Seafood is king at the Central Market. If you want to try a local specialty, look for a restaurant serving centolla (king crab), which the waiter cracks for you; congrio (conger eel) or locos (Chilean abalone). If you’ve built up a big appetite, try a budín or chupe, thick, creamy soups and casseroles served in the typical greda (terra cotta) dish. Don’t miss trying what is probably Chile’s favorite appetizer,* machas a la parmesana*, razor clams served au gratin.
Some guided walking tours of Santiago visit the market: a great way to get a local’s perspective and top tips on the best places to eat.
The Central Market, as its name would suggest, is in the heart of downtown Santiago—a 5-minute walk from the Plaza de Armas. The closest Santiago Metro station is Puente Cal y Canto on Line 1.
The market is at its liveliest and busiest around lunch, from about noon until around 3pm. But if you want a traditional Chilean experience, come here in the wee hours of the morning (best done in a group and on weekends) for a steamy paila marina (brothy fish and seafood soup), when people are just coming out of clubs and vendors are just starting their long workdays.
Just a 10-minute walk away, La Vega Central Market is another of Santiago’s major food markets where you’ll get a colorful snapshot of Chilean daily life. La Vega is more focused on fruit and vegetables and is one of the best places in the city to pick up fresh, seasonal produce.