Santiago, February 2026
The holiday of lovers is linked to Saint Valentine, a Catholic priest who defied an edict from Emperor Claudius II banning young couples from marrying—believing single men made better soldiers. Judging the decree unjust, Valentine secretly wed lovers until he was discovered and executed on February 14, the reason he is venerated as the patron of love.
Today, 14 February is celebrated as a day of love and friendship—an ideal excuse to head out with your favorite person, whether a partner or best friends, and enjoy a memorable plan. In Santiago, countless romances and friendships have blossomed in the vibrant Bellavista district. With its bohemian spirit and nonstop energy, Bellavista offers plenty of experiences for the occasion. Below are three ideas for celebrating Valentine’s Day in this famous quarter.
An Evening of Theatre and a Five-Course Chess-Inspired Dinner
A Bellavista classic, Teatro MORI, presents Amantes, Parejas Disparejas on 14 February—its penultimate performance at the venue. This improv comedy follows three couples who seek therapy to save their relationships, only to tangle themselves in a chain of infidelities. Valentine’s tickets are 20 % off. The 20:30 show runs an hour—just enough for hunger to strike and guide you to the next step: Siete Negronis.
On 14 February the award-winning bar turns its tables into chessboards for a five-course experience.
Each move—or course—is crafted to deliver a holistic experience. It opens with a tartare, followed by a golden croquette, then a grilled skewer with chimichurri, accompanied by potato gratin and your choice of beef or mushroom demi-glace, all paired with a time-aged Negroni. The chess match continues with Mediterranean-spirited linguini puttanesca, served beside a botanical gin and tonic. The finale—or checkmate—comes in the form of a delicate lemon-basil panna cotta accompanied by a rum cocktail. Vegetarian and alcohol-free options are available for every move. This experience costs CLP $120,000 per couple and is offered exclusively with prior reservation and confirmation.
Sunset atop San Cristóbal & Authentic Mexican Flavours
Speaking of passion, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera epitomise intensity. Inspired by the iconic pair, the Mexican restaurant Güeros has created the Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera platter—ideal for two:
This sharing platter includes a shrimp coctelito, two mini tostadas topped with Ecuadorian shrimp aguachile, crispy calamari chicharrón, fried fish chicharrón, and house-made guacamole with totopos. The artist couple also inspired a cocktail that the restaurant describes as “intense and colorful—like a love that refuses to go unnoticed.”
Güeros will set the mood with live music serenading love—or heartbreak—and a photo booth so you can take home a keepsake. It’s the perfect plan for dining with your partner, friends, or anyone who—as they say at Güeros—moves your heart.
But a perfect outing isn’t just about the food—how about a privileged view of Chile’s capital? A short stroll from Terrazas San Cristóbal brings you to the Santiago Funicular. For only CLP $2,250 round-trip, it whisks you from Pío Nono station up to Cumbre station in just a few minutes, landing you atop Cerro San Cristóbal for a sunset panorama of the city. The 1925 funicular, declared a Historic Monument in 2000, has been recently renovated and restored.
The Poet’s House & A Home-Grown Vermouth
Pablo Neruda undoubtedly knew how to write about love. “I would devour the whole earth. I would drink the entire sea,” he remarked in his memoirs. The poet often professed his deep love of food and drink in his verse, and it is widely known that his favourite dish was caldillo de congrio (conger-eel soup), to which he even dedicated an ode.
The poet was known not only for his literary legacy but also for a string of romances that left behind several homes between Santiago and Chile’s central coast. One such residence in Bellavista is La Chascona, the museum-house he built for Matilde Urrutia, his secret love of the era. Admission is CLP 11,000 per person, and in summer the house welcomes visitors until 19:00. Reflecting Neruda’s devotion to Urrutia, it’s a fitting place to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
As mentioned, Pablo Neruda had a keen appreciation for gastronomy and mixology. Although no record identifies his favorite cocktail, one can imagine he would have found it hard to resist the charm of a Chilean vermouth like the one served at La Vermutería, located at Constitución 241 right next to La Chascona.
La Vermutería offers a broad array of share-friendly dishes—think papas bravas, Argentine empanadas, and grilled octopus with chimichurri, romesco sauce, and toast—starting at just CLP 7,900. Yet the undisputed star of the house, the one for which Neruda might have penned countless verses, is vermouth: blanco or rosso served every way imaginable. Classics abound—neat, with soda or tonic, with ginger beer or pink grapefruit—and even the house “Vermu sangría,” all for no more than CLP 7,500.
And the menu also ventures into signature vermouth cocktails. Try Las Llaves de Franklin, built with PobreVermut Rosso, El Gobernador 35° pisco, Cynar, and maraschino liqueur; or Chiqui, a mix of PobreVermut Blanco, Bacardi Carta Blanca rum, pineapple, lemon, and ginger ale. It’s the perfect stop after a cultural outing.
Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to rediscover the city—and what better way than through its culture, vistas, food, and cocktails? Don’t hesitate: call that special someone and invite them to one of these first-rate experiences.