Bar The Clinic
Bar The Clinic takes its name from Chile's satirical newspaper, and the attitude carries over. The two-story bar at Monjitas 578 sits near the edge of Lastarria, close enough to Bellavista to draw from both crowds. Downstairs is a restaurant-bar with a long counter and tables. Upstairs opens onto a terrace that fills on warm evenings, looking out over the street below. The pisco sours here are considered among Santiago's best, made with fresh lime and egg white in the traditional style. The food menu is Chilean comfort: empanadas, sandwiches, and sharing plates. The crowd mixes journalists and media types (the newspaper connection is real) with university students and tourists who've read about it. Walls display covers from the paper and political cartoons. It gets loud on weekends.
What to Expect
A lively bar with a newspaper theme, political humor on the walls, and a crowd that's there to talk as much as drink. The noise level rises steadily through the evening. By midnight it's standing room.
Intellectual, social, and slightly chaotic. A thinking person's drinking spot.
Background rock and pop. The conversation is louder than the music.
Casual. This is a bar, not a club. Jeans and a decent shirt are fine.
Anyone who wants a proper Santiago bar experience with strong pisco sours and a local crowd.
Cash and cards accepted.
Price Range
Pisco sour 5,000-6,500 CLP, beer 3,500-4,500 CLP, cocktails 5,500-8,000 CLP, empanadas 3,500-5,000 CLP
Pisco sour ~-6.50/~4.50-6 EUR, beer ~.50-4.50/~3-4 EUR
Hours
Mon-Sat noon to 2 AM. Kitchen closes at midnight.
Insider Tip
Go for the pisco sours; they're the specialty. The upstairs terrace is the best seat in the house on warm evenings. Arrive before 10 PM on weekends if you want a table upstairs.
Full Review
Bar The Clinic delivers exactly what its newspaper namesake promises: sharp opinions, good humor, and something strong to drink. The ground floor bar fills fast on weekends, and the bartenders work at a pace that keeps pisco sours flowing without much wait. The traditional sour here uses proper Pisco Control C, fresh Pica limes, and enough egg white to give it a proper foam. It's one of Santiago's better versions.
Upstairs is the real draw. The terrace overlooks Monjitas street and catches the evening breeze. Tables are small and close together, which means you'll end up in conversation with neighbors whether you planned to or not. The political cartoons and newspaper covers on the walls give you conversation starters.
The food is honest and filling. Empanadas de pino (ground beef, onion, egg, olive) are traditional and well-made. The lomito (pork sandwich) is substantial enough for a meal. Don't expect fine dining; this is bar food done properly.
The crowd splits between regulars who treat it as their local and visitors who came because someone told them to. Both groups mix easily, especially when the pisco hits. Compared to the polished wine bars of Lastarria, The Clinic has more personality and less pretension.
The Neighborhood
The bar sits at the border between Lastarria and the route toward Bellavista. Monjitas street has several other bars and restaurants within walking distance. It's a natural starting point before heading north into Bellavista's louder scene.
Getting There
Metro Bellas Artes (Line 5) is a 5-minute walk. The bar is on Monjitas near the corner with Merced.
Address
Monjitas 578, Santiago
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