Let’s face it, if you’ve just arrived from the northern parts of Latin America – say the south of Peru or the salt flats in Bolivia -, you really need to get used to the fairly high prices of food (and everything else!) in Chile. Since there’s a great deal to see in the surrounding area – think of geysers, deserts, rainbow mountains and lagoons – allow yourself a couple of days to soak it all up. In my opinion 4 days would be the very least. Here’s where to go to keep that budget tight when it comes to food and drinks for that time being!
Bumkaldi Coffee & Tea
By far my favourite spot in town. The coffee is good, the setting is quirky, the cakes are really awesome, portions are big and the prices are small. It also comes with the best service in town. The only thing might be that this location is a bit hidden, but it’s just because of it that it feels like you really discovered a gem.
Another note in here is that the place closes as early as 07:30 pm, so come for a big lunch (the daily offer includes a main with a drink and even a cake for a good price!) and you probably don’t need to eat anything else for the rest of the day.
‘The cheap eats’
On Gustavo le Paige, the street right behind the main plaza, is where you can find the cheapest eats in town. Some ten restaurants are aligned next to one another and all offer more or less the same menu. The places are a bit crowded around lunchtime and you’ll might find yourself end up sharing a table with a family, but it gives you a nice insight into the local customs.
Don’t expect anything fancy, but they’ll give you a decent plate with a simple meal for it in here. For around $5,- USD you’ll have a (very big) soup and a regular plate with chicken, beef or fish accompanied with a salad and fries.
Peregrino
This place deserves a mention not just because of the decent prices, but mainly for its location; smack right in the middle of town on the main square. Come in here for a breakfast combo, a coffee or the fruit salad and enjoy the view on the terrace – with the square in front, the volcano on the left and the church on the right -, the people and the many friendly dogs that’ll pass by in here.
Salon de té
Another place with a decent lunch deal! At Salon de Té you can enjoy a big piece of quiche with a small salad for 5900 CLP! The quiche is good and filling and you get a piece of pie afterwards too. The atmosphere at the cafe is nice and they have a big patio in the back.
Don’t expect breathtaking experiences, but just a decent lunch spot. Although the breakfast in here is good too, it unfortunately comes along with instant coffee, a big no no nooo. Ye be warned.
La Franchuteria
Croissants! Baguettes! Jus d’orange! It doesn’t get more ‘Frenchy’ in San Pedro de Atacama. Because you might get tired of empanadas at some point, this bakery is a welcome place. Don’t expect a lunchroom, they keep it simple in here. But if you want to eat your warm bread (they come with a daily twist) with a hot coffee, they have a perfect garden for you to enjoy them outside. Unfortunately the jus d’orange is expensive, but I guess something’s gotta give.
You might end up staying here longer than expected as the wifi is pretty good in here too. Apart from the this place also opens up early (7am!) which is a rarity in town. So you might even be a to grab a croissant before going on a tour or a looong bus ride.
‘The fruit stands’
It probably seems kind of weird to mention where to buy fruit, but trust me, if you’re planning to stay for a longer time in town, at some point this information comes in handy. Unfortunately there are no big supermarkets in town. The smaller ones only sell the very basic stuff and do not necessarily have a lovely fruit corner. Even if they have one, the bananas and the like comes with a price. But don’t despair as there are two superb fruit stands just a little outside of the center. Check out the map below to see where you can find them exactly!
‘The chicken place’
Okay, so if you want to live dirt cheap in here (as far as possible in Chile), you might opt to go for this spot. I don’t even know the name of the place, but near Bumkaldi (the #1 in this list) on the Toconao street, this chicken point opens up as soon as it gets dark. Just follow your nose. The chicken wings and legs are accompanied with a decent portion of fries that will cure your hunger for sure.
Here’s where to find all of the spots! ↓
