Patio Bellavista

Patio Bellavista is the easiest introduction to nightlife in Barrio Bellavista, Santiago's bohemian quarter between the Mapocho and Cerro San Cristóbal. Opened in January 2006, it turned former workshops, warehouses and car parks in the block bounded by Bellavista, Pío Nono, Dardignac and Constitución streets into a single complex of restaurants, bars, shops and cultural spaces.

There are more than 20 restaurants and food venues, ranging from restobars and cafés to dessert shops, pet-friendly places and spots with children's menus, so a group with different tastes can usually agree on something. Featured names include Cinema, Alba Rabbit Coffee and Niu Sushi. Shops sell crafts, souvenirs and design objects, including Manos, Chilevivo, Diseño Lautaro and Chilean Souvenir, and there is a Turistik desk for booking tours and the hop-on hop-off bus.

The complex stays open late: until 01:00 from Sunday to Wednesday and until 03:00 from Thursday to Saturday, which makes it a good place to start an evening. Its cultural agenda includes sculpture, a Paseo de las Artes, a mural route and seasonal events such as kite flying, so it is worth checking the programme for your dates.

For visitors, Patio Bellavista works as a gentle first night out in Santiago: you can eat, have a drink and browse the shops without having to choose between the many bars along Pío Nono. From there it is a short walk to the livelier bars and clubs of the neighbourhood, to Siete Negronis at Terrazas San Cristóbal, or to dinner at Peumayén Ancestral Food on Constitución.

Parking is available at Bellavista 052 inside the complex and at Bellavista 37, and the nearest metro station is Baquedano, where Lines 1 and 5 meet; from there cross the Pío Nono bridge and walk north. Late at night, a taxi or ride-hailing app is the simplest way back to your hotel. As in any busy nightlife area, keep valuables secure, especially on the streets around the complex.

Patio Bellavista suits families early in the evening, groups of friends and first-time visitors who want variety in one place. Its mix of food, drink and culture, and its location close to La Chascona and the San Cristóbal funicular, make it a useful anchor for an evening in Bellavista.