Coyhaique
Call it a cultural experience – this classic but windowless eatery gets packed with locals downing seafood plates or steak and eggs.
Must-see restaurants in Chile
Sur Chico
The best beef in the region is further south, but this high-style, two-story steakhouse is the Temuco hot spot for carnivores.
Punta Arenas
Fish and vegetable market with cheap 2nd-floor cocinerías (eateries); a great place for inexpensive seafood dishes.
Concepción
Delicious cakes and gelato, generous salads and sandwiches, classy sidewalk tables on the plaza – need we say more?
Middle Chile
Rich, homey paila marina (seafood stew) is the star attraction at this small, family-run hole-in-the-wall.
Norte Chico
This semi-enclosed food court ringed by small bars and restaurants is a lively choice for inexpensive fare.
Chile
The most distinguished of Valle Nevado’s six restaurants, serving inspired Mediterranean cuisine.
Middle Chile
Beloved no-frills seafood restaurant with a privileged view over Concón and ultra-fresh food.
Norte Grande
Serves up simple hearty meals in two cheerful dining rooms just up the main strip.
Puerto Varas
File under one to watch: this newcomer offers expansive lake and town views from its perch on the southeast end of the costanera and gets high marks for…
The Lakes District
The best of Malcalpué's seafront offerings, this friendly seafooder goes the extra mile – they even shine up the wine bottles – but the food can be hit or…
Santiago
The food is slightly overpriced and service is notoriously slow, but if you can score one of the pretty sidewalk tables on this well-traveled corner, you…
Pucón
This intimate Peruvian restaurant does all the classics and does them well: ceviche (raw fish and onions marinated in citrus juices and spices), tiradito …
Puerto Varas
La Jardinera's eclectic menu is overseen by a friendly Chilean couple and was developed after a five-year London culinary stint. But the restaurant's…
Puerto Varas
This local favorite sums up the hybrid history of the region within its walls: küchen and empanadas, Alpine architecture and Spanish menus, apfelstrudel …
Sur Chico
A blindingly blue chain born in Villarrica, this fabulous gourmet store/ice-cream parlor dares you to walk in without stumbling out in a sugar coma…
Santiago
Retro signs adorn the wood-backed bar at this long-running local favorite, usually packed with noisy but appreciative crowds. It's easy to see why: unlike…
The Lakes District
Paint us unimpressed with Cochamó's most well-known restaurant, which is distinctly hit or miss. The fiery ají verde with the bread service is nice, but…
Santiago
From the chrome counter to the waitstaff of old-timers, this fuente de soda (soda fountain) is as vintage as they come. It has been churning out Chilean…
Chiloé
If you lived in Castro a decade ago, Sacho was the only spot for a cultured meal. While an ever-evolving culinary scene has since emerged around it, this…
Puerto Montt
Emilia-Romagna it ain't, but this long-standing and dependably consistent Italian offers a long list of pizza and pastas from the Motherland. Despite a…
Valparaíso
Don't let the name (or the nondescript entryway) throw you off: just climb the tall stairway into this cheerful, casually elegant restaurant for a…
Chiloé
A long-running standby along the costanera, this welcoming seafooder has been feeding hungry sailors at its red-cothed tables for years. The curanto (CH…
Chiloé
A lovely couple runs what is easily Cucao's best restaurant in town proper, a welcoming spot where everything from the pisco sours to sophisticated…
Santiago
This location of Dominó – a contemporary take on the traditional fuente de soda – is hopping at lunchtime with good-looking young office workers. The cool…
Sur Chico
If you like to mix your drinking with a step-up in food, this dark, candlelit restobar off the beaten path is a good bet. The handwritten menu specializes…
Santiago
An extensive menu of Chilean classics like machas a la parmesana (gratinée razor clams), merluza a la trauca (hake baked in sausage and tomato sauce) and…
Valparaíso
Graffiti covers the walls at this tiny cafe, tucked away down a narrow passageway in El Plan. Forget about menus, there's only one essential dish to try:…
Santiago
The king of Santiago brunching in the late aughts, Café Melba (now a small chain) has long since been eclipsed by tastier and more atmospheric cafes in…
Valparaíso
This sweet cafe and eatery brings some sophistication to a busy central plaza in El Plan. On the menu are savory crepes, pasta and seafood; there's also…
The Lakes District
Across the street from the beach near the carabineros, this reliable seafooder offers a simple menu of the standards – merluza (hake) and salmon various…
Sur Chico
Packed from morning to night, this diner-like hot spot dates from 1972 and has been filling hungry Villarricans ever since. There's pailas (earthenware…
Valparaíso
If it's warm out, sit in the glassed-in patio; if not, head toward the art deco-inspired dining room for warmth, intimacy and elegance. The food is a tad…
Northern Patagonia
In a log cabin of polished cedar trunks, this welcoming restaurant serves up home-cooked meals, though the options are usually limited to what's on hand…
Sur Chico
A friendly spot to fuel up on pizzas (there's a great solo-traveler size) and sandwiches (and the odd trout on occasion); and chase it all down with…
Middle Chile
This cozy, contemporary steakhouse offers friendly service, a fantastic central location, and a menu of gigantic steak platters, cheap wine by the glass…
Santiago
Some of the cheapest meals in town come from the string of food stands that line the Portal Fernández Concha, the arcade along the south side of Plaza de…
Chiloé
This little cafe at Camping y Cabañas del Parque is leased on concession by Conaf and, depending on who is running it, is great for fueling up for a hike…
Coyhaique
Nice for a light bite, this Japanese and Peruvian cafe serves sushi, fusion dishes and cocktails in a modern, minimalist space. Ceviche has ginger…
Puerto Natales
Indulge in the London lounge feel of this chill cafe, one of Natales' first. Offers fresh vegetarian fare (plus vegan, gluten-free), quick food plus…
