Chile » Atacama Desert » Guide to Restaurants

There is not much to San Pedro de Atacama – it’s a dusty, one horse town. However, it does have a range of excellent places to eat – almost all of them are on the main drag, Caracoles.

A recent piece of advice from clients: “when you move away from Chilean meals, the quality isn’t as good” so generally don’t expect pizza/pasta type food to be any great shakes.

La Estaka, Caracoles 259. Good for lunch or dinner. The crepes are superb and filling. Their enormous plates of cheese are easily enough to feed 2 people. Excellent salads.

Adobe, Caracoles 211. The place to eat of an evening. Tables are set around the edge of a patio with a large bonfire in the middle. They have a mixed plate of meats which is huge and delicious.

Café Export, Caracoles, Esquina Toconao – at the top of the street. Good at lunch or supper. Fresh pasta, the largest empanadas in Chile and a very good value set meal in the evenings. Scruffy surroundings but excellent, fresh food.

La Casona, Caracoles 195. You might actually need to make a reservation here for supper (tel: 851 004) as they have live music at night which makes it very pleasant. Several dining rooms to choose from although the patio with the bonfire seems to be the most popular. Slightly hit or miss food but the sandwiches and pizzas are very good.

El Cuna, Tocopilla 359. One of the few places you will find genuine local, high Andean, cooking. Good for dinner particularly.

El Tierra, Caracoles 271. Good for lunch with salads
and pastas a specialty.

If you have any suggestions for new places to eat in San Pedro de Atacama or thoughts about the above, why not drop us a line?