A Guide to Eating and Drinking in Santiago de Chile

  Cocktails in Santiago

Santiago de Chile may not be the best place to dash around seeing the sights, but if you are looking for a tranquil setting to enjoy some good food and wine, it is an excellent place to be.

Seafood is the Chilean specialty here, with the local favorites being 'machas' (Chilean clams) and Ceviche. If you're not a seafood fan, other dishes tend to be fairly globalised and often involve pasta. Traditionalists can, however, always rely on a typical South American steakhouse for top class local meals.

Another Santiago treat is the street vendors. After your evening meal, wander down the sidewalk and try your luck with the ice cream hawkers. You can't argue with their prices but, as always in South America, it’s best to take a quick glance around to find the cleanest stall.

The city also has some top local beverages to offer and travelers can take a trip to the nearby Concha y Toro vineyards. Chilean wine is famous all over the world and believed to have health benefits thanks to a high proportion of antioxidants (which is believed to be the magic stuff); so it iseems there is another excellent excuse to indulge in sampling this traditional produce!

Wherever you head in the city, there are restaurants and bars offering up great eating and drinking. But Santiago de Chile is about more than just the food or the wine. The city's vibe is perfect for a long, sociable meal - which, luckily, comes at a very affordable price too.

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