La Vega Central
A large produce market where locals shop, with fruit, spices, and cheap home-style lunches; more lively and authentic than Mercado Central.
La Vega is on the north bank of the Mapocho River in the Recoleta district and is Santiago's largest fresh produce wholesale and retail market. Piles of avocados, cherries, lúcuma fruit, and every kind of chili pepper are on display. You can also sample freshly squeezed juice and, at the cocinerías (small eateries), a bowl of cazuela stew or porotos beans and rice for a few thousand pesos. It pairs well with a visit to Mercado Central. It is busiest in the morning, and most stalls close on Sunday afternoons. Note: it's crowded, so keep your phone and wallet in front and don't wear jewelry.
Opening hours
Mon–Sat 06:00–18:00; Sunday until approx. 15:00
Nearby sights
- Mercado Central de Santiago
- Plaza de Armas & Metropolitan Cathedral
- National Museum of Fine Arts
- Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art
- Cerro Santa Lucía
- Barrio Lastarria
- Church of San Francisco
- La Moneda Palace