Santiago
Santiago's best-kept bars are the ones locals don't broadcast. These ten are worth finding. A working editorial ranking, refreshed every quarter.
Bellas Artes · $$
Heritage Chilean bar-restaurant from 1979.
Lastarria · $$$
Pisco-only bar with both Chilean and Peruvian piscos and a serious tasting programme.
Centro · $
Heritage dive bar from 1922.
Providencia · $$
Cocktail bar attached to the satirical newspaper of the same name.
Providencia · $$$
Modern Chilean cocktail bar with a dressed-up evening crowd.
Lastarria · $$$
Wine bar with the country's most ambitious Chilean wine list — over 350 bottles.
Lastarria · $$$
Chile's first speakeasy. The password comes through a red telephone under the stairs.
SANTIAGO CENTRO · $ · HIDDEN GEMS
Bar Las Tejas reopened on the corner of Paseo Bulnes and Alonso de Ovalle after more than a century on San Diego Street, carrying its terremoto and chorrillana tradition to a smaller space with a tree shaded terrace. Order: a terremoto. Best time: late afternoon on the terrace.
Santiago rewards drinkers who scout neighbourhoods, and the spread below reflects that. You'll find spots in Bellavista, Lastarria, Bellas Artes, and beyond — each picked for what it does best, not how loud its marketing is. We focus on small rooms, low signage, locals-only feel, no tourist crowds; we ignore venues that prioritise volume over craft. The order is a working ranking, not a leaderboard — number one isn't always your number one. Read the notes and pick the room that fits the night you're planning.
Best for: quiet nights, off-the-tourist-track drinking, locals-only feel. Most rooms here run from late afternoon until 1 or 2am; the busier ones lift their door policy on weekends and we've flagged those where it matters. Save the page, send it to whoever you're meeting, and let the rest of Santiago take care of itself.
A working editorial ranking. Numbers are guidance, not gospel. Pick the room that fits your night.
Looking beyond Santiago? See our guide to the best hidden gem bars worldwide, or compare hidden gem bars city by city.