Mercado Central

Santiago’s Mercado Central is a majestic little market located in a bustling part of the city, one of the last remnants of an age when passenger trains pulled in and out of the Estación Mapocho and the grand Cal y Canto Bridge spanned the Mapocho River across the way. The wrought-iron structure of the building, which has been declared a national monument, was designed and constructed in England before being shipped over and assembled in Chile. Its first home was the Plaza de Armas, the historic center of Santiago, but it was moved to its current location as the city grew. These days the Mercado Central has been overshadowed in size and volume by the sprawling La Vega market on the far side of the river, but it remains a quaint and accessible venue where first-time visitors can experience the natural bounty that Chile has to offer. Discover the tastes and textures of sea urchin, piure and shellfish of all shapes imaginable in the small fish market before heading inside for a proper Chilean meal.