In July, I will be in Santiago (Chile) for several days. Any recommendations for a cool, fun neighborhood to stay in? A nice boutique hotel?
Question
Posted on Mar 14, 2011
9 Answers
I live in Santiago, and have for years. I'd recommend staying in Barrio Brasil or Bellas Artes for most people. Bellavista is fun, but a little isolated at night (if you are there, you probably won't go out anywhere else). I think Providencia's a good choice as well, but a little conservative, it's just food and drink and shopping, not much music/arts/entertainment, but it's a very safe area (except for pickpockets, which are everywhere), and easy to get around.
The area around Plaza de Armas is better than it's been, and there's one hostel on the actual plaza which is gorgeous (the name escapes me. There's also a small set of hostels near Cal y Canto/Mercado Central/Parque Forestal which I wouldn't have guessed but which are getting good reviews. There are also a couple smack in the center of downtown (like CheLagarto) which are very central, but downtown can be a little quiet at night.
And yes, Happy House Hostel is gorgeous, beyond any expectations I'd have had for hostels in and around Santiago. It's in Barrio Brasil.
Posted Apr 13, 2011
Add a commentThanks, Eileen. As I mentioned to another person's reply, I've decided to use my hotel points to stay at the San Cristobal Towers, which I believe is on the outskirts of Providencia. Could you tell me more about this particular area of the city, and what is in walking distance. Thanks!
Posted on Apr 15, 2011
I stayed at Happy House Hostel in October & was surprised in a good way. This is a new property converted from an old mansion (it opened last summer; the original “hostel” location was destroyed in the 2010 earthquake). Private rooms with private bath are ~$60/night. Take a peek at the photos of rooms online. http://happyhousehostel.com/content.php?p=about-us&l=en
I won’t go so far as to call it a boutique on par with W Hotel etc. but it was SO much nicer than I expected. I didn’t really go out in the neighborhood, only grabbed a drink one night on Av Brasil. The hotel was convenient to the metro & bus station, and the staff was quite helpful. Just wanted to share my experience & let you know to not be dissuaded by the silly name!
Let me know if you have other questions about Santiago
Posted Mar 15, 2011
Add a commentthanks, Ann, I will check out the website and let you know what I think.
Posted on Mar 15, 2011
Actually, that Happy House looks pretty cool, and that particular part of Stgo is interesting enough for a day, but I'd still recommend Providencia and points east for eating and drinking and general walking around.
Posted on Mar 15, 2011
I stayed at the hotel part of Happy House - Hotel del Patio in February. Smack dab in the center (a little loud for some, I suppose but we had no problems) and very reasonable.
Posted on Mar 25, 2011
I lived in Providencia for seven years, in the 90's. It's very modern and filled with plenty to do plus easy access to the subway. A fun neighborhood is Bellavista, at night, but I wouldn't sleep there, and my best advice is to stay away from the old downtown area (Plaza de Armas)--other than a day trip maybe--too many pickpockets. Also fun is a day visit to el pueblo de los Domínicos, at the end of Apoquindo/Las Condes; it's a unique crafts village. I love Santiago. Hope you have fun.
Posted Mar 15, 2011
Add a commentyours is the kind of advice I was looking for. Can I let you know if I think of any other questions? Thanks
Posted on Mar 15, 2011
Sure, happy to help, but I haven't lived there since 1999, so I'm not exactly up-to-date with my info. I went back to visit in 2001, and had a blast. i have a lot of friends still there.
Posted on Mar 15, 2011
I agree with John. This is an established area, safe, easy to navigate and full of life!
Though it's very modern and has some familiar amenities, I'm not sure if i would stay in the Las Condes area (Marriott, Radisson, etc). It's very clean, modern, nice mall....but doesn't give one the real flavor/essence of Santiago.
Posted on Mar 19, 2011
So, John, using my hotel points, I reserved a room at the San Cristobal Towers, which I believe is on the outskirts of Providencia. The crafts village you mentioned sounds like a fun excursion. How about 'street food'. Any recommendations on particularly good spots for experiencing this? Any favorite restaurant you look forward to visiting when you go back to Santiago?
Posted on Apr 06, 2011
Matt, it's been so long since I've been back to Stgo that the last time I suggested places to eat, my buddies came back to tell me that none of them existed any more! That said, however, Bellavista will always have great food, and Providencia will always have upscale places. There might still be a wonderful and cheap steakhouse (if you eat meat) called Chilenazo on Apoquindo--ah, here's a website: http://www.chilenazorestaurant.cl/lascondes/ Steak, red wine, and chimichurri sauce--can't beat that. I wouldn't eat "on the street," but I'd definitely eat anything inside a restaurant or bar or cafe. Wish I could be of more help. Have fun!
Posted on Apr 08, 2011
You're not going to find street food in Providencia, but there are, of course, good restaurants there. The two main strips are 11 de septiembre and providencia. You have good metro access along both of these streets. The crafts village has a couple of restaurant with rural/traditional food such as pastel de choclo and empanadas, but you can find those many other places as well. The area you've chosen is modern, clean, efficient and where Santiago's middle to upper middle class goes, lives, and hangs out. There are more restaurants than anything else, though funky (but still safe) bars line Manuel Montt and Roman Diaz. I would avoid the street "Suecia" like the plague, but that's just me. It's full of drunk 20-somethings, local and foreign. Likewise the little plaza opposite Orrego Luco near Manuel Montt. Street food in Santiago isn't much, mainly sopaipillas and spring rolls. It's mainly because people don't really eat on the street. You'll have to eat a completo (hotdog with the works, where the works include chopped tomato, mayo and a load of avocado). You can do this many places, but the most traditional close to where you are is one of the locations of Dominó (local sandwich and hotdog shop, try the tuna (prickly pear cactus fruit) juice. Also, check out the sculpture garden at Pedro de Valdivia (on the other side of the river). hth, feel free to ask more
Posted on Apr 15, 2011
We stayed at Intiwasi Hostel in Providencia and loved the location and the accommodations (http://www.intiwasihostel.cl/indexeng.html). We felt safe walking around the area - good restaurants and cute streets, and it was a quick subway in to the city center. We also walked to Bellavista for dinner and back a few times during our stay.
Posted Mar 15, 2011
Add a comment
Matt, like some others have said, Providencia is your best bet for location and walking distance to lots of things. If you want to be in the middle of great nightlife, look for places in Bellavista, a popular area of the Providencia neighborhood. Also, know that the metro and bus system is quite good to help you get around the city as you explore.
Posted Mar 16, 2011
Add a commentWe stayed in the city center, in the pedestrian area near the Plaza de Armas...A good, safe, central place to be based.
Brian
Posted Mar 15, 2011
Add a comment
Providencia is beautiful - lots of wonderful shops and restaurants, and great walking.
Posted Mar 16, 2011
Add a commentWe went to los Dominicos when we were in Santiago in June 08. It is large enough to be worth the trip, and the setting is quite attractive - kind of like a park. We stayed in Las Condes at the big, sleek hotel (Marriott? Hilton?) Sometimes those places are disappointing because they're so corporate you could be in Omaha just as well as Santiago. But this was different. The difference was the staff. First rate.
We only stayed briefly in Santiago and spent the rest of our visit in Valparaiso and Vina del Mar. I love Chile and would love to live there. I tell people it's like California was in the 1950s and early 60s - miles and miles of unspoiled beaches.
Posted May 23, 2012
Add a comment
hey Matt!!! well Im a native chilean guy, so if you really wanna know which neighborhood, I need more data, you need to tell me exacticly your expectations, I can recommend you bellavista, it is quite central and a lot of restaurants, and fun, and there is cool vibe there, it is also providencia, but during the night it`s not that cool, there are restaurant and happy hours everywhere... it`s just about your whiches..
Posted Jun 04, 2012
Add a comment
