Your essential guide to Santiago

VISIT

For a masterclass in modern Latin American art, explore the Ralli Museum, whose big hitters include Chilean abstract expressionist Roberto Matta. On the upper floors, pieces by Dalí and Chagall add to the appeal. Collectors should also visit the nearby Galería Animal, which showcases top Chilean talents.

DRINK

Modern art, gastronomy and craft cocktails collide at CV Galería, a high-end dining complex where DJs spin records and resident muralists craft ephemeral art experiences. Start your evening here, then walk four blocks to cocktail legend Siete Negronis for a strong nightcap, such as the Patagonian negroni.

DINE

Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei cuisine is all the rage in Santiago, and few chefs blend sashimi cuts with Andean spices as masterfully as Juan Ozaki. At Mandarin Oriental, Santiago’s restaurant, Matsuri, sample classics such as pulpo al olivo (octopus in olive sauce) or inspired inventions, including the ceviche hibachi.

SHOP

A short stroll from the hotel, the wide avenues of Alonso de Córdova and Nueva Costanera intersect in the Vitacura neighbourhood, forming a nexus of high-end shopping. The sleek, open-air Casacostanera mall is a fine place to start, but venture further afield, too, to boutiques such as SISA, known for its crafted clothes and sustainable ethos.

TOUR

Along with its alluring Spanish-colonial architecture (most notably at Plaza de Armas), Santiago Centro is home to the best museums in town. Start at the Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, eying monumental Mapuche woodcarvings and anthropomorphic Incan pottery. Afterwards, head to CCLM, a stunning subterranean cultural centre beneath the presidential palace.

WALK

The hip Barrio Italia neighbourhood bursts into life on Sundays, when stores elsewhere tend to close. Explore its antique shops and small boutiques, then dine on foraged finds and seasonal produce at the charming Silvestre Bistró. And catch a live quartet at The Jazz Corner.

EAT

Don’t miss dinner at Boragó, where chef Rodolfo Guzmán crafts a culinary tour de force from Chile’s vast larder. His tasting menus journey from the Atacama Desert to the Patagonian fjords, with ingredients that might run from river shrimp to seasonal sea strawberries. For some equally unconventional Chilean wines, opt for the paired menu.

STROLL

José Victorino Lastarria is easily Santiago’s most enchanting street, with its buskers, cultural hubs and Sunday flea-market stalls. Order a frothy pisco sour at Chipe Libre or a flight of Carménère wine at Bocanáriz, then climb to the top of the rocky Cerro Santa Lucía for terrific city views.

SKI

Between mid-June and mid-September, Northern Hemisphere skiers migrate south to the Tres Valles resorts of El Colorado, La Parva and Valle Nevado, which have the largest skiable domain in South America. It’s just 80 minutes to the slopes, so you’ll be back in Santiago in time for your evening ceviche.

WATCH

Santiago has a vibrant performing arts scene that often goes unappreciated by the casual visitor. Check out what’s on at the striking Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral (GAM), or the opulent Teatro Municipal de Santiago, which stages lavish operas, ballets and symphonies.

TASTE

The city gives way to vineyards on its southern fringe, where the Maipo Valley’s Cabernet Sauvignons are known the world over. Concha y Toro is the largest and loudest player, but those in the know head for Viña Santa Rita, for tours, tastings and picnics in the gardens.

EXPLORE

Head for the hot springs and hiking trails of the Cajón del Maipo, a verdant river valley that snakes into the Andes on Santiago’s southeastern fringe. The Termas Valle de Colina are one of the biggest draws: a series of mineral-rich turquoise pools set beneath colossal, snow-capped peaks.

For breathtaking views of the city and mountains, follow the verdant trails that climb Cerro San Cristóbal. This is the place to catch an awe-inspiring Andean sunset as it paints the cityscape with orange, red and purple. Afterwards, head back down the hill to explore the artistic Barrio Lastarria, which is full of eclectic eateries, galleries and boutiques.

- The concierge team at Mandarin Oriental, Santiago.