7 Best Restaurants in Pucon, The Lake District

Luthier Bistro

$$$$ Fodor's choice

You may not want to eat anywhere else in Pucón after sampling the varied, well-prepared dishes at this centrally located cafe. The fresh pasta, made in-house, is rich and soft; the pizzas are out of this world. Slow-cooked ribs, salmon and shrimp risotto, and beef fillet in a strawberry and Merlot wine sauce round out the menu.

Trawen Restaurant

$$$$ Fodor's choice

This solar-powered, creative restaurant features fresh and organic ingredients. Breakfasts include homemade yogurt, free-range eggs, and Italian coffee, while lunch and dinner present everything from oversize empanadas and sandwiches to meat, fish, and pasta. You'll also find a few dishes from other places, like gnocchi stuffed with chickpeas and feta cheese. Vegetarians come here for the great salads and vegan plates too.

Cassis

$$$$

This wonderful café and restaurant is dessert heaven, with assorted pastries baked fresh every day, chocolates galore, and an excellent selection of ice cream. The restaurant also has a varied menu of sandwiches, pizza, and more, and an extensive wine list. In summer, sit at one of the tables outside on the sidewalk. 

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El Camino

$$

The place to get comfort food, this lively restaurant has outdoor seating and is open from 1 pm until late in the evening. Rock music blares; the stars shine above; and the steak sandwiches, hamburgers, burritos, and quesadillas hit the spot. 

La Maga

$$$$

Argentina claims to prepare the best parrillada, or grilled beef, but here's evidence that Uruguayans are no second best. Watch the beef cuts turn slowly over the wood fire at the entrance. Wood, rather than charcoal, is the key, says the owner, Emiliano Villanil, a transplant from Punta del Este. The product is a wonderfully smoked, natural taste, accented with a hint of spice in the mild chimichurri (a tangy steak sauce), and portions are big.

Gerónimo de Alderete 276, Pucón, Araucanía, 4920000, Chile
45-244–4277
Known For
  • traditional parrillada with a Uruguayan flair
  • great chimichurri sauce
  • huge portions

Pizza Cala

$$$$

The excellent pizza here is cooked in a wood-fired oven, making for exquisite crust. A host of great toppings is exactly the way Italy meant a pizza to be. Combine with a fresh tossed salad and a local microbrew beer and you can't go wrong. In summer, take a seat outside if you can.

Lincoyan 361, Pucón, Araucanía, 4920000, Chile
45-265–6458
Known For
  • classic pizza
  • craft beers
  • outdoor seating

Viva Perú

$$$$

As befits the name, Peruvian cuisine reigns supreme at this restaurant with rustic wooden tables. Try the ají de gallina (hen stew with cheese, milk, and peppers), ceviche, or the splendid saltado nikkei, a Japanese-style dish of fish, shrimp, squid, and stir-fried vegetables. You can dine on the porch, a nice option for a pleasant summer night—and take advantage of the two-for-one pisco sours nightly until 9 pm.

Lincoyan 372, Pucón, Araucanía, 4920000, Chile
45-244–4025
Known For
  • classic Peruvian dishes
  • lovely porch dining
  • two-for-one pisco sours