The best restaurants Magallanes

Voted "Chile's best picada" by popular vote in early 2012 and 2017, this delicatessen has been a local institution since 1932. The recipe has been handed down from generation to generation and Silvia, the current owner, continues the tradition. They serve round rolls filled with chorizo paste and cheese: the choripan and choriqueso. Eat two or three, accompanied by a glass of leche con plátano (banana milk), served at the single counter. Super kitsch decor. We can also take it to go. An authentic address to discover!

Renovated a few years ago (more space and light, with a second floor flanked by a small terrace for smokers), this address is as colourful and warm as ever. For very reasonable prices, Alfredo and his wife Lorena (they speak good French) offer a mixed menu that inspires the taste buds (it changes every six months). Ceviche or garlic soup as a starter, rabbit stew or guanaco to continue... it's a treat. Very popular, even with locals: remember to book in the evening.

Intimate and convivial, this address, run by a couple from the region and from Zambia, offers a real culinary journey: local products are combined with a certain fusion. A la carte: giant crab to lick your lips (also in a salad with mango), salmon ceviche, lamb with mint or apricots, beef and tuna tartar, Ecuadorian tuna steak... without forgetting the fabulous desserts. The plates look like real little works of art. Very attentive and professional service. Very popular and often full: remember to book.

The meeting of all carnivores. Specialty: cordero al-palo. Yes, the sheep is cooked in the main room, which finds itself smoked… Some of them are disturbed, but in our view it is part of the atmosphere, especially as the (very local) garden is nice as everything. Small adjoining room for smokers, less pleasant. Another corner (the «Shameless club») where you can play cards. Consistent pricing. A good address, that we prefer to Don Jorge on the same place (much more touristic and impersonal according to us).

In an exceptional setting, on the edge of the fjord, you will discover the succulent French fusion cuisine of Chef Hernán Basso, a true cordon bleu. Let yourself be seduced by the hare à l'escabèche, the homemade smoked salmon or the giant crab salad; continue with a divine fillet of guanaco, a southern whiting, a lamb mouse with Roquefort and red wine). Or would you rather have beef or lamb? In any case, be sure to leave room for desserts: the lemon and strawberry tart from Natales and the vanilla and manjar millefeuille are exquisite!

This restaurant, all in yellow and blue and pleasantly decorated, with its large shelves full of wine bottles, offers a varied menu and fairly well prepared dishes. The speciality: the chupe de centolla: a succulent giant crab gratin ! Most of the time everything is very good and the menu is rather cheap: starter, main course, dessert and glass of wine, a good value for money! Don't forget to place your place of origin on the map! A classic, often crowded: sometimes you have to wait a long time before you get served.

This restaurant, officially the most famous in Punta Arenas according to the locals, offers traditional Chilean and international cuisine that doesn't really convince anymore. Don José offers king crab and cordero al palo, as well as other local specialties. You can even stop by the kitchen and watch the lamb being cooked on its spit. In addition to a pleasant Patagonian experience and very friendly service, you are sure to find something to your liking. The menu is generous and will satisfy both adults and children. A really nice family address.

Fish and seafood specialties(chupe de centolla, scallops, garlic shrimp, conger eel, fresh crab, salmon...), but also cordero. Smiling and friendly service in a typical and local environment. A very chilena address and popular with locals. Opened by the chef Manuel Marín, highly esteemed and respected in the town, this restaurant is still in operation despite the death of its creator and offers small dishes of very good quality. A typical address promising flavors and generosity.

This restaurant is still new and has a nice setting (wood, portholes...) and offers a varied menu and local flavours. The dishes are relatively copious and good value for money (fish, seafood, barbecued meats, etc.). A lot of locals meet for lunch: normal, the menu is really cheap. It's a perfect fit because there are dishes for all tastes and budgets. However, we recommend more meat, fish and seafood that sometimes lack flavour.

As its name suggests, this small restaurant with its rustic atmosphere and architecture (wooden slices and pebbles on the walls) offers very good wood-fired pizzas, lamb in all its forms, salmon, pasta and sandwiches. The dishes are homemade and relatively copious. The good news is that the kitchen closes late (sometimes until 1am), so this is the address to remember for freshly landed and particularly hungry travellers! The music playlist is nice, you can even make your own suggestions!

Not really typical because it is brand new, this market offers on the first floor fish shops that flatter the eyes of greedy travelers: huge conger eels and giant crabs in season, but also ceviches in trays for a cheap price. On the second floor, a few small restaurants offer seafood (around $5,000 a dish), including chupe de centolla. Finally, on the top floor, the Vistamar restaurant offers a more varied and elaborate menu, with a beautiful view of the waterfront. A touristy place but very nice.

This small Chilean restaurant is very popular with locals. It mainly serves southern specialties such as cordero (mutton) or paila marina (seafood and fish soup), but also sandwiches. The service is very fast, immediately ordered, immediately served and the dishes are very copious. The cuisine is neither refined nor delicate but certainly nourishing. Order the lamb, cooked on embers, it is the emblematic dish of the house and the meat is delicious. A local canteen that does the job perfectly.

From the moment you walk through the restaurant door, you will be charmed by the pleasant country decor of an old period house. You will taste exquisite cuisine under the guidance of its chef and owner Julián. Try seafood fettucini, salmon ceviche or canelones filled with snails and lemon sauce... and a succulent lasagna. In short, you'll have a great selection of tasty dishes to choose from, all of which are enjoyed in an elegant and relaxing setting. Remember to make a reservation, especially at the weekend.