With only a couple of exceptions, downtown Puerto Montt restaurants include reasonably priced but run-of-the-mill places such as Café al Passo (Talca 81, tel. 065/253501); Dino’s (Antonio Varas 550, tel. 065/252785), with its chain predictability; and Rincón de Don Lomo (Talca 84, tel. 065/254597). Figure about US$4–7 for lunch, rather more for dinner.

DiPiazza (Pedro Montt 181, tel. 065/254174) makes good thin-crusted pizza at moderate prices—individual-sized pizzas start around US$4, and inexpensive pasta plates are also on the menu. The rejuvenated Club Alemán or Deutscher Verein (German Club, Antonio Varas 264, tel. 065/252551) is a step up in both price and quality. So is the seafood at the Centro Español’s Polo Sur (O’Higgins 233, 2nd floor, tel. 065/343753). El Tablón del Ancla (Antonio Varas 350) is a cheerful new bar/restaurant that’s worth a look.

Any of numerous palafito marisquerías clustered at the port of Angelmó are worth trying for fish, shellfish, and curanto, but streetside restaurants like the flashy Marfino (Av. Angelmó 1856, tel. 065/259044) deserve consideration. One of the best options is the steadily improving El Cuento del Mar (Av. Angelmó 2476, tel. 061/271500), with fine fish and shellfish entrées starting at US$7. The management, in particular, is congenial and accommodating.

For sandwiches, onces, coffee, and desserts such as German-style kuchen, try Café Real (Rancagua 137, tel. 065/253750), Patagonia Deli (Antonio Varas 486, tel. 065/482898), and Kalabaza (Antonio Varas 629, tel. 065/266010). Heladería La Reina (Urmeneta 508, tel. 065/253979) continues to produce Puerto Montt’s finest ice cream.