There is, quite simple, nowhere else like Boragó in Chile. This is the Fat Duck of Chile. They only serve eight plates ('The Heart of Chile') which are as artistic as food gets – in fact they are quite unbelievable. Inventive and spectacularly avant-garde, but style isn't at the expense of substance; this is serious food with Chilean flavours and Mapuche cooking techniques at its core. Chef Rodolfo Guzman is quite probably Chile's best chef.

This hip Japanese restaurant is impeccably furnished and attracts a young, wealthy crowd. The ambient music adds to the calm, relaxed atmosphere at Etniko, which serves ultra-fresh sushi and stir-fry dishes, with some international choices. This place is so cool that it doesn't even need a sign above the door.

Taking on a modernist design from national architect Smiljan Radić, Mestizo gives a particularly breathtaking view out over Vitacura's Bicentennial Park, which on a clear day will definitely have you staying for another course. With an emphasis on fish, the menu has a distinctly Mediterranean influence. Al fresco dining is possible, although temperatures drop dramatically at night, even in the summer.

Wine enthusiast will feel right at home in Bocanari's cellar, stocked high with more than 300 bottles. Their wine pairing menu proves great value for anyone visiting with even an amateur interest in the tinto. Making reservations ahead of time is recommended.

Serving up a fusion of Peruvian and Chilean cuisine, this lively downtown restaurant is a hit with families and young santiaguinos. For a digestif, the cocktail menu revolves around pisco, a form of brandy from - you guessed it - Peru and Chile.

Surely the best burger joint in the city, Uncle Fletch takes its moniker from the Texan craftsman hailed with inventing the humble hamburger. Alongside the fat patties and juicy stacks, an extensive draught beer menu will provide the perfect fuel for the feast.

For more than 60 years, Dominó has been serving one thing very well: the hot dog (vienesas). A slight exaggeration – you can get other snacks too (mostly of the meat/bread combo), but this ‘soda fountain’ is an institution in Santiago for late night snacks and on-the-go sustenance. Try the classic Italiano with tomatoes and avocado, or the lomito meat sandwich – if you are hungry, go for the completo, which has a bit of everything. Meticulously clean old school joints, what more could you want?

It's difficult to pick out one single reason why this is one of Santiago's most popular eating venues. But the good value, the throng of contented diners in the cavernous eating area, the excellent pisco sours (the nation's favourite cocktail - a sweet, lemon-infused brandy) and the sizzle of fresh meat barbecued on the grill at the front all combine to make this one of the city's most memorable meals out.

You couldn't possibly cram more bustle, bohemia and style into one restaurant - in fact, the owners have realised there is some left over as more branches of this superb, efficient Santiago eating institution keep cropping up around the city. This doesn't seem to have eased the crowds, however - you'll need to show early to be guaranteed a table. It is classic Chilean cuisine (read a blend of Italian and Spanish food) with a touch of class.