The Ultimate Tour of the Best Cafes in Chile

In the sleepy town of Arica, in the north of Chile, you will need a good cup of coffee to get yourself moving as nothing much opens before 10 am here. Luckily for you, Kawri Cafe, in the center of town does, and their cool decor will draw you in, and their incredibly delicious coffee and treats will make you stay.

This traditional cafe has been doing everything right for many years and has become a staple for locals when they want a great cup of coffee, a muffin, treat, or even a hefty sandwich. Come early and post up on the patio outside with the center watchtower behind you, and the busy traffic of bustling humans in front of you.

As its name implies, The Little Cafe is exactly that. But in an area lined with coffee shops, this place is the David amongst Goliaths, as it has the highest quality coffee in the neighbourhood. Strong, smooth, robust blends, varieties of teas and treats so good the French have allowed the cafe to use their language in the name.

Along one of the side streets lined with coffee shops, it will be this discreet option that will knock your socks off. Take the little pathway off the street and you will arrive in a little courtyard with an even smaller coffee shop in front of you. This is Cafe Arte Bocetto, but don’t let the size fool you – the patio is where you want to be, as it is gorgeous, quiet, and home to the best ‘cortado’ coffee in town.

With so many coffee options in the trendy beachside town of Vina del Mar, you can just make Tonic Coffee your steady choice and you will not be disappointed. At Tonic you will get a cup of coffee in a variety of ways and as much selection when it comes to the snack you will get to go with that coffee. They also do terrific iced coffees when the heat kicks in or you have just woken up from your nap on the beach.

El Gallo label themselves speciality coffee and with one sip you will understand why. If you like a strong coffee, the sight of the beautiful stream of gold coming out of the machine will make your mouth water, or if you like something a little on the smoother side, a foamy cortado with have the same effect. They also have some of the coolest coffee shop clothing you are going to find anywhere so pick up a coffee, a shirt, and enjoy it while strolling the streets or one of the nearby hills.

You will have to search this place out, as it is not in the center of Pucon but a very short stroll towards the main supermarket in town. Once you have arrived, you will realize why they have chosen the location they have. A big outdoor patio is the best place to enjoy a terrific coffee or tea here, or on a rainy day, you can sit inside this converted old house, as the whole front of the building is a massive pane of glass giving you a stunning view of the open field and mountains lining the background.

Chances are, it will be blustery and oftentimes raining on the Chiloe Islands, and even if it is not, you can find a cloud in the sky and use that as an excuse to sit in this gem of a cafe, just one block from the main center in Castro, the capital of Chiloe. The inside of Cafe Blanco has enticing colours, cosy furnishings and smooth, strong, delicious coffee good enough to claim it’s the best on the island.

The last spot in Chile that could be classified as a city (even though it is really a town) is Coyhaique, surrounded by dry mountains on one side, and snow capped peaks on the other side. This beauty is visible from anywhere in town but is best enjoyed in the sun on the outside patio at Montana coffee shop. One stop here and it is easy to see why it is a staple for locals as the quality of the coffee and treats are next to none, and the helpful staff are genuinely excited to have you joining them in this log cabin cafe.