The Mercado Fluvial in Valdivia
Photo by Camilo Pinaud/Unsplash
In addition to renowned wine, beer culture thrives in Chile. Settled by German immigrants during the 19th century, Valdivia is now recognized as Chile’s beer capital. In late January, an annual, four-day Bierfest, organized by Valdivia-based brewer Kunstmann, kicks off with a beer parade and features live music, a vintage car show, sailing regattas, paddleboard races, and an equestrian event. Attendees don traditional costumes (check the festival website for tips on tying your dirndl bow) and are invited to compete in feats of strength and beer-drinking contests. Traditional German fare like pretzels and currywurst help soak up the plentiful brews.
Year-round, craft beer fans can tour the Kunstmann brewery for a 15-beer tasting and German menu or visit its brewing museum, which details the history of Valdivia’s beer industry. But Kunstmann is one of many breweries in town. You’ll find dozens of cervecerías, biergartens, and beer-centric restaurants like Café Haussman.
If you’re overwhelmed, consider a strategic approach and book a beer tour for a curated experience. Between tastings, visit the Feria Fluvial seafood market for ceviché or stroll the riverfront promenade before heading off to explore the natural beauty of the surrounding Lake District.
Eat your way through the Ñam Festival in Santiago
It’s fitting that Santiago, one of South America’s most exciting food cities, hosts the innovative Ñam Festival. Ñam means “yum,” and the event has celebrated “social gastronomy” every March for the past 12 years. Browse the Ñam Mercado, with more than 100 stands featuring Chile’s food heritage, from traditional ingredients to sustainable farming. Families can dive into Ñamcito, a kid-focused food court with workshops and live shows designed to bring food awareness and appreciation to the next generation of gourmands. New for 2025, the Mercado del Cambio brings together NGOs, foundations, and social innovation projects to show that food can be creative and eco-friendly.
A golf course in Santiago, Chile
Photo by Francisco Kemeny/Unsplash
While you’re in town, dine at Boragó. Its tasting menu, featuring Indigenous ingredients, has earned it recognition as one of the world’s top restaurants. For a casual setting, sample local favorites, like empanadas, completos (Chilean-style hot dogs), and mote con huesilo (sweet non-alcoholic drink made with peaches and wheat berries) at Central Market.
Celebrate Santiago’s Fiestas Patrias
September 18–19 marks Chile’s Fiestas Patrias, a nationwide celebration of the country’s independence from Spain. Festivities take place throughout Chile, and the largest is in Santiago’s Parque O’Higgins, where a community fonda (street party) houses food stands, live music, traditional games, and cueca dancing.
The party’s menu features iconic Chilean dishes, including empanadas de pino, stuffed with beef, onion, boiled egg, olives, and raisins; choripán topped with a spicy pebre sauce; and anticuchos (grilled meat skewers). Sample some of the festive drinks, like mote con huesillo, a non-alcoholic drink made with dried peaches, cooked wheat, and simple syrup; chicha, fermented grape or apple juice—or if you’re brave, a terremoto (“earthquake”). Deceptively sweet, this signature of the Fiestas Patrias mixes pipeño wine, pineapple ice cream, and grenadine. Revelers often dare to drink a second, known as the replica or aftershock, risking the potential results.
Surf Pichilemu and check out the Fiesta de Comidas Costeras
For an authentic taste of Chilean coastal cuisine and a few surprises, head to the Fiesta de Comidas Costeras in Pichilemu, Chile’s surf capital in the O’Higgins region. Formerly known as the Fiesta del Cochayuyo, it still spotlights the seaweed superfood, cochayuyo. This nutrient-rich ocean kelp has sustained the O’Higgins coastal communities for centuries. The two-day event in November features food stands (try the seaweed empanadas), artisan crafts, regional wines, live music, a culinary competition, and panoramic ocean views.
The May y Vino Hotel is a well-located base for exploring the area. The onsite restaurant, Mareal, delights diners with owner-chef Gustavo Moreno’s seafood-focused menu.
Punta de Lobos, Pichilemu, Chile
Photo by Cristian Castillo/Unsplash
Pichilemu is the heart of the festivities, and similar cochayuyo-focused events often occur in neighboring towns along Chile’s central coast. Places like Bucalemu and Navidad offer travelers multiple opportunities to combine an epic surf trip with a deeper appreciation of how the coastline shapes Chile’s food culture.
Go to Sabores Natalinos in Puerto Natales
Cordero al palo exemplifies Patagonia’s culinary heritage at Sabores Natalino.
Courtesy of Sernatur Chile
Puerto Natales, the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park, is a hub for exploring Patagonian glaciers and, more recently, gastronomy. Each November, the southern port city transforms into a celebration of local flavor at the Sabores Natalinos festival. Held for the first time in 2022, this growing annual event celebrates the traditional techniques and environmental stewardship that exemplify Patagonian cuisine. The gastronomic circuit showcases local ingredients like cordero al palo (spit-roasted Magellanic lamb), the hallmark of southern Chilean cuisine.
Puerto Natales also offers excellent year-round dining. Stay at the hotel or book a table at its restaurant, the Singular Patagonia, for dishes featuring local guanaco (a relative of the llama), scallops, and rhubarb. For a more informal taste of Patagonia, stop by the local bakery, Patagonia Black Lamb, for crab and cheese empanadas.
Another must-try Patagonian flavor is calafate. Renowned for nutritional and medicinal properties, these tiny superfoods resemble blueberries. Try calafate in desserts like mousses, tarts, and beverages, including calafate sours and mojitos. Legend has it that anyone who consumes the calafate will return to Patagonia.
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Publish date : 2024-12-23 03:54:00
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