Santiago/Bellavista and North

The northern part of Santiago starts from Bellavista and ranges out to the city borders in the north comprising the municipalities of Recoleta, Independencia, Renca, Quilicura and Huecuraba. These areas north of Mapocho river, was known in colonial times as La Chimba. The area was known for its many convents and cemeteries, and today they've been joined by hospitals and health centers. Traditionally a low and middle class part of the city, nowadays this urban sprawl also contains some high class residential areas like Hurchuraba and Chicureo.

Closer to downtown, wedged between San Cristobal and the river, Bellavista is full of eating and drinking places for all tastes. There are also theaters, karaoke bars, LGBT clubs, and artisan and jewellery shops.

Get in
Bellavista can be reached by walking across the Mapocho River from Plaza Italia/Metro Baquedano (Lines 1 and 5).

Further out line 2 of the metro covers some of the northern suburbs (along Av. Recoleta), and line 3 runs along Av. Independencia. However, most areas are accessible by bus. As otherwise with suburban Santiago, avoid rush hours.

You can of course also take a taxi. They are best found at highly trafficked places such as metro stations and malls. While some taxis are circulating in the area, chances of finding one is rather low, especially at nighttime. However in the partying district of Bellavista taxis are more easily found also during the night.

Buy

 * Barrio Patronato – founded by immigrants who opened textile companies here, this is a good place for finding both fabric and clothes from all over the world at low prices. Take the metro (line 2) to Patronato and walk towards east along the barrios shop-lined streets.

Eat
The eastern part of Bellavista, on calle Constitución between Dardignac and Antonia López de Bello, has many different types of restaurant. The same goes for the alleys near Mallinkrodt and Dardignac.



Drink
Bellavista has a wide range of choices from popular places to upscale, such as a jazz bar. In addition, there are discos with all kinds of music, from contemporary eletro-pop to salsa and merengue. This is probably the only barrio where you can find a disco that has a predominately gay audience. It is a fun atmosphere and features drag-queen shows during Saturday nights. Moreover, Bellavista is the area that lasts the longest during Friday and Saturday nights, with most places closing at 04:00–05:00, and a few places (so called "after hours") run until 06:00-07:00.