Santiago Travel Guide

The people of Santiago are very demanding when it comes to eating out. Over the last few years there has been an obvious increase in the city's international restaurants, as well as a return to traditional Chilean food, with European and American influences. The range of restaurants means it is possible to find practically anything you might be in the mood to eat.

The most popular and fashionable restaurants are concentrated in several different sections of Santiago, and for most of these restaurants it is important that you book a reservation in advance, even for a weekday.

If you prefer a quiet and relaxed atmosphere, the Bellavista area is a good place to go. Here, besides many restaurants offering a wide variety of different types of food, there are wonderful cafés, art galleries, discotheques and theatres. It is also a great place to take a walk through its streets of picturesque houses, squares and quaint avenues. This area is very popular among young and slightly older adults, and the fact that it was once the bohemian area par excellence in Santiago is still evident today.

The range of cuisines in this area is wide. If you want to try Peruvian cuisine (highly recommended), places such as Otro Sitio (El) or La Flor de la Canela will not disappoint you. In addition to the exquisite and exotic Peruvian dishes, don't forget to try the famous Peruvian-style cocktail called the Pisco Sour.

If what you are after is fish and seafood, try Azul Profundo on Calle Constitución, where both the atmosphere and the food are excellent and fresh. Todo Fresco, located on Calle López de Bello, is another good seafood restaurant, decorated to make you feel as if you are actually sitting in the lounge of a huge boat at sea.

For Mediterranean cuisine, try Tasca Mediterránea (La). For the best tapas and Spanish ham, try Esquina al Jerez (La).

You may want to leave your options open and try a more international menu, at such places like Sommelier, where you will eat in an elegant setting with piano or violin music to accompany your meal.

Other innovative and original places include Como Agua Para Chocolate (see the novel Like Water for Chocolate, by Laura Esquivel, to get an idea of what you can expect) where you will have the chance to try its exquisite aphrodisiac Mexican menu. Try Etniko for Japanese and Asian food, and San Fruttuoso, offering more than 100 dishes of traditional Italian cuisine.

Providencia is both a residential and shopping area, where you will also find a wide range of restaurants for all tastes and ages. If you happen to be vegetarian try El Huerto, with a delicious and healthy menu including cereal-based dishes, brown rice, and fresh fruit and ingredients. Fancy an Italian meal? Mare Nostrum and Pizza Nostra (La) offer a wide variety of antipasti, pastas and meats. At Mare Nostrum, there is also an excellent choice of Peruvian food (the owner is from this neighbouring country). Puerto Perú also offers an excellent menu that includes Peruvian cuisine and seafood at reasonable prices. If you are into spectacular views, try Giratorio, featuring one of the most spectacular panoramic views of Santiago, as well as an international menu that includes meats, fish and seafood.

Aquí está Coco, up and running for more than 25 years, offers the customer its famous and creative menu of fish and seafood dishes. For varied tastes, try Centre Catalá for innovative Catalonian cuisine, El Pinch of Pancho for American dishes and El Deseo, a new and already very popular restaurant where flavors and culinary styles from all over come together in delectable small dishes.

El Bosque Street is another very popular area among young Chileans and tourists. Situated along this street that is half a kilometer long, are many varied restaurants and bars. It can be rather difficult to choose, given that all of them are tempting and offer excellent food. If you are in the mood for pasta, try Due Torri (Le). If you have never tried Basque cuisine (famous all over Spain and the world for the quality and innovation of its dishes), try Pinpilinpausha, with its classic recipes such as bacalao a la vizcaína (Vizcaya-style cod). One of the best German restaurants is München, with more than 50 years' experience. It is open all day, and offers diners an open-air terrace during the summer. Other places along Calle El Bosque include Pub Licity (both a restaurant and bar), Isla Negra (for typical Chilean fish and seafood) or Hereford Grill, which offers delicious lamb, pork, rabbit and fish.

In the area of Las Condes, Asian food rules in restaurants such as Anakena and Bali Thai, which also features dancing and singing in the evenings. For excellent Chinese food, try Danubio Azul or Chang Cheng.

Finally, in the Vitacura area, you will find many restaurants that are very popular among young people, such as Las Urracas, featuring sumptuous Mexican food and drinks at the bar. Afterwards, why not go to the disco next door to dance the night away to Latin rhythms?

In addition to the fine cuisine in Santiago, it is important to mention Chile's world-famous wines. Highly recommended are the Caliterra Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 1997 and Chardonnay Reserva 1997. Other wines well worth trying are Cánepa Caber al Sauvignon, Blanc, Merlot and Chardarriy, Concha Y Toro, Cousiño Macul, Errázuriz, Miguel Torres, Santa Carolina , Santa Emiliana or Undurraga.

Chile's wines, among the best in the world, are the perfect accompaniment to dishes from all over the world. After all, there is a famous saying in Chile: Guatita llena, corazón contento or full tummy, happy heart.2008-08-02T07:29:22.000 102