A major fixture in Chilean society, the Mercado Central may be touristy, but rest assured that the tourists are visiting for good reason. Located in a lovely steel art nouveau building, it has much more ambiance than many markets in Latin America.

The major product sold in this market is seafood, in particular fresh fish. The aisles are lined and piled with stacks of fish, filleted fish and whole fish, big fish and small fish...a veritable Dr. Seussian display of fish. The many restaurants in and nearby the market allow visitors to sample what they see. Mercado Central is a great place to take a sense-assaulting morning stroll, then catch lunch before heading off to another site in Santiago.

Location:
Ismael Valdes Vergara and Av. 21 de Mayo
Center, Santiago, Chile

Market

Open Hours from:7 a.m.

Open Hours to:3 p.m.

Travel Skills: None

By Erin Helland

Created: 10 May 2007

Updated: 21 Aug 2009

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Reviews

Traveler Reviews of Mercado Central

Fishy!

Allow yourself to be guided to a restaurant.  Conger eel is terrific!

Traveler from Toledo, Ohio on Jun 16, 2009

Very wonderful

It was oozing with authenticity

Traveler from Los Angelos on Jul 14, 2007