Entertainment Guide to Santiago

Art

In this part of the city called Vitacura, there are plenty of galleries to visit and buy some local art. One of these that includes sculpture and engraving is the Galería de Arte Isabel Aninat. Another gallery to find exhibits from local and international artist is the Galeria A.M.S. Marlborough and one for the children is the Casas de la Matta, where workshops are held for kids. And lastly for those fashion lovers, there is the Museo de la Moda which houses a wide collection of fashions and styles from every era.

Movies

There are plenty of movie theaters throughout the Santiago area and all of them show the latest films as well as independent ones. The Cine Arte Lo Castillo is located in a quiet residential area and has great audio quality. The Cine Alameda is a monstrous theater that seats up to 800 people and on the other hand, the Cine El Biógrafo is a smaller theater, but both are located in areas that have plenty of other entertainment around them. The Cine Normandie located in the city center primarily plays art-house films and hosts wonderful Latin American films festivals. Another small cinema is Espaciocal, but the theater is comfortable and sometimes they put on art exhibits in the lobby. The Cine San Damián is located in the posh Las Condes district and has all the modern amenities within and also is surrounded by great shops, bars and restaurants.

Museums

Santiago also has many museums with many treasures from Chile, such as the San Francisco Museum, built in 1628, the Artequín Museum, an interactive museum that is great for children, the Archaeological Museum of Santiago for those interested in Chilean history and the more exotic Municipal Museum of Insects and Snails. The Pre-Columbian Chilean Art Museum contains some artifacts from indigenous people throughout South America. A museum designed after the Petit Palais in Paris is the National Fine Arts Museum and has more than 2700 paintings from around the world. For those looking for more modern art, there is the Museum of Contemporary Art and it is located in the Bellas Artes area. The Museum of Science and Technology is an interactive museum and very interesting for both adults and children.

Music

For music-lovers, the choices are both excellent and wide. Whether you are interested in seeing one of the concerts of world-famous bands such as Inti Illimani or Los Jaivas, or attending one of the many folk, jazz or classical concerts offered throughout the city, Santiago has something for you, no matter your musical preference. If it's rock you are after, you should have a look and see what is going on in places like La Batuta, Paradise and Zoom where there tends to be music throughout the evening. In February, there is a festival called Festival de Jazz en Ñuñoa, where you can listen to jazz under the stars. The nightlife in Santiago takes place in various areas throughout the city. One of the most popular areas is the Barrio Bellavista, with its bohemian feel and its many restaurants, bars and discotheques. In January, the Love Parade takes over this area with techno music and DJs until the break of dawn. One of the most popular dance clubs at the moment is Skuba, full of national jetsetters. Another place where good fun is guaranteed is Skalibur, where you can have a drink in King Arthur's atmosphere.

Nightlife

There are many other things one can do at night in the center of Santiago. Why not simply have a walk along the Paseo Ahumada, where there are many street stalls selling trinkets and treats? At the end of that street, you will come across the recently refurbished Plaza de las Armas. Surrounded by Colonial buildings, the place is full of street painters and musicians who perform all sorts of concerts on the stage.

Santiago has more than one face. And this is part of its attraction: modern shopping malls on the one hand, and indigenous arts and crafts exhibitions (in the Cerro Santa Lucía) on the other, street performances and juggling outside the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo (Museum of Contemporary Art), and visual art exhibitions in its many galleries and underground stations. Santiago is a city of healthy contrasts between its different areas, with a truly fascinating cultural and architectural diversity.

Paseo San Damián is another popular area, although slightly more expensive. One of the nicest things about this area, apart from the music, the drink and the good food, is the fresh air of one of the highest points of the city. In this area, there is also the Parque Araucano, a great place to take the kids, have some ice cream and maybe take a dip in one of the swimming pools. If what you are after is dancing, or you want to, as they say in Chile, "throw the house out of the window" (a Chilean version of "paint the town red"), just open the Yellow Pages and take your pick! In Santiago the partying begins around midnight and goes on right through till dawn. Most of the discotheques have a wide range of drinks and offer the latest in sound and lighting equipment.

Nightspots with a gay and lesbian focus are also plentiful, and include bars and discotheques with excellent musical performances and an exciting atmosphere. Fausto, Bunker or Bocara are all good choices.

Another similar place is the Plaza Brasil, located right in the city center. The buildings in this area, which feature Colonial architecture, are home to many university students in Santiago. There are many bars and restaurants in this area, where you can eat, drink or even read a poem if you feel up to it.

Theaters

During the summer, the whole of Santiago becomes a huge theater, with its many festivals and performances. What is known as the Teatro a Mil (mil meaning a thousand) takes place in Mapocho station every day in January and competes with the many free theater festivals organized by various councils in the capital city, such as La Florida or Providencia.

If what you are after is a place with its own identity and idiosyncrasies, Plaza Ñuñoa is the place to go. Famous for being the bohemian center of Santiago, this neighborhood is a wonderful place to hang out at night. Take a walk around the gardens, or spend a night with your friends in one of the many bars and discos in the area. You might even want to buy a book in the second-hand bookshop there. During the summer, the Teatro Municipal presents concerts practically every night, presenting some of the new music that has come out during the season. Teatro Apoquindo and Teatro La Comedia are also very popular theater spots in Santiago.

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