Café Iyael

Santiago

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DESTINATIONS chile santiago Cafes Café Iyael

Café Iyael

Café Iyael is a popular café among Santiago's locals and known for their delicious cheesy empanadas. They are the perfect snack if you are feeling a little peckish but it won't be hard to stuff yourself with them in lieu of lunch or dinner either. Iyael's mama owner refuses to reveal her empanada secret and you will therefore not have any other choice but to return to get more (which you will definitely want to do anyways).

Cafes

Even though many coffee bean varieties are grown in South America, there was no big coffee culture in Chile until only a few decades ago. The hot drink of choice is definitely tea, especially yerba mate – an infusion drink made from cut and dried leaves of the mate shrub. Mate was already popular before the colonization of South America. If coffee is served, you will often get it in small teacups, unlike larger serving sizes customary in Europe or America. In the 50s, a particular coffee house style has established itself in Chile, the Café con Piernas, "coffee with legs". In these coffee houses, waitresses work on platforms behind the bar in considerably short skirts. However, despite this questionable feature, these cafes are not uncomfortable or sleazy, but furnished elegantly and are located in the main pedestrian areas rather than in hidden side alleyways. No alcohol is served, instead, you will typically find great coffee from hefty espresso machines. Here is a selection of cafes you should not miss in Santiago: