52 Best Nightlife in Chile

The cheap prices at this trendy, split-level bar belie the top quality of the world-class cocktails whipped up by some of Chile's best bartenders. A few sips and you'll view pisco in an entirely new light. Craft Chilean beer, artisan wine, and delicious bar food make this a crowd-pleasing spot to start or end your Valpo evening.

The flashy Casino Dreams Puerto Varas has the most prestigious address in town, facing the center of the waterfront. For a small-town casino, it's actually a modern, well-done place, with all the Vegas-style trappings, from slot machines to roulette, along with a restaurant, bar, and frequent music, comedy, and other entertainment.

Opened by an ex-pat from Oregon, this microbrew pub has taken Valdivia by storm and brushed to the side the old traditional German beers the area had previously been known for. The Growler's own IPA beer is offered in-house only, and is a bar highlight. They also have a plethora of other beers, and good pub food like fish-and-chips.

Hidden on a side street downtown, you might be forgiven for thinking that La Chiminea was just a hole in the wall. Besides towering plates of French fries and happy-hour specials, this place has an undying love of all things Chilean, especially cueca. Come here with nothing but a competitive spirit and a hanky, a dance essential. Classes run Monday and Thursday at 8 pm and cost 2,500 pesos.

While it admittedly has little competition, Antawara has cemented its position as Vicuña’s principal spot for evening entertainment. Traditional Chilean fare is on the menu, while regular live music and a wide selection of locally produced piscos keep things lively in the only real nightlife spot in this otherwise permanently sleepy town.

True to its name, this venue specializes in pisco, the national drink distilled from grapes. There are more than 30 different brands available at this stylish bar, which is attached to Café Vinilo, where bartenders serve up deliciously creative cocktails, such as apiado, which includes a celery-based liquor.

Founded in 1897, this traditional porteño hangout claims to be the oldest bar in the city. It's an iconic spot for folk music and cueca dancing with all the salty sailors, sticky tables, and memorabilia-stuffed walls to prove it!

This bar is popular with a wide range of ages thanks to live music, dancing, and lots of different beers on tap.

Fishing nets hanging from the ceiling, brightly polished wood floors, and black-and-white photos on the walls give this bar-restaurant an old-fashioned feel. Patrons come for a bite to eat, from chorrillana (French fries topped with eggs, onions, and beef) to ceviche, and then stay for the beer on tap.

The best place to catch live music in the city, Baradero is known for its diverse music styles and a large selection of microbrews at the bar, along with the occasional DJ or karaoke night.

A trendy take on the classic Chilean dive, this bustling backstreet bar boasts a dozen local craft beers on tap and more than 100 pisco labels, which it claims is the largest selection in Chile. Overflowing sandwiches, deep-fried empanadas, and massive chorrillanas (French fries topped with cheese, meat, onions, and fried eggs) help soak up all the alcohol.

A fun local hangout, this is where the drinks flow, the music blares, and soccer games are always on the televisions.

This is a fun bar in the city center for music, tapas, and drinks. There's a second, more modern branch at Rengifo 920.

This lively bar-restaurant packs a nice local crowd most nights, with music getting louder as the night goes on. But do not underestimate the excellent restaurant here as well. The pizzas are the most popular choice by the locals, but the menu also includes soups, salads, sandwiches, ribs, pasta, and more—all for a reasonable price.

On Cerro Concepción, Brighton has live Latin music on Friday and Saturday nights, starting at 11 pm. Its black-and-white tile terrace overlooks the city's glittering lights.

This long-running bar and nightclub may be tucked into a 100-year-old building, but it never seems to go out of fashion. DJs rattle the walls of two dimly lit dance floors each weekend, while emerging rock bands take to the stage at the attached concert hall. During the week, you can expect live-streamed soccer matches, cover bands, stand-up comedy, and an eclectic cast of characters.

For music and dancing to the tunes and traditions of down-home Aysén Patagonia, try Café Peña Quilantal. Admission includes a sit-down dinner and dancing all night to the varied tunes of the Quilantal band.

This bar has more than 50 beers available and excellent sandwiches. It's also open for lunch.

A great spot to sample Chilean microbrews, Casa Birra Temuco also has good food and, on the weekends, live music of the local rock, blues, or funk variety.

This low-lit bar with exposed brick walls under the Ascensor Reina Victoria makes the Central Coast's best craft beers, as well as a killer gin and tonic with its home-distilled Altamira Gin. The music is funky, the service is grand, and the elevated pub grub is delicious. Don't forget to check out the small beer museum in the back.

Gambling has arrived in Patagonia at this sleek, modern---but small---casino. It also has a popular bar and regular entertainment on most weekends, especially music, which attracts audiences of all ages. Admission is 3,000 pesos.

At the base of Cerro Santa Lucía, partially in a former convenience store, Catedrál is one of three establishments run by the same owners, all connected but with separate entrances. Live music and a heated-in-winter upstairs terrace make the Catedrál's bar popular among the 30-plus crowd (no happy hour). Upmarket Ópera restaurant serves dishes from far-flung places, such as trout wrapped in phyllo, veal, pork, and other nicely presented oven-cooked meats. Around the corner, on the street Mercéd is the café with Belgian sandwiches, large portions of cake, soup, and most importantly, the creamiest ice cream in Santiago.

If drinking artisanal beers around a warm fire sounds like your ideal night, then head to Cervecería St. Peter, where you can try microbrews created using native plants including rica rica and algarrobo.

Yes, you can find a true pub even in the desert. At Chelacabur, football shirts hang from the mud walls, sports constantly play on the television, and lots of cheap beers are on tap. This place fills up fast on the weekends, so be sure to get there early if you want a seat. There's no food on-site, but they let you bring in pizza from the place next door.

Near the center of town, this is the most popular nightlife spot in Puerto Varas, with drinks constantly flowing at the long bar, two outdoor seating areas for smokers, karaoke or live music on some evenings, and good pizza and bar food.

Located near Playa Chinchorro, Discoteca SoHo livens things up on weekends with the sounds of pop and cumbia.

Identifiable by the leering devil on the sign, El Diablito is one of the only divey places left in Lastarria/Bellas Artes, whose decor sports spurs, stirrups, and other metal items. If you want to see what this area felt like about 10 years ago, before gentrification, this is a good spot to try. It's popular for drinks after work or late at night.

This classic of Barrio Yungay predates the current immigration of hipsters and the revitalization of the neighborhood. For nearly 70 years, the kitchens have turned out Chilean specialties such as the heavy-hitting chorrillana, a plate of French fries covered in stewed onions and sausage, and topped with a fried egg. They also teach classes in the stompiest style of Chile's national dance, the cueca brava. Classes are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and cost 4,000 pesos. Given the timing, it's best to dance first, then eat.