Café Inmigrantes

Cafe Inmigrantes

There is a place in Punta Arenas where history and sweets go hand in hand.

One of the most important groups of inmigrants is the Croatian who came after the rumor of gold and a better life in Southern Patagonia spread in Europe during the late 1800’s. Soon after their arrival they found themselves facing severe winters, isolation, endless and punishing wind. Through hard work these brave families rooted here at the end of the world until their kids called Punta Arenas home.

In 2006 Dinka and Ivan came up with the idea of going back to their roots and share that part of history by creating a place where the family can go and share. I have to admit that the cookies, cakes and sandwishes are excelent, but Cafe Inmigrantes is more than just a place to eat. That is why you often see families, friends and couples having some quality time or just catching up. Another reason to come here is because Patagonians love sweets, or because we need to warm up the bones. Well, the bottom line is that any excuse is perfect to justify an “once” (AKA Tea time)

I love taking my wife here for “once”, but before I do I have to call and book a table. And what I suggest you to have is the “Once Inmigrante”, “Once Nonos” or one of the Mechados

Cafe Inmigrante

Once at Cafe Inmigrantes

Punta Arenas

Chile

Phone Number: (061) 222205

Address: Quillota 599

Mail: info@inmigrante.cl

La Picada de Carlitos.

 Looking for a good meal inPuerto Natales? “La Picada de Carlitos” is a restaurant that outstands in town because of its variety in the menu. Here you can have sandwiches, empanadas, soups, pastas, meat, seafood and more with that home made flavour that Chileans love.

Don Carlos

What’s more, this is not only a restaurant, this is a “PICADA”. This words is used in Chile to describe a place where you can eat, but that has to fulfill the following requirements: abundant  and low price. It is not quite for tourist or a place where you find fancy presentations, because what you are paying is for he flavour and not for something you’d rather take a picture of. This is a place where local would go with their families, or in my case with my father in law.

Owing to the increasing number of foreign visitors that they are receiving they have just built a quincho where they have lamb. Remember that you can not leave Patagonia until you have tried this finger liking good dish.

Another thing that makes this PICADA so unique is the fact that Don Carlos is always in the dining room keeping a vigilant eye on the general service and quality of each of the many orders that step out of the kitchen.

The Picada is open from 10 am and they don’t close until 11 pm. They take credit and debit cards, Chilean and Argentinian pesos and US dollars. They have wi fi but no laptops. And as many Chilean restaurants it has  smoking and non smoking areas.

La Picada de Carlitos is located on the corner of Blanco Encalada with Esmeralda and it is a big yellow building.

 Phone Number: (061) 415496

Tired after long hours on a small seat? Well here are some ideas for you to walk around and stretch your limbs.

Before you consider following the tip presented in this article, you ought to bear in mind that the weather conditions in Punta Arenas Change very rapidly. Therefore make sure that you bring along the appropriate clothing just in case. Always keep in mind the theory of the layers where the inner ones are meant to keep you warm while the external protects you from the wind and rain.

This short “walk around tour” should take 3 hours or thereabout. The idea is that you have the chance of discovering the Patagonia sun, wind and rain within the comfort of the city. In addition, this is a perfect opportunity to learn about our history and face some of our controversial topics.

The first stop is the Cemetery. The grounds where is nowadays located were donate by Sara Braun in 1919.

Menendez Family

It is considered one of the most beautiful graveyards in Chile. Here you will witness the magnificent craft in the making of family mausoleums and the round shaped cypresses avenues. How to get here? If your reference point is the Plaza you should head north east. Take Bories street and continue walking until you see a larger avenue called Bulnes (5 blocks from the Main square). Then go on for 3 blocks. From the main square it should take you 20 to 30 minutes walking time.

Most of the important areas are right at the entrance but one: the grave of the “Unknown Native”. This is a spot that forces us to look back and remembrance those who dwelled Patagonia long before Europeans set foot in America. How to get there? From the main entrance turn to the left and walk all the way to the end (5 minutes) As soon as you are facing a

Unknown Patagonian Native

big white wall, turn to the right and go on for some 3 minutes.

From this area you will notice an exit gate. Go through that and turn to the left. Walk until you get to the corner. On the right side you will see a monument of the most emblematic character of this far corner of the world. He is neither a cowboy nor a gaucho, he is the Ovejero.  This bronze testimony is deeply rooted in the hearts and tradition of this region since it was donated by Francisco Campo Torreblanca in 1944.

Ovejero

Finally and after all the calories I am sure you have burnt at this point, indulge yourself and warm up with a cup of hot chocolate or coffee at Cyrano. How to get there? Just start your way back to the main square on the same Bulnes Ave. This restaurant is located on the corner of Maipu and Bulnes Ave. what’s more, grab a bite while you wait for the rain to pass. They also have wi fi service but you need to have your own means to get online. They are open from 4 pm until midnight. Therefore my recommendation is that you walk around this area in the afternoon. Remember that in Chile that are some restaurants where you can smoke and some other where you can not. Here you

Cyrano Pub restaurant

can smoke without having to step outside into the cold.

Well then, enjoy your “walk around tour”.  Just one final thought: put on some sun screen lotion to protect your skin from the UV radiation especially during the summer.

Address: Calle Roca 875, Punta Arenas

Last night I was reading “Green eggs and ham” to my little daughter when I thought of a unique place that is a must if you truly want to discover a traditional place in Punta Arenas.

Since 1932 this small take away has been a spot where people from all social background, religions, work lines, football teams and schools congregate with one thing in mind: “Choripan  y leche con platano” It is one of those places where a dad would take his son or daughter for some quality time. But above all, it is the one place that defines simplicity when eating out.

When you enter kiosco Roca the first thing you notice is a bar where you can sit and where most of the time there are people from a near by office waiting to take some choripanes back to work. Then you look at the decoration, because this kiosco has an impressive collection of “Universidad de Chile football team” objects.

I mentioned “Green eggs and Ham” because the combination of the Chorizo (hard pork sausage) with the milk with a banana blended in, might sound quite aggressive to the liver. Yet, we believe that there is a charm that protects all those who eat here from any kind of digestive problem.

All the ingredients are fresh because they only sell 3 thousand units per day and with the high demand there are no left over.

So come and discover green eggs and ham in Punta Arenas

Kiosco Roca
Address: Calle Roca 875, Punta Arenas

Monday to Friday from 7 am to 7 pm. Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm