Barrio Italia — The Hipster District

Barrio Italia — Santiago's Creative Future

While Bellavista and Lastarria have long been on every tourist map, Barrio Italia around Avenida Italia between Providencia and Ñuñoa is the district that Santiaguinos themselves call their favorite. What was a sleepy residential area ten years ago has transformed into a creative epicenter: in converted colonial houses with courtyards, you'll find vintage shops, craft beer bars, design studios, galleries, bookstores, and specialty coffee roasteries.

The special thing about Barrio Italia is its courtyard culture: many of the old houses have winding patios that function as mini-markets and gallery passages. The Persa Italia is a permanent antiques and vintage market in several connected courtyards — records, mid-century furniture, retro clothing, and Chilean handicrafts. On weekends, Santiaguinos flock here for brunch, browsing, and strolling.

Highlights

• Persa Italia: Vintage market in historic courtyards. Records, furniture, art. Most lively on Sat/Sun
• Galería CIMA: Contemporary Chilean art in a converted industrial building
• Café de la Candelaria: One of Chile's best specialty coffee roasteries — single-origin beans from Colombia and Peru, minimalist design, baristas who take their craft seriously. Flat White 3,500 CLP
• Bar Liguria Italia: Offshoot of the legendary Liguria chain — Chilean cuisine, good wine, always full. Cazuela 8,000 CLP, Pastel de Choclo 9,000 CLP
• Chipe Libre: "República Independiente del Pisco" — a bar serving only Pisco cocktails: Chilean AND Peruvian Pisco. Politically incorrect, tastefully brilliant. Pisco Sour from 5,000 CLP