What are the best Santiago restaurants? And the top cheap eats Chile’s capital? Perhaps you are looking for authentic Vietnamese, Italian or Japanese? And even more importantly, who has the best wine list and what is the best bar in Santiago?
Our friends at The Besty invited me to give my top recommendations for Santiago, and obviously I wanted to share those thoughts with you too… So here are some of our top recommendations for Santiago:
Best Wine Bar
Barrica 94. Wine bars tend to be a bit snooty, but Barrica 94 is anything but. In the heart of Bellavista, this spacious wine bar offers loads of wines by the glass and hundreds by the bottle from regions all over Chile and some international comparison flights too. The food is also great!
Other honorable mentions: Boca Nariz; Vinocracia
Best Wine List in a Restaurant:
Baco. Baco Bistro was the first restaurant in Santiago to take wine service seriously and it is still the ‘go to’ place for winemakers and industry folk for its huge range of wines and dishes that pair perfectly. The wine list is 3 times the size of the menu, which is always a good sign in my eyes!
Best Burger:
La Burguesia. Unpretentious, good burgers. Enough said!
Best Historic Restaurant:
Castillo Forestal. The location is idyllic – overlooking Bellas Artes museum and the park, and inside an old castle with its own tower. Although it isn’t traditional Chilean, the food is great (with a very definite French twist) and they serve wine by the carafe – what more could you ask for?
Best Modern Restaurant:
Borago. Rodolfo is a master. He brings ancient native cooking techniques into a futuristic food world hidden within the walls of Borago.
Top 3 “Cheap Eat” Restaurants
Full disclosure: these are all from my ‘barrio’ in Santiago… Recoleta, the home of good cheap eats.
1. El Majrur: For the days when you just need a kebab! Flavourful, filling and cheap!
2. Sukine, Antonia Lopez de Bello 244 (and other neighbouring Korean joints): Cheap and spicy korean food. Great for a dinner with lots of friends.
3. Chicken Story. I dare you to try and not finish your bucket of fried chicken… Especially if you are eating it and chugging a bottle of bubbly.
Best Chilean Restaurant:
Peumayen: Elevating Chilean cuisine and authentic dishes to another level.
Best Cocktails:
Red Lux Bar: Intimate, sexy and top cocktails. Perfect date night material.
Best Dish in Chile:
Deep fried empanadas stuffed with fresh crab meat and cheese by the coast in Maitencillo with a glass of Limari Chardonnay. Hands down.
Best Italian Restaurant:
La Finestra. The best pizza in Santiago is at La Finestra. The head chef is from Naples and knows how to make a proper pizza – which is sadly a rarity in South America (despite the many Italian immigrants). When I’m in Santiago for a only a few days, I inevitably eat here at least twice to get my pizza fill! I’m ashamed to say I’ve never eaten anything else on the menu. Why would you when the pizza is so good?
Best Sushi:
Naoki. Beautiful sushi and japanese food. Just ask the chef to bring you whatever is best that evening and enjoy the ride!
Best Pisco Sour:
Chipe Libre: Solid Pisco Sours with a fantastic range of Pisco in case you prefer it straight (like I do!)
Best Appetizers:
The Singular. One of Santiago’s best kept secrets – enjoy the rooftop bar with a cocktail and their yummy fingerfood in the early evening.
Best Tapas:
Ruca Bar. Get there in time for the G&T happy hour!
Best Brunch:
The W. Go for the blow out Sunday brunch party – DJs, bottomless bloody mary and sparkling wine, and an oyster bar among the buffet. Best start (and end!) to a lazy sunday.
If you want more brunch tip offs, check out this article.
Best Vietnamese Restaurant:
Vietnam Discovery: From the outside this place appears rather bland, but as you walk in you step into a tent made to look like the tropics of Vietnam. The food is not the most authentic, but it is very tasty, and the live jazz nights make it the most elegant Vietnamese joint in town.
What are your favourite food joints in Santiago? Please add them in the comment space below!
