4 Best Restaurants in The Lake District, Chile

For a filling sandwich, a homemade küchen cake, and an espresso or cappuccino brewed from freshly ground beans, this longtime staple is the place to stop in Villarrica. Pull up around a table in front or slip into one of the quieter booths by the fireplace in the back. The lomito completo sandwich—with a slice of pork, avocado, sauerkraut, tomato, and mayonnaise—is one of the best in the south.

Coffee and homemade pastries are the specialties of this café, but old-school (and big) sandwiches, excellent hot dogs, ice cream, and other simple dishes are also available. A classic stop in Temuco since the 1940s, it seems the whole town stops by for a quick lunch during the week, among the clattering of dishes and the army of waitstaff maneuvering their way around the tables.

The place to get comfort food, this lively restaurant has outdoor seating and is open from 1 pm until late in the evening. Rock music blares; the stars shine above; and the steak sandwiches, hamburgers, burritos, and quesadillas hit the spot. 

If traveling by car near Ensenada, make sure to swing by this classic stop between 4 pm to 8 pm, when they serve onces, a sort of Chilean teatime. For 14,000 pesos, you're served great küchen, cake, bread, cheese, salami, Nescafe coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and more. A panoramic view of the volcanoes and lake provides the backdrop. There is also a mini zoo with animals such as llamas and guanaco, a tennis court, and private lakeside beach. Eight well-equipped cabins are available if you want to stay overnight. In summer, onces are served every day, but the rest of the year only on weekends and holidays.