Santiago Nightlife

A notoriously nocturnal city, the nightlife in Santiago stays lively until the sun comes up. Locals may only go to dinner at 11pm, getting to nightclubs after 1am and staying until dawn. While some visitors may not have that sort of stamina, most clubs don't fill until midnight.

Like most cities, much of Santiago's nightlife caters to people between 18 and 35, and spans a wide range of musical styles from electronic to rock and jazz. International acts play at the Estado Nacional and the Espacio Riesco, while Bellavista has a number of relaxed venues with local music like tango, bolero and Latin jazz. Pio Nono has the highest density of bars in Santiago, and there are a number of high-end nightclubs surrounding the Plaza San Enrique. Avenida Suecia should be avoided, as the once tourist-friendly area has declined into seediness.

There is a huge theatre community in Santiago, ranging from small independent productions to large-scale operas. Established theatres like the Teatro Bellavista, Teatro Alcalá, and Estación Mapocho stage productions on a regular basis, but performances in English are few and far between. Tourists who don't speak Spanish will enjoy symphonies or ballets at the Teatro Municipal, Teatro Oriente, and Teatro Universidad de Chile.

Local newspapers La Tercera and El Mercurio have good culture and nightlife listings, so pick up a copy to see what the latest concerts and events are in Santiago.