The Brooklyn
of Santiago is
Barrio Italia.
Barrio Italia is the coolest neighborhood in Santiago for specialty coffee roasters, sidewalk weekend markets, and vintage stores with real finds.
Barrio Italia fits its entire personality into about seven walkable blocks between Avenida Italia and Caupolicán. The converted houses along Avenida Italia now hold furniture studios, design shops, and more specialty coffee per square meter than feels reasonable. Café de la Candelaria and Pace Coffee Roasters are both worth the detour. Weekend markets spill onto the sidewalks, and the vintage stores here deal in actual finds, not overpriced junk with a markup. Casaluz and Ciudadano anchor the food scene with serious Chilean cooking in settings that feel like someone's beautifully renovated living room. It's a neighborhood that got official recognition as a design district and somehow hasn't let that ruin it yet.
Crammed into roughly 7 walkable blocks, Barrio Italia earned official recognition as Santiago's Design District in 2012 and now draws visitors with international cuisines on a single avenue.
Other cool neighborhoods in Santiago.
Bellavista
Bellavista is the late-night pick. Street art on every wall, pisco sours flowing until 4am, and Pablo Neruda's house perched above it all on Cerro San Cristóbal's slopes.
Barrio Lastarria
Barrio Lastarria is compact and literary. Grab a used book from the stands along José Victorino Lastarria, then park yourself at a sidewalk table and people-watch for hours.
Barrio Brasil
Barrio Brasil has the biggest plazas and the cheapest beer. Old mansions turned into hostels and dive bars. This is Santiago ten years ago.
Where to go in Barrio Italia.
Barrio Italia hotels sit directly on or just off Avenida Italia, which is the only street you need.
Saturday mornings on Avenida Italia smell like espresso and fresh bread - Café de la Candelaria at 1449 is always packed by 10am, so go early.
The pasajes running perpendicular to Avenida Italia hold the real finds.
Barrio Italia, corner to corner.
The Barrio Italia guide.
Good to know.
The boring numbers that decide whether you stay three days or four.
| Currency | CLP |
|---|---|
| Language | Spanish |
| Cost level | $$$Moderate to expensive |
| Best months | October to December and March to April |
| Local time | UTC-4 |
| Plug type | EU & Italian plugs · 220V/50Hz |
| Emergency | 133 police, 131 ambulance |
The best shops and galleries hide in the pasajes, the narrow alleyways running perpendicular to Avenida Italia. Walk every single one.
If you like Santiago, try one of these.
How does Santiago stack up?
Things to know about Barrio Italia.
What is the Brooklyn of Santiago?
What is the coolest neighborhood in Santiago?
Where should I stay in Barrio Italia, Santiago?
Is Barrio Italia in Santiago safe at night?
Is Santiago expensive?
When is the best time to visit Santiago?
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