Barrio Italia

The antique and the chic converge in Barrio Italia, where design-oriented shopping galleries are interspersed with refurbished furniture stores and beautiful old family homes. The charming neighborhood, which was saved by fashionable entrepreneurs who stymied the lean toward industrialization, is Santiago's most up-and-coming area, with a delightful bohemian spirit. Most of the stores repeat the same layout: a handful of independent vendors sell clothing, furniture, interior décor items and jewelry, and there's a café in what was once the home's interior patio. The main street is Avenida Italia, but don't miss the peripheral streets such as Sucre or Girardi streets. For quality leather goods, clothing and arts and crafts, try Estacion Italia (Av. 1439), or Bazaar de la Fortuna, with a warehouse-sized barn filled of furniture and home décor (Av. Girardi 1560). There are a few restaurants worth visiting while here, such as the Xoco por Ti (Av. Italia 1634) for chocolate and chocolate beverages made from high-quality cacao; or Casa Luz for the antique interiors and bucolic outdoor patio (Av. Italia 805).