El Diablito sits on Merced in Barrio Lastarria, a low lit bohemian bar a short step from the Bellas Artes metro and Parque Forestal. Yelp and the HEY BARES guide point to the same draw, a devil themed room with cheap pours that holds onto the older, divey feel of the neighbourhood.
Who would love it: drinkers who want character, low prices and a local crowd. Who would hate it: anyone after a polished cocktail program, since the appeal here is atmosphere and value rather than precision mixing.
The room leans into its name. The decor runs to red walls, candles and devil motifs, a warm and cluttered look that gives El Diablito its bohemian, lived in character.
The pours are easy on the wallet. The bar is known for affordable drinks, which is part of why it keeps a steady local following in an area that has grown pricier around it.
The kitchen keeps it simple. Chilean plates and shared bites come alongside the drinks, enough to anchor a long evening without turning the room into a restaurant.
The location holds its history. As Lastarria and Bellas Artes have gentrified, El Diablito reads as one of the rooms that still feels like the older neighbourhood, a point reviewers return to.
The crowd is mixed and easy. Locals, students and visitors share the tables, and the mood stays sociable and loud rather than reserved.
The hours run into the night. El Diablito opens in the evening and runs toward 2am, which fits the late rhythm of the Lastarria bar strip.
Timing shapes the visit. The room fills on weekend nights, so an earlier arrival gives the better chance at a table in the warmer front section.
The devil theme is the signature. The red room and the motifs are what guests remember and photograph, and they tie the bar to its long running identity.
The low prices set the tone. Cheap, generous pours keep the bar accessible, which suits a long evening of conversation over a careful, costly cocktail.
The Chilean plates anchor the table. Ordering a few bites alongside the drinks turns a quick stop into a proper sitting, in keeping with the bar's relaxed pace.
The heritage feel widens the appeal. Visitors looking for the pre gentrification Lastarria find it here, which gives the room a draw beyond the drinks list.
Lastarria frames the night. The surrounding strip of bars, cultural centres and restaurants makes El Diablito an easy first or last stop on a longer evening.
Settling in early is the plan. Claiming a table before the weekend crowd builds is the simplest way to enjoy the room at its calmest.
The music adds to the late mood. The room often runs to live or recorded sets that match its bohemian feel, which lifts the energy on a weekend without crowding out conversation at the tables.
The value keeps regulars returning. In a strip where prices have climbed, the cheap pours and simple plates give El Diablito a clear reason to stay on a local's rotation year after year.
The bar has kept its place. Across Yelp, HEY BARES and Santiago listings, El Diablito still reads as a Lastarria fixture rather than a passing trend.
El Diablito suits value drinkers, atmosphere seekers, and anyone exploring Barrio Lastarria. Compare the heritage drinking with La Piojera in Santiago and the old room feel of Liguria in Santiago, then read the guide to the best cocktail bars in Santiago and browse more across Santiago.
Sources: Yelp profile for Bar El Diablito (updated 2026); HEY BARES Barrio Lastarria listing; Evendo and Santiago region guides for El Diablito.
