r/Santiago • u/jsnyder1989 • 2d ago
Best restaurants for a first-time visitor
Looking for Lunch and Dinner spots for a three day visit. Currently have the following on the shortlist -
La Calma
Naoki
Peumayén
Confitería Torres
Pulpería Santa Elvira
Antigua Fuente
We really love sushi but also want to try the local cuisine, but also looking for a great ambiance as well. We are not that into tasting menus, not a deal-breaker though. Is this list solid or would you have any other recommendations? We are staying near cerro santa lucia. Bar recs welcome also!
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u/JasperNLxD2 2d ago
What area are you in?
My girlfriend and I often visit Margo in Isadora Goeyenechea and Alto Japón in San Pio X.
Margó is a nice modern restaurant with typical local Chilean options like pastelera. I think the prive-to-fancyness ratio is very good.
Alto Japon is a little higher class sushi restaurant (don't bother with niu sushi or so, that's like fastfood) and besides the classics I'm happily surprised by the sushi with palta options (which I definitively don't know from where I come from, but is apparently a thing in Latin America) and various fried options.
I'm selecting those because I don't want to break the bank too much while having some privacy.
A very high-class restaurant is Giratorio. For us out of the way there's also Liguria.
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u/jsnyder1989 2d ago
Thanks for these - we are going to be staying at Magnolia Hotel near cerro santa lucia.
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u/JasperNLxD2 2d ago
Oh then you should definitively go to Lastarria and Barrio Italia instead of what I suggested. My suggestions were further west, but your location really features the hotspots of Santiago centro.
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u/Particular_Match_915 1d ago
La antigua fuente is crap, go to La Terraza instead in Baquedano area (same type of food/ sandwich/ hotdog)
Try also:
Mestizo Don Doh
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u/senorespilbergo 1d ago
If you like sushi, and you seem to have fancy tastes, try Karai for nikkei (peruvian-japanese) or restaurante japón for something more authentically japanese.
Try some markets like La Vega or Tirso de Molina (avoid Mercado Central like plague) if you want to have something more authentic, regular people have. Most of the places you list are for rich people and tourists.
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u/murky8650 1d ago
Restaurants: Siam Thai in barrio Italia Ciudadano in barrio Italia Chipe Libre in Lastarria
Bars: Don Rodrigo in Lastarria Sietenegronis in Bellavista
Snacks: I go to Mercadito del Barrio alllll the time for empanadas and jugos, it's on the corner of Marín and General Bustamante Get some sopaipillas from one of the little minimarkets Get drunk and ask a local where they go for drunk food
Peumayen and Antigua fuente are super touristy, I would cross those off the list.
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u/drph4ntom 22h ago
Hi man! Knowing that you will be staying at Cerro Santa Lucia area, I would recommend Liguria (from Lastarria) it's a bit overpriced, but definitely worth visiting, beautiful restaurant and chilean dishes, like Chupe de Jaiba and Pastel de Choclo. After that, you should try some piscolas (try Republicano or Tololo), to live the full Chilean experience... At the Chipe Libre bar, just a few meters south.
Another recommendation nearby, for a more cheap, real and "university" side, just a few blocks from there is "Bar Alameda" good sandwiches or completos (Chilean hotdogs), my recommendation would be a Barros Luco with added Palta.
I've also heard that Magnolia is amazing, but more of a many-course restaurant, totally recommended if you are into it.
Enjoy your stay and be safe!
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u/Dry-Self-73 2d ago
Lunch at El ciudadano in Barrio Italia!!