9 Best Restaurants in The Central Valley, Chile

This sun-drenched restaurant overlooking the vineyards and polo field serves local delicacies including fresh ceviche, Chilean asado (barbecued meats), seafood salads, beef jerky empanadas, an eclectic mix of tapas, and indulgent Chilean desserts. The wine list is all from the Casa Silva winery, of course, but it's an enormous portfolio and the prices carry attractive discounts. Whitewashed walls, large windows, colorful floral arrangements, and balconies overlooking the estate make this one of the most pleasant lunch spots in the Colchagua Valley.

This stylish restaurant---one of the best in Santa Cruz---features an eclectic range of clay oven–cooked pizzas, as well as scratch-made pastas, salads, and fish and meat dishes, alongside local wines and don't-miss cocktail offerings (try the chili-laced version of a pisco sour). Smooth music, attractive surroundings, and some nice twists on the classics make Vino Bello a taste of la dolce vita in Colchagua.

Surrounded by vineyards, this ever-popular restaurant is a countryside culinary experience serving contemporary Chilean cuisine that celebrates native ingredients: seaweed ceviche, scallop and quinoa risotto, and carne mechada (pulled beef) among them. There's inside seating in a cozy country home, but most diners choose to take advantage of the clement Colchagua weather and the vineyard view from the garden.

One of the most traditional restaurants in town, the social club specializes in simple, hearty Chilean fare like conejo guisada (rabbit stew) and arrollado (rolled roast pork). In summer, the courtyard fills with locals lunching under the shady pergola.

If you’re looking for new flavor combinations, this fusion sushi bar is a great spot for creative cuisine and craft beers. A range of fresh ceviches, delicious octopus tacos, imaginative sushi rolls, and skyscraper burgers are just some of the regular menu items.

On the north-bound side of the Pan-American Highway, between the towns of Requinoa and Rosario, this well-loved Chilean diner caters to hearty appetites. It began as a humble truck stop in 1946 and established a tremendous reputation for its trucker-size portions of Chilean favorites—whopping steaks and ribs grilled over a wood fire, slow-cooked cazuelas, and stews that leave you wanting nothing more than a hammock and a long nap. It seats up to 500 people and fills fast on busy weekends. Stop in at noon or 6 to beat the local crowd, which tends to eat much later. One of the dining rooms overlooks a simple children's play area, which has a very large bird cage with many attractive species.

Offering Chilean à la carte and large lunch buffets, this hotel restaurant is an institution in Santa Cruz. The menu features typical Chilean dishes using local ingredients and producers, and boasts an extensive list of Colchagua Valley wines available by glass or bottle. In warmer months, the trellised terrace in back is a great spot for lunch.

It takes quite a drive to get here, but Milla Milla---the restaurant at VIK Hotel---is worth the trip. Fabulous valley views and monumental artworks are the only things pulling your eyes away from the colorful plates of contemporary Chilean cuisine. Dishes feature ingredients sourced from the nearby sea, mountains, and on-site garden. Head Chef Rodrigo Acuña Bravo is one of the most exciting on Chile's cuisine scene today. Set menus include VIK wine. Reservations are essential; if you have any trouble getting one, you can also have lunch at the equally superb Pavilion restaurant in the Viña Vik winery below.