5 Best Restaurants in The Central Coast, Chile

Serving traditional Chilean cuisine with a contemporary touch, Café Vinilo prides itself on making its own bread and desserts. They also work directly with their food suppliers, so you can rest assured the rock fish ceviche on your plate was likely caught that same morning by a diver in Quintero, an hour's drive north along the coast. Wind down and settle in to your meal with great jazz, then check out the upstairs art gallery or adjacent boutique with upcycled clothes.

This cozy "dumpling house" near the Museo a Cielo Abierto is a soothing oasis of tranquil music, woodsy vibes and excellent Asian street food. It's a great alternative to all the seafood and sandwich restaurants nearby with a completely different menu and aesthetic.

Boasting what is arguably one of the best terraces in town, this two-story hilltop behemoth is one of the trendiest spots to watch the sunset with a pisco sour and a ceviche. Yet it's much more than just a bar and restaurant; you can also listen to live music, view art exhibitions, or shop for gifts at the on-site design store.

Seemingly dangling from the edge of Cerro Concepción, the bright yellow Hotel Brighton and its restaurant have an amazing view from the black-and-white-tiled terrace. The limited menu specializes in seafood, with such standards as ostiones a la parmesana (scallops on the half shell with Parmesan), as well as pizzas and burgers. It's also a great place to stop for a break to have a pisco sour or once (afternoon tea) on the terrace.

With so much fresh fish available, it's no wonder that sushi and sashimi have caught on with locals. In fact, it's hard to find a block downtown that lacks a Japanese restaurant, but a favorite is Shitake, which occupies a few gold and beige rooms on Avenida San Martín. The tempura is flavorful, especially when it incorporates juicy Ecuadorean shrimp. Sushi here is a group activity—you can order platters of anywhere from 18 to 103 pieces.