Las Condes / El Golf

What you gain

• ↑The Sky Costanera observation deck on the 61st and 62nd floors of Costanera Center is the finest viewpoint in Santiago — on a clear winter morning after rain, the Andes fill the entire eastern horizon from north to south in extraordinary detail. The view at sunset in October is among the most dramatic urban panoramas in South America.
• ↑The highest concentration of luxury and international hotels in the city: the W Santiago (with its rooftop bar WET and the finest 360-degree city view after dark), the Grand Hyatt, the Mandarin Oriental, and the Ritz-Carlton are all in Las Condes. For international business travel or a luxury stay, this is the right base.
• ↑The El Golf restaurant scene — Osaka Santiago (Nikkei, one of the best in South America), Astrid y Gastón (Peruvian), and the wine-bar dining rooms of Avenida Nueva Costanera — is the most internationally polished in the city.

What you sacrifice

• ↓The most expensive accommodation in Santiago by a significant margin. The luxury hotels in Las Condes and El Golf charge rates that are globally competitive rather than South American-budget. Value seekers should look to Providencia or Lastarria.
• ↓The neighbourhood has little local character — it could be the financial district of any global city, and Santiaguinos without offices here rarely spend time there. Getting to the historic centre, Lastarria, or Bellavista requires 25–40 minutes by metro.