Santiago Restaurants

  1. 100% Natural

    Green is the theme in this fruity little café. As the name implies, it prides itself on its natural ingredients, and it's a good central fuelling point for juices, salads and sandwiches.

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  2. Akarana

    One of the finest restaurants in Santiago, this softly lit treat was opened by a New Zealander who specializes in cuisine from her own country. It is unpretentious and the dishes are skillfully prepared and presented - and surprisingly inexpensive. Sample the seared Easter Island tuna or succulent lamb fillets.

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  3. Al Buon Amico

    Al Buon Amico styles itself as the most Italian restaurant in Santiago, although the cuisine in this attractive, simple local office-worker favorite is a tad stodgier than momma used to cook. However, the large portions do compensate.

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  4. Ali Baba

    Step out of Bellavista and into bedouin opulence when you dine at this excellent Middle Eastern restaurant. As well as its fantastic decor, it's also famous for its massive tablas (share plates). Feast on the vegetarian set menu, with spinach empanadas, falafels and much more. Music (belly dancing, naturally) goes on at weekends.

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  5. Astrid y Gastón

    Astrid y Gastón is one of the most critically acclaimed restaurants in South America, the offshoot of a successful restaurant of the same name in Lima, Peru. Blending old European influences (Astrid) with South American (Gastón), its exclusive fusion cuisine is among the most refined you will find anywhere, not just in this city. The Patagonian lamb shanks are something to savor and the service is impeccable. Book ahead.

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  6. Azul Profundo

    From the moment you walk under a ship's figurehead above the front door the maritime theme is everywhere - from telescopes and ships' steering wheels to portholes. No prizes for guessing that this long-established restaurant's specialty is seafood, which it does with some aplomb, including grilled octopus prepared Chiloé style.

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  7. Bar Nacional

    Don't be deceived by the unprepossessing exterior - this is no run-of-the mill diner-style fuente del soda . The traditional bow-tied waiters bustle efficiently, carrying national dishes such as pastel de choclo (maize casserole) and grilled fish. Although its reputation means the prices are slightly inflated, it's a lively, colorful place to have lunch and the juices are surprisingly good. A second branch is at Paseo Huérfanos 1151.

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  8. Bar Restaurant de la Unión

    Bar Restaurant de la Unión is an established downtown eatery that is full of bustle, atmosphere, old boy waiters in bow ties and stacks of dusty wine bottles. The meals, although slightly oily, are good-value and heftily proportioned.

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  9. Bravíssimo

    Bravíssimo ice-cream parlor is a favorite sweet-tooth hangout. It dollops out massive sundaes, and there are also cakes, sandwiches and baguettes for the more dentally aware.

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  10. Café Abarzúa

    Café Abarzúa is an industrial-style caffeine joint with waiters in boiler suits and an upstairs section. It includes a simple lunch menu and quality espresso.

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  11. Café Central

    Café Central is an Internet café/bar/food joint that does a great breakfast combo. Providing toasted sandwiches, coffee and a tall glass of freshly-squeezed juice, this is a recommended stop to crank up your day. Beers are also sold.

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  12. Café del Patio

    Locals rave about this cute eatery, which has an exciting vegetarian and seafood menu with large servings. Wok-prepared vegetables mixed with tofu and tomatoes and a hint of almonds are an unusual combination that really works.

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  13. Café Escondido

    Literally 'the hidden café,' Café Escondido really is tucked away in an alcove. Within its welcoming, simple candlelit interior you can get cheap lager and decent snacks - try the canapé de champiñones (mushrooms in garlic sauce).

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  14. Café La Isla

    Known for its decent all-you-can-eat lunch buffets, Café La Isla also has a surprising selection of organic dishes. It's cozy and a bit of a maze - dining rooms just keep appearing off its corridor. The outdoor garden is great in the summer. Good crêpes are inexpensive.

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  15. Café Melba

    Café Melba is a friendly, early-opening New Zealand-owned café that has a big range of North American breakfasts. It gets a gathering of local finance workers for lunch, as well as a steady stream of gringos. Real bacon and eggs are available here!

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  16. Café Normandie

    The waiters may be old-school but the menu is slightly more international in this traditional, varnished-wood, Parisian-style bar-restaurant. Hungry diners could opt for the Fat Boy sandwich - a stack of beef, cheese, tomato and peppers between bread slices. There are other, more civilized options.

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  17. Camino Real

    Few places in the city give as spectacular a vista over the Santiago metropolis as Camino Real. The cuisine isn't bad either (although the view adds a few dollars), but it's the shimmering street lights below that will really grab you during your evening meal. The range of beverages at the adjoining wine bar is excellent. Access is through the Pedro de Valdivia entrance of the Parque Metropolitano.

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  18. Como Agua para Chocolate

    Few can resist the seductive charms of the warm service and the lovingly prepared Mediterranean/Mexican cuisine of this enchanting place, with its terracotta floors and bed-frame tables (yes, really). Let yourself be tempted by the arroz veracruz (Veracruz rice) and shellfish cooked in coconut.

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  19. Confitería Las Torres

    This enchanting old-school bar/restaurant has seen many notables dine in its agreeable surroundings, and has even witnessed the birth of a favorite national dish - former president Barros Luco used to swear by a beef and melted cheese sandwich, the meal that now bears his name throughout the country. More recently, opera singer Placido Domingo discovered the delights of the pisco sour here. It's relatively pricey, but worth every peso. Live tango music is played here on weekends.

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  20. Don Victorino

    The hippest place on the Lastarria strip, Don Victorino is adorned with vivid modernist artwork. There are occasional gaps in the wine list but the culinary specialties from all over South America compensate.

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  21. Donde La Elke

    Donde La Elke is full of rustic charm. The brightly colored cozy café is one of the best value places in Bellavista and includes a set menu every day.

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  22. El Amor Nunca Muere

    Subtle lighting, soft mood music, a warm atmosphere and crêpes to die for draw couples from across the city to this charming bistro. The omelets are also delicious and the relaxed mood ebbs out onto the terrace during the long sunny months.

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  23. El Caramaño

    Just getting into El Caramaño feels like a discovery - you have to ring the bell at an unpromising looking door outside. The walls are covered in graffiti, but higgledy-piggledy charm abounds. Extremely good-value Chilean classics are on the menu.

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  24. El Giratorio

    Spectacular views and a gently revolving dining hall put a different, er, spin on your evening meal here. The Chilean dishes are nothing special and not cheap, but the shifting panorama makes for a memorable romantic tête a tête, particularly at night. Lunchtime set menus include aperitif, drink, main dish, dessert and coffee.

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  25. El Huerto

    This charming locale proves that vegetarian can work in Chile - its inventive menu seduces even the most avowed carnivore. Self-confessed steak fiends may feel the urge to tell complete strangers about the Vegetarian Planet dish (say, spinach fettuccini with tofu cream sauce). A smaller, cheaper menu is available from the adjacent breakfast/lunch take-away Café La Huerta. Cooking lessons are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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