El Hoyo

El Hoyo is one of the oldest restaurants in Chile, founded in 1912, and a place where traditional Chilean food and drink are treated as heritage. It claims to be where the terremoto was invented, the drink that has become one of the symbols of traditional Chilean bars. Over more than a century the restaurant has been a refuge for well-known personalities and a reference point for Chilean food and culture.

The restaurant now operates from a single address at Condell 818 in Barrio Italia, in the commune of Providencia. It keeps alive the dishes that Chilean families have eaten for generations, so this is the place to try traditional cooking rather than modern interpretations. The full menu is published on the website as a downloadable carta.

The terremoto is the obvious order; pace yourself and eat something alongside it. Ask the staff for the traditional dishes of the day, or download the carta from the website before you go.

The restaurant now gives Condell 818 as its only address, so ignore older listings that may show a previous location. Opening hours are Monday from 12:30 to 17:30, Tuesday to Saturday from 12:30 to midnight, and Sunday from 12:30 to 17:30, so it works for a long lunch every day and for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday; on Sundays and Mondays plan to come at lunchtime, as it closes at 17:30. Groups of more than ten people should reserve by email at [email protected]; the website lists separate addresses for suppliers and administration ([email protected]) and for press ([email protected]).

El Hoyo is a traditional, unpretentious choice and a good counterpoint to Santiago's tasting-menu restaurants. It suits groups of friends, families and anyone who wants to experience Chilean food culture as locals do.

If you want to compare terremotos, La Piojera in the centre, near the Mercado Central, has the terremoto as its signature drink and is a symbol of the traditional Chilean bar culture known as guachaca. Visiting both tells you a lot about how Chileans have eaten and drunk for more than a century. Reach Barrio Italia by taxi, ride-hailing app or bus.