Santiago is the capital of Chile and is a fantastic holiday destination for singles, couples, honeymooners, families, anyone really.
There is so much to do and see and the shopping is pretty good too. The food is top quality and is unbelievably cheap.
Much of the city has incredible views of the snow capped Andes, a truly amazing sight that you see in very few cities.
Chileans are extremely friendly in general and will go out of their way to help you during your stay.
I won't go into the history and ethics of the city as this is a lighthearted blog concentrating on shopping and places to eat and see, that's something for you to discover yourselves.
Funnily enough, everyone seems to have pet dogs in Santiago, they love them. There are also many, many stray dogs all over the city which is quite sad but the positive thing is that they generally look healthy and seem well fed.
Shopping.
Providencia, Santiago.
Paula Zobeck.
Avenida Providencia 2124 of. 55-56 Galeria Drugstore, Providencia.
Quirky designer from Vina Del Mar.
Inside Paula Zobeck's boutique.
Antibalas
Providencia 2124-L 62. Galeria Drugstore, Providencia,
Santiago.
Modern, funky and quirky gift shop in a very small shopping
centre in Providencia. Lots of
hand made, modern gifts ranging from fabric painted brooches, funky bags, clothes and unusual jewellery.
Hand painted Doll brooch from 'Antibalas'.
Casa & Ideas.
www.casaideas.cl
Colourful and fun Chilean chain store, selling home ware for bedroom, bathroom, garden, children’s toys, duvet covers, throws. Very good prices. Crochet cushion cover £2. Stores can be located throughout Santiago. Visit website for more details.
Parque Arauco.
www.Parquearauco.cl
This is the largest commercial shopping mall in South America. You will find lots of well known chains such as Mac, Gap, Kiehls, Penguin, Rampage, Starbucks etc. Good for shopping,then lunch or an icecream but a lot of it's outdoors so it can get quite hot wandering around.
Pueblito Los Dominicos.
Apoquindo 9085, Las Condes, Santiago.
www.pueblitolosdominicos.com
Beautiful craft / artisan village located in Las Condes. Lots of stalls and shops selling typically Chilean handmade crafts. Ponchos, Peruvian Dolls, Jewellery, Stained glass ornaments, Silver, Clothes, Rugs, You can buy pets there too...
It's a very uncommercial and relaxing place to visit.
Los Dominicos craft village
Patio Bella Vista.
Bella Vista.
Nearest tube station, Baquedano Line 1.
BellaVista is a neighbourhood full of fabulous shops and restaurants. There are especially a lot of jewellery shops specializing in Lapislazuli and Silver.
'Patio Bella Vista' is a very pleasant shopping square full of small shops selling Chilean crafts, jewellery, Peruvian gifts and souvenirs. A good selection and at ok prices.
Charming Peruvian dolls, distressed to look old.
'Pacha Mama' and her tiny baby. She is a fertility goddess revered by the indigenous people of the Andes. Pacha Mama is usually translated as 'Mother Earth'.
Peruvian Market.
Santo Domingo at San Antonio.
Indoor selection of Peruvian shops selling all sorts of tourist gifts. Cheap and cheerful goods.
I don't fancy taking that on the plane.
Cologne,insence sticks, ponchos, Peruvian dolls, kitsch gifts.
Brightly coloured Peruvian basket. £4.
Selection of cologne bottles.
Lots of Peruvian shops in this area.
Places to eat.
El Huerto
Orrego Luco 54, Providencia, Santiago.
www.elhuerto.cl
El Huerto means Orchard or veg patch.
Organic, vegetarian restaurant. Beautiful, cosy interior and outdoor seating available too. Lovely wooden menus with handpainted artwork.
Good selection of delicious, healthy salads, reasonably priced from £3 to 5 approximately.
They serve really good fresh juices such as melon or Lemon and mint. Really good.
I had an unusual Indian dish consisting of 5, small, hot Indian dishes. Very nice and only £5.50.
El Huerto.
Wooden, handpainted menu.
La Casa Vieja.
Avenue Chile Espana 249, Santiago.
www.lacasavieja.cl
My favourite restaurant in Chile. Traditional Chilean dishes served in this well established restaurant.
I opted for the 'Reinetta'; the local White fish, gently poached and served with espinaca con crema. (spinach in cream).
Plateada al Horno is another excellent dish. This is beef that has been slow, slow cooked so that it cuts like butter. Fantastic!
There was a celebrity eating at the next table, so this place must be good!
Restaurant Japon
Calle Baron Pierre de Coubertin 39, Ex Marcoletta, Santiago.
Fabulous Japanese restaurant. Modern interior with sunken benches and table. Shoes must be removed but slippers are provided.
Japanese chef in open plan kitchen so you can watch your Sushi, sashimi, teriyaki, tempura being prepared. Amazingly fresh and good quality.
Chef preparing our boat selection.
Look at that! This is easily enough for 5 to 6 people.
'R'
Ricardo Armstrong, Jose Victorino Lastarria 307, Local 101, Plaza Mulato Gil, Santiago.
Traditional Chilean restaurant in the heart of Santiago in Plaza Mulato Gil.
Atmospheric interior with signed photos of stars who have visited over the years.
Reasonable prices and a varied menu of both salads and hot traditional dishes.
Quirky ceiling in 'R'.
El Apero.
Borderio, Av. Monsenor Escrive de Balaguer No 6400, Local 3 Vitacura.
http://www.elapero.cl
Very popular Chilean restaurant in a swanky plaza in the posh area of Vitacura.
The menu consists of very traditional Chilean dishes and there is great live music.
There's a very good gelateria next door, perfect for dessert.
Luna LLena
Cafe and Chocolatier.
Avenida Doce 087, El Manzano, Cajon Del Maipo.
http://www.cajondelmaipo.com/restaurant_luna_llena.php
About a 40 minute drive out of Santiago, up into the hills and countryside, there are lots of very picturesque villages that are popular with holiday makers in both summer and Winter.
We discovered Luna Llena (Full Moon) by chance and had a fantastic lunch.
A 3 course meal costs £7 per person and all the dishes are homemade. The Caramel flan is delicious.
They also have a chocolatier / cafe, with lots of homemade chocolates in large old fashioned glass containers.
Highly recommended.
Also see "places to Visit', Cajon Del Maipo.
La Vaquita Echa. (The sitting cow).
Ramon Subercaseaux 3355, Pirque.
This restaurant is a 5 minute drive from Concha y Toro winery.
Lovely, rustic Chilean restaurant situated outside of Santiago. This is where most of the tour buses go after they have been on a wine tour.
Food was delicious, wine and beer good and live entertainment too.
There was also a small jewellery stall selling very cheap and pretty 950 Silver earrings and rings.
Who's that lazy cow in the background?!
Guitarist at 'The Sitting Cow'.
Places to visit.
Telefrico S.A, Cable cars.
Pio Nono 445,Providencia, Santiago.
The number one tourist attraction in Santiago. 72 cable cars that take 20 minutes to ride 4,860 meters up to the top of San Cristobal Hill, where you can find the Immaculate conception monument.
Lots of tourists and a few stray dogs too!
Incredible panoramic views of Santiago, well worth a visit.
Yikes!
beautiful, hot, stray dog.
Antique Fair, Providencia.
Every Sunday from 11am.
This is a outdoor but covered area selling antique books and general bits and bobs. Very inspiring as you will see from the photos.
I bought a lovely old valentine's card dating from approximately 1910.
Piles of old photographs.
A bust and a lion.
A table full of treasures.
Old truck at the entrance.
Classic truck in the background.
Buy an old number plate for £3.50.
1910 valentine's card.
Centro Cultural Palacio La Moneda.
Plaza de la Ciudadania No 26, Santiago.
http://www.ccplm.cl
Modern, Cultural museum with permanent and visiting exhibitions. Inspiring shop with quality gifts.
Large and modern interior.
Frieda Kahlo exhibition.
Exhibition on South American art. This is a beautiful mobile.
Objects exhibited at La Moneda.
The Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art.
Bandera 361, Santiago.
www.precolombino.cl
This museum is housed in what used to be the Royal Customs Palace in Santiago. It has a stunning collection of Pre Columbian art from all over South America.
I particularly loved the Peruvian dolls and textiles.
It's not too big and can easily be covered within 1 hour.
Concja Y Toro Vineyard
Avda, Virginia Subercaseaux 210, Pirque.
http://www.conchaytoro.com
It's most likely that you have tasted one of Concho Y Torro's wines before as they are extremely popular in the UK. Check out the website for a list of the wine names. The most famous is 'Casillero del Diablo'.
Tour of the vineyard consists of walking around the grounds of the old house, tasting a grape from the vine, learning how to define the taste and smell of a Red and White wine and keeping the glass at the end, walking though the cellars and taking a peek at the legendary Diablo!
The tour takes about 45 minutes and can be in Spanish or English.
See 'Places to Eat', 'Vaquita Echa' for a nearby luncheon spot.
The cool cellars that have survived many earthquakes over the years.
Only one grape each, Please! ha ha.
Cajon Del Maipo.
http://www.cajondelmaipo.com
An area of villages in the Andes, only a 45 minute drive from Santiago.
Breathtaking scenery in both Summer and Winter and very popular with locals and tourists too.
We had lunch at 'Luna Llena'. See Places to eat section.
Thanks for your marvelous posting! I quite enjoyed reading it, you could be a great author.I will be sure to bookmark your blog and will often come back in the foreseeable future.
Posted by: reese | April 14, 2011 at 05:14 AM
Thanks for one's marvelous posting! I genuinely enjoyed reading it, you will be a great author.I will make sure to bookmark your blog and will come back in the foreseeable future. I want to encourage yourself to continue your great job, have a nice day!
Posted by: adult chat rooms | May 28, 2011 at 01:11 AM
I was interested in the resteraunt El Huerto and I wanted to know the price range for it.
Posted by: Danielle | November 20, 2011 at 03:51 PM