Ladera Hotel
For the serene atmosphere
Santiago
SCL
Touted as the next great foodie destination and an up–and–comer in the contemporary art world, Santiago is often described as a city on the cusp. Explore the colonial architecture, search for the best pisco sour in town and plan to hike the snow–capped Andes you spy in the not–so–far distance.
Where to Stay
Le Rêve
For boutique charm
The Singular
For the prime location
Eat & Drink
Ambrosía Bistro
Approaching food with both French cooking techniques and inspiration from her global travels, Carolina Bazán is one of Chile’s most acclaimed young chefs. At her casual, intimate restaurant, the menu varies seasonally, but the freshly made pasta is a specialty&nbp;— and reason enough to stop by.
Osaka
Peru has the second largest Japanese population in South America, leading to the emergence of a fusion cuisine known as Nikkei. Ask for the dishes cooked with hot coal, like the Pepoh Gohan: rice with piure (Chilean sea squirts), shellfish crackling, olive oil with merkén (a Chilean hot spice) and pebre, a mixture of coriander, tomato and onion.
La Calma
Chef and owner Gabriel Layera adjusts his menu according to what’s freshest, focusing on less common fish and seafood, such as Chilean sandperch and chochas (slipper snails). You’re welcome to ask about your dish’s origins and learn a bit of Chilean geography while you wait.
Daniel’s Bakery & Cafe
Expect to wait for a table, but the homemade pastries, baked like grandma’s, are worth it. The Snickers cake — a reinterpretation of the classic chocolate bar with all-natural peanut butter, and big enough to share — is highly addictive.
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What to Do
Bahá’í Temple
The views of Santiago from here are impressive, but the building itself is even more so. Designed by the Canadian firm Hariri Pontarini Architects and opened in 2016, the Bahá’í temple is made to resemble a flower, with petals of marble and glass.
Gallería Taller del Mono
Alejandro “Mono” González is best known for his large-scale murals, often themed around Chilean social issues, but at his gallery his art is also available as serigraph sets you can bring home. Ask if he has any pieces left from his homage to the victims and survivors of the country’s 2010 earthquake; that work won him an Altazor National Arts Award.
Bike + Wine Tour at Cousiño-Macul
You need not leave the city limits of Santiago to explore a family-owned winery that dates back to 1856. Hop on this eco-minded bike tour for a leisurely cruise through Cousiño-Macul’s grapevines, located by the Andean foothills in the Maipo Valley.
Barrio Italia
In the neighbourhood of Barrio Italia (settled by Italian artisans in the 19th century), the facades of historic houses hide an eclectic combination of shops, many of which focus on design and fashionable home goods. Spend an afternoon browsing for souvenirs, like the mugs illustrated with flora and fauna at Tienda Larry.
Museo Artequin
Located in a historic space (this was Chile’s pavilion in the 1889 Parisian Exposition Universelle), this art museum focuses on hands-on activities for kids, like dressing up as their favourite painter and learning how to build mini replicas of Chilean architectural gems. Bring a picnic and spend the afternoon in the huge park just outside.
El Baco’s Tienda Vinos
The experts at this small wine shop will climb a stair to reach the last Cinsaut on the highest shelf if they think it’s the bottle you may like best. Ask them how to pick a wine that pairs well with your favourite meal — they’ve gleaned their knowledge from the French restaurant of the same name next door.
Parque Natural Aguas de Ramón
Whether you want to embark on a meditative walk in nature or an endurance hike, this ecological park is for you. About a half-hour drive from the centre of Santiago, you’ll find trails ranging from 30 minutes to seven hours, with routes cutting across the valley through forests. Ask for directions to the trail that ends with a small waterfall.
Museo de la Memoria y Derechos Humanos
Opened in 2010, this “Museum of Memory and Human Rights” honours the 40,000 victims of the regime led by dictator Augusto Pinochet between 1973 and 1990. It reflects upon this dark past with a human approach — allowing the visitor to learn, for example, how families remember their lost ones with personal homages throughout the country.
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