The Lastarria neighborhood of Santiago, Chile, is modern and friendly, featuring parks, libraries, theaters and museums, including the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. The area’s rich artistic heritage, natural beauty and bustling dining scene attract tourists and locals alike. But after a day of cultural exploration, where should you go for a great glass of wine?
Look no further than Bocanáriz, just south of the Parque Forestal. The restaurant, wine bar and wine shop won a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2023, making it Chile’s only Restaurant Award winner. Since opening in 2012 (Bocanáriz claims to be the first wine bar in Chile), it has become a go-to for enophiles. Whether you’re hoping to explore up-and-coming Chilean producers through a themed flight or just looking for a delicious glass and a bite to eat after exploring a museum, Bocanáriz belongs on your list.
Highlighting the Diversity of Chilean Wine
Bocanáriz (a whimsical mishmash of the Spanish words for “mouth” and “nose”) boasts an all-Chilean wine list of 250 selections, with nearly 2,500 bottles in its inventory. The restaurant’s underground cellar, which dates to the 1920s, is an ideal venue for small tastings, and since Bocanáriz doubles as a bottle shop, visitors can always choose something tasty to take home.
More than 30 wines are offered by the glass, served using an Enomatic temperature-controlled preservation system that lines the back bar. The restaurant features 13 three-wine flights, with educational themes ranging from “Iconic Chilean Wines” to “Extreme Vineyards” to “Varieties to Discover.”
Wine director and co-owner Katherine Hidalgo told Wine Spectator that at Bocanáriz, “our wine program is focused on being a showcase for Chilean wine—a photograph of the country’s current wine scene, showing the trends and classics of our country.” For her, it’s crucial to feature Chilean wines exclusively since they are “the DNA of the place.”
Hidalgo emphasizes that everyone on the service team is a sommelier equipped to “tell the story behind each wine we serve.” She aims to cultivate an educational, yet “fun and dynamic” atmosphere in which all guests can “learn something new about Chilean wine.” At Bocanáriz, the bottles on offer aren’t just beverages but “250 stories to tell.”
To that end, Hidalgo hosts regular pairing dinners and tastings with winemakers to spotlight new producers as well as organic and biodynamic wines. Her wine list highlights regions such as Colchagua, Aconcagua, Maipo and beyond, and runs the gamut from well-established wineries (including Viña Errázuriz, Miguel Torres, Viña Montes, Viñedo Chadwick and others) to the contemporary Chilean vanguard. For those looking to dive into some of Chile’s most elite wines, special verticals are available, with vintages going back to 1999.
Along with the wines at Bocanáriz, Chilean pisco stars among the cocktail options, and a pisco flight is also available.
Creative Takes on Traditional Chilean Cuisine
Chef Germán Fuentes’ menu spotlights modern interpretations of Chilean classics with an eye toward ease of pairing. According to Hidalgo, “our gastronomy is [intended] to accompany Chilean wines, so here the wine is really the protagonist.”
Highlights of Fuentes’ menu include roasted beef tongue, pounded flat venison tataki with ponzu and crispy quinoa, grilled trout and pickled rabbit. If you’re in the mood for something lighter, don’t miss the starters, which include Chilean oysters, ceviche, beetroot tartare and much more. A $45 prix-fixe menu with wine pairings is also available.
Bocanáriz is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, and for dinner on Sunday.
