On the night of 24, 25 and 26 July, several restaurants, hotels, shops, etc organize an enlightening activity on Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción: Noches Luminosas (Enlightened Nights). All participating businesses will put some extra light and until midnight they will offer their services and several activities such as tastings, discounts and much more.
We did not update the site for a while but we have a good excuse.
A couple of days ago we opened our own Belgian Bistro and Art Deco Hotel in Valparaiso.
If you want to try Belgian Waffles, a Duvel (Belgian Beer) or other Belgian and international classics with a little twist, drop by at ViaViaCafe Valparaiso We are open for friends and organize daily try-outs of the menu . Check out the page for the opening dates and to become a friend.
Chileans traditionally have their tea, also known as onces, around 7pm. Cafe Con Letras is a cosy, quiet place to try a typical Chilean tea, including a sandwich, pie, coffee or tea. The place offers a dozen tables surrounded by bookstands, feel free to browse through them. In 2009, they won the prize for the best once patrimonial in Valparaiso for the second time. For CLP3.500 you have coffee or tea, homemade pie, crunchy sopaipillas and a sandwich. Our personal favourite at Cafe Con Letras is a steaming hot chocolate with an incredible kuchen de manzana, best described as a reversed apple crumble, outside at the tiny terrace.
We added Porto Viejo to our all time Valparaiso restaurant favourites. Why? Because they serve the Chilean fish classics in a no nonsense way with fresh products. Because of the correct and fast service. And because they bring new quality in an old setting, the Barrio Puerto: Valparaiso´s most traditional area and UNESCO world heritage.
Check their page here.
On Sunday afternoon many restaurants are closed in Valparaiso, as in the rest of the world. This is no reason for an empty stomach because Valpo does have a gastronomic Sunday offer in Barrio Puerto, on the caletas and on Cerro Concepcion and Cerro Alegre.
We tried Restaurant Dimalow´s fixed lunch for two Sundays in a row. Their CLP8.000 menu comes with a starter, main course and dessert. The refreshing quinoa with fried vegetables and the portobello quiche got us in the right mood for the main dish. I had a steak of quality meat on a flavoured puree with a perfect texture accomponied by a mildly creamy sauce of roasted peppers – a personal favourite- with some touches of basil flavoured oil. On the other side of the table the Corvina with a curried zuchini sauce was baked to perfection and accompanied by an original pebre de mote (spicy chopped tomatoes and onions with Chilean boiled corn). The chocolate mousse reminded me more of a panacota but did it’s dessert job and the cheesecake with red fruits was just right, crunchy pastry and not too sweet.
Contemporary and original cuisine, delicate sauces and an oustanding friendly and correct service make you want to spend a part of your precious Valpo time in Dimalow.
Dimalow, Passage Dimalow, Cerro Alegre. Valparaiso.
There is a newcomer in Barrio Puerto´s restaurant scene. Le chat botté invites you for a daily lunch at 12.30 and an after office starting from 19.00. We tried lunch last week and had a very good price-quality meal with a fresh juice for CLP3.500 (US$6). As the name of the restaurant suggests the food is French inspired. Although we did not find Marquis de Carabas in the kitchen, the vinaigrettes, sauces, gratin dauphinois, cous cous and kebabs indicate a French ánd Mediterranean background. The interior design, lighting and atmosphere are a complete style break with the surroundings and the street and deserve an applause (and visit).
Le Chat Botté. Cochrane 558. Valparaiso.