Over the past two decades, Chile, the narrow country that stretches along South America’s Pacific coast, has quietly evolved from a politically unstable backwater into one of Latin America’s most dynamic, pro-business economies.
Santiago, Chile’s 472-year-old capital and cultural and economic hub, combines low rates of violent crime for the region with affordable real estate and modern glass office towers that look toward the snow-capped Cordillera of the Andes. The 68-story Gran Torre Santiago, due to open in the early 2010s, will stand among the tallest buildings in South America, and major technology investments such as Google’s Latin American data center in the Santiago suburb of Quilicura illustrate the city’s growing role in the global economy.
International arrivals to Santiago rose steadily year over year, prompting new hotel developments and expansion at the international airport. In 2011, The New York Times ranked Santiago first on its list of 42 Best Places to Visit, while the city’s dining scene advanced well beyond street empanadas to include fashionable rooftop venues where fresh octopus and artisanal swordfish are showcased.
Business culture in Santiago adapts to local habits: while quick power breakfasts are known, the main meal of the day tends to be a long, social affair at midday. Upscale hotels cater to both tastes. The W Santiago in the modern Las Condes district features NoSo restaurant, which serves an extensive American/Chilean-style breakfast buffet with options like smoked salmon, custom omelets, pastries and popular mimosa and Bloody Mary stations.
Also in Las Condes, close to the Financial District, the Ritz-Carlton, Santiago offers rooftop swimming under a glass cupola and a spa for early-morning workouts, followed by a healthy breakfast at Estro, an all-day restaurant with comfortable indoor seating and a street-level patio. The hotel provides multiple meeting rooms for client appointments after breakfast.
Santiago’s rapid growth has driven increased demand for hotel rooms, especially among business travelers from Brazil who appreciate the city’s relative safety and stability. International credit ratings and ease-of-doing-business rankings have attracted investors and entrepreneurs from across the globe. Programs such as Start-Up Chile support promising startups by offering funding and a one-year work visa, drawing founders and tech teams to the city and boosting the local meetings and events industry. Between 2010 and 2012, such initiatives contributed to hundreds of meetings, workshops and conferences and helped establish Santiago’s reputation as a regional innovation hub.
Golf is a popular business pastime around Santiago. The foothills of the Andes host well-designed courses that rival top American clubs, and clubhouses often serve as venues for business lunches. Many upscale hotels and local associates can arrange guest passes to private clubs, while public options like Club de Golf Mapocho, located roughly six miles from downtown, are easily reachable by rental car.
For business lunches in the city, Zully in the Concha y Toro neighborhood occupies a stately four-story mansion with a calm interior garden once belonging to the Chilean poet Vicente Huidobro. Known for French-Asian-Chilean fusion cuisine, Zully offers private dining spaces for meetings; standout dishes include seared Easter Island tuna with rice noodles and a seafood risotto, complemented by Chilean wines and the leisurely midday meal favored across the country.
In Providencia, a vibrant, upscale district that mixes corporate offices, residential neighborhoods and boutiques, Infante 51 is a favored choice. The restaurant’s minimalist décor and outdoor patio make it a relaxed setting for a business lunch, and its seafood-focused menu—grilled breca, white tuna and octopus ceviche—showcases catches from Chile’s extensive coastline.
For an informal after-work drink, Bar Liguria on Luis Thayer Ojeda Street draws a lively crowd of actors, writers and professionals. With checkered tablecloths, prominent artwork and attentive staff, it’s an inviting spot for conversation and small plates paired with beer or wine.
For a refined late-afternoon aperitif, the Tramonto Bar & Terrace at the modern Noi Vitacura hotel offers panoramic views of Santiago and the Andes. The rooftop bar provides a relaxed atmosphere with signature cocktails, a menu by Chilean chef Matias Palomo and outdoor terraces warmed by fire pits—a pleasant place to unwind after meetings.
At the historic Plaza de Armas in the city center, tree-lined walkways, fountains and monuments form a scenic backdrop for the early-evening paseo, a traditional stroll taken as temperatures cool. Many visitors enjoy a gelato or tapas during this leisurely transition into the evening’s late dining traditions.
Getting around Santiago is straightforward. An extensive taxi network and a modern metro system make travel efficient, especially during rush hour. The metro offers an affordable alternative to road travel, while taxis remain the most convenient option for travel to and from Aeropuerto Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, typically a 25–45 minute ride to downtown depending on traffic.