Bellavista
Santiago, Chile
The bohemian district at the foot of San Cristóbal hill, of colourful houses, street art, Pablo Neruda's home and the city's liveliest, if touristy, night…
Places in Bellavista
- Peumayén Ancestral Food A restaurant reviving the ancestral foods of Chile's indigenous peoples — Mapuche, Aymara, Rapa Nui — in a striking tasting format. Fascinating and delicious.
- Patio Bellavista & Bellavista bars The bohemian district's Patio Bellavista and surrounding streets hold the city's liveliest nightlife, from bars to clubs. Buzzing and touristy.
- La Chascona (Neruda's house) The playful Santiago home of poet Pablo Neruda in Bellavista, full of his eccentric collections. A charming window into Chile's Nobel laureate.
Practical notes for Santiago
- Best time to visit
- September to November (spring) and March to May (autumn) for warm, clear days and comfortable temperatures. Summer (December–February) is hot and dry; winter is cool and can be smoggy, but the nearby Andes ski resorts are superb.
- Getting around
- The clean, efficient Metro is the best way around the sprawling city; taxis and apps (Uber, Cabify, Didi) are cheap. The central neighbourhoods (Lastarria, Bellas Artes, Bellavista) are walkable. Funiculars and cable cars climb the city's hills.
- Currency
- Chilean Peso (CLP $)
- Language
- Spanish. English is limited outside business districts.
- Timezone
- CLT (UTC-4, UTC-3 in summer)
- Current trends
- A rising modern-Chilean dining movement celebrating Pacific seafood, Patagonian lamb and indigenous ingredients; a booming wine-bar culture (Chilean wine is world-class); bohemian Barrio Italia and Lastarria drawing the creative crowd; and craft cocktails and beer multiplying.
Other neighborhoods in Santiago
- Lastarria & Bellas Artes — The city's most charming central quarter, of cobbled streets, the fine-arts museum, boutique hotels, wine bars and cafés. The refined, cultured heart.
- Barrio Italia — A leafy, hip district of restored houses full of design studios, antique shops, courtyards, cafés and restaurants. Santiago's most creative, up-and-coming quarter.
- Providencia & Vitacura — The affluent, modern districts of the 'Sanhattan' skyline, upscale restaurants, parks and shopping. The polished, business-and-dining side.
- Centro & Barrio Yungay — The historic downtown around the Plaza de Armas and the atmospheric old Yungay quarter, with markets, museums and history. The city's traditional soul.
Read the full Santiago guide