In the winter, feast on traditional empanadas (savory turnovers) and pastel de choclo
(meat and corn stew). Try Chile’s endless variety of seafood and fish in the summer.
Santiago’s flourishing restaurant scene incorporates international options and
modern takes on traditional food. Bellavista’s tree-lined streets attract an arty
crowd. Outside of the city center, you’ll find some of the capital’s finest
restaurants in Providencia, Las Condes and Vitacura.
Once a magnet for Santiago’s literati, the elegant Confitería Torres serves gourmet
dishes that were popular in its late-19th-century heyday. Live tango and bolero
accompany meals. Gorge on top-quality ceviche (fish marinated in citrus juice) and
seafood in the nautical-themed Azul Profundo. Tiramisu has mostly outdoor seating
and fills up quickly at lunchtime with fans of its excellent thin-crust pizzas.
Shopping
Hit the major malls for international brands and designer names. Alto Las Condes is a
chic favorite. You can find traditional Chilean handicrafts at the Feria Santa Lucía
artisan market at the foot of Santa Lucía Hill. Antiques stores abound in
Providencia.
Lapis lazuli and hand-knitted sweaters from the crafts market Pueblito Los Dominicos
(also known as Los Granjeros del Alba) make good gifts. Pick up a bottle or two of
fine Chilean wine at La Vinoteca.
Things to do
Initially burned down by Mapuche Indians and repeatedly destroyed by earthquakes, the
neoclassical-baroque Metropolitan Cathedral boasts a magnificent interior. The
stately Palacio de la Moneda is one of Latin America’s prime examples of
neoclassical architecture. It is the presidential palace and the site of Pinochet’s
infamous 1973 military coup d’état.
Costumes, coins and weapons trace Chile’s history at the Museo Histórico Nacional,
inside the yellow Palacio de la Real Audiencia. The lively, colorful Mercado Central
supplies Santiago with the best Chilean fish, fruit and vegetables. Climb the lush
Cerro Santa Lucía hill for superb views of the city. The baroque Teatro Municipal,
which dates to 1857, books classical concerts, ballet and opera.
