What to do, where to
go, where to eat and where to sleep in Santiago, Chile
Where to eat in
Santiago:
Looking for new culinary
adventures, I couldn’t have been happier to arrive in this land of new tastes,
new spices and new ingredients. Corn is one of my favorite foods and it is found
in dozens of dishes. With 3,000+ miles of Pacific seashore, it only stands to
reason that the seafood is going to be excellent here as well – and it was.
Here are a few of the places I can honestly vouch for, having dined at each.
Ambrosia (Merced 838 A;
Santiago Centro; Telephone (56-2) 697 20 23) is right in the midst of the
central business district and is a great place to go for lunch. Their Salmon con Salsa de Alcaparras was
outstanding. For chocoholics, you’ll want to try the Marquise de chocolate con
Salsa de Frambuesa – chocolate mousse wrapped in a dark-chocolate skin with
fresh strawberries. It’s located right across a courtyard from the Red House
(Casa Colorado) Museum. Only 500 pesos to enter, there are a number of
worthwhile exhibits.
 |
| Ambrosia's marquise de chocolate con salsa de frambuesa |
 | |
| Piegari's huge wall of wine |
Akarana Restaurant and Bar
(Calle Reyes
Lavalle 3310, Las Conde; Santiago, (56-2) 231 96 67) was founded
by a pair of New Zealander’s who wanted Santiago to have a place for authentic
Pacific Rim dishes. They succeeded without question. Lamb and tuna were both instant favorites. For desert, the “Bomb” lives up to its name and is to die for...a
hot chocolate pudding with hazelnuts and blueberries over a liquid center of
white and dark chocolate. Oh yeah, it’s served with a side of vanilla ice
cream. Save room for it.
Where to spend the
night:
If budget is not your primary concern, you’ll not regret
selecting one of these two fine hotels.
 |
| Noi Vitacura suites offer separate work and sleep areas. |
With 87
rooms, there is assuredly one that will fulfill all your comfort needs. Large
flat screen televisions, electric floor-to-ceiling curtains and plush Italian bathrobes
are immediate touches that speak of luxury. The waterfall shower with step-less
entry, the Noi branded toiletries and a full drawer of grooming needs provide even
more obvious hints that you are being as pampered as you really deserve.
An expansive
breakfast buffet downstairs awaits you each morning, assuming you can pry
yourself from the comfy bed. Custom made omelets are only a request away.
With a business
center, a full service spa and beauty center, a fitness room and a couple bars,
chances are you might just want to spend your entire day here. That’s not a bad
option. Take a look at
their photo gallery to appreciate the rooms and the neighborhood.
The Aubrey Boutique Hotel (Constitución
299 – 317; Bellavista; Santiago; Telephone: (56-2) 940 2800) is where you might want to head if you are looking for
old-world charm for your evening destination. This multi-award-winning hotel is
located in the bohemian Bellavista neighborhood – home to jazz, bars and
eclectic architecture. A walk uphill will reward you with great city views from
the top of Cerro San Cristobal Hill.
All rooms
come with an inclusive Brazilian breakfast, free WiFi, LCD cable TV’s, and
feather beds with fine cotton sheets. Massage and manicure services, valet parking,
laundry service, cell phone rentals, bicycles and day passes for Balthus Gym
all lend to the allure of this fine hotel.
Getting there:
Flying to
Santiago, despite the distance from Cleveland, was a very easy pair of flights.
I flew American Airlines from Cleveland to Dallas
and from Dallas to Santiago. Connections were smooth and I even had enough of a
layover to enjoy the American
Airlines Admiral’s Club in Dallas. (Santiago has an Admiral’s Club as well,
which I used on the return flight.) This was my first time using the Dallas
club and I was mightily impressed. From the showers, to the children’s room to
the quiet rooms – there was something there for everyone. American Airlines
makes it easy to use their clubs with one day passes, a new 30 day pass as well
as annual memberships.
Making the decision to visit Chile:
If I’ve
enticed you to consider Chile, here are a few sites for more information:
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment