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Restaurants in Santiago

Santiago has never had the reputation of the cuisine that Buenos Aires enjoyed for example, but that’s unfair. And for travellers who come from Argentina across the border, the addition of superb seafood will be welcomed. One of the main attractions in Santiago is the fish market where restaurants jostle for business – it’s touristy, sure, but great fun. Elsewhere, try the hearty Andean fare from restaurants representing the northern and central Chilean regions. All washed down with the excellent Chilean wines of course.

The Santiago restaurants below have been hand-picked by our guide author and are grouped into three pricing categories:

Expensive (over £30) Moderate (£20 to £30) Cheap (up to £20)

These Santiago restaurant prices are for a three-course meal for one, including half a bottle of house wine or equivalent, tax and service. A service charge of 12.5% will be added to your bill in most restaurants. If service is not included, 10% tipping is customary.

Expensive

Boragó

Cuisine: Modern Chilean, molecular gastronomy

There is, quite simple, nowhere else like Boragó in Chile. This is the Fat Duck of Chile. They only serve eight plates ('The Heart of Chile') which are as artistic as food gets – in fact they are quite unbelievable. Inventive and spectacularly avant-garde, but style isn't at the expense of substance; this is serious food with Chilean flavours and Mapuche cooking techniques at its core. Chef Rodolfo Guzman is quite probably Chile's best chef.

Address: , Avenida Nueva Costanera 3467, Santiago,
Telephone: +562 2953 8893.
Website: http://www.borago.cl

Etniko

Cuisine: Japanese

This hip Japanese restaurant is impeccably furnished and attracts a young, wealthy crowd. The ambient music adds to the calm, relaxed atmosphere at Etniko, which serves ultra-fresh sushi and stir-fry dishes, with some international choices. This place is so cool that it doesn't even need a sign above the door.

Address: , Constitución 172, Santiago,
Telephone: +562 7320 119.
Website: http://www.etniko.cl

Mestizo

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Taking on a modernist design from national architect Smiljan Radić, Mestizo gives a particularly breathtaking view out over Vitacura's Bicentennial Park, which on a clear day will definitely have you staying for another course. With an emphasis on fish, the menu has a distinctly Mediterranean influence. Al fresco dining is possible, although temperatures drop dramatically at night, even in the summer.

Address: Vitacura, Avenida Bicentenario 4050, Santiago,
Telephone: +569 7477 6093.
Website: http://www.mestizorestaurant.cl

Moderate

Bocanariz

Cuisine: Chilean

Wine enthusiast will feel right at home in Bocanari's cellar, stocked high with more than 300 bottles. Their wine pairing menu proves great value for anyone visiting with even an amateur interest in the tinto. Making reservations ahead of time is recommended.

Address: , Bellavista 052 Local 94, Santiago,
Telephone: +56 2732 4939.
Website: http://www.bocanariz.cl

Chipe Libre - Republica Independiente del Pisco

Cuisine: Peruvian / Chilean

Serving up a fusion of Peruvian and Chilean cuisine, this lively downtown restaurant is a hit with families and young santiaguinos. For a digestif, the cocktail menu revolves around pisco, a form of brandy from - you guessed it - Peru and Chile.

Address: , Jose Victorino Lastarria 282, Santiago,
Telephone: +562 2664 0584.

Uncle Fletch

Cuisine: American

Surely the best burger joint in the city, Uncle Fletch takes its moniker from the Texan craftsman hailed with inventing the humble hamburger. Alongside the fat patties and juicy stacks, an extensive draught beer menu will provide the perfect fuel for the feast.

Address: Providencia, Dardignac 0192, Santiago,
Telephone: +562 2777 6477.
Website: http://www.uncle-fletch.com

Cheap

Dominó

Cuisine: Fast food

For more than 60 years, Dominó has been serving one thing very well: the hot dog (vienesas). A slight exaggeration – you can get other snacks too (mostly of the meat/bread combo), but this ‘soda fountain’ is an institution in Santiago for late night snacks and on-the-go sustenance. Try the classic Italiano with tomatoes and avocado, or the lomito meat sandwich – if you are hungry, go for the completo, which has a bit of everything. Meticulously clean old school joints, what more could you want?

Address: , Ahumada 146, Santiago,
Telephone: +562 2963 7601.
Website: http://www.domino.cl

Las Vacas Gordas

Cuisine: Barbecue

It's difficult to pick out one single reason why this is one of Santiago's most popular eating venues. But the good value, the throng of contented diners in the cavernous eating area, the excellent pisco sours (the nation's favourite cocktail - a sweet, lemon-infused brandy) and the sizzle of fresh meat barbecued on the grill at the front all combine to make this one of the city's most memorable meals out.

Address: , Cienfuegos 280, Santiago,
Telephone: +562 2697 1066.

Liguria

Cuisine: Chilean

You couldn't possibly cram more bustle, bohemia and style into one restaurant - in fact, the owners have realised there is some left over as more branches of this superb, efficient Santiago eating institution keep cropping up around the city. This doesn't seem to have eased the crowds, however - you'll need to show early to be guaranteed a table. It is classic Chilean cuisine (read a blend of Italian and Spanish food) with a touch of class.

Address: Providencia, Avenida Providencia 1353, Santiago,
Telephone: +562 2235 7914.
Website: http://www.liguria.cl
A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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Featured Hotels

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W Santiago

Starwood Hotel's W chain has landed in Santiago, with a blaze of imaginative lighting, colourful fittings and quirky furnishings. Compared with many of the W hotels around the world, this is tempered slightly by Chile's conservative tastes – no bad thing. The 168 rooms are well appointed. The level of service is unsurprisingly high. The rooftop pool is an interesting place to spend a few hours relaxing, and the bar is excellent.

NOI Vitacura

Overlooking the Parque Metropolitano de Santiago, NOI Vitacura provides a sanctuary from the urban bustle of the capital. This sleek high-rise hotel oozes style through its contemporary design and sophisticated suites. The rooftop terrace offers a late night bar, pool and unbeatable views of the Andes on a clear day.

ChilHotel

Perhaps the most sensible option of any of the these listings, ChilHotel is practical, comfortable and affordable. On a quiet street within easy walking distance of the Metro in Providencia, it is the sort of place you would be happy to put your parents on a visit to the city with its good-value rooms (although some err on the small side) and polite service.

Hotel Foresta

This beautifully located hotel (right by Cerro Santa Lucía) has been around for a while. It has kept its old style, which means it is chock full of character, although sometimes this spills over into a slightly cluttered feel. However, the service is very attentive and with the arty district of Lastarria right next door, it is one of the best and most affordable options in town.

Ritz Carlton

Setting the standard for hotel opulence in Santiago, this is where the service is impeccable, Egyptian sheets adorn your bed and there is just about every luxury you could possibly desire within the hotel's walls. Gyms, swimming pools, three restaurants and an internationally renowned sommelier are all available to those lucky enough to stay here.

Happy House Hostel

A superb, ambitious renovation makes this colourful converted Barrio Brasil mansion the place to head to satisfy your old bohemian instincts - even though you now have more cash in your pockets. With everything from a games room to a delightful patio with views right over the city, this lovely relaxed place is for former backpackers who can afford to indulge themselves a bit more.