Cinzano
Cinzano has occupied its spot on Plaza Anibal Pinto 1182 since 1896, making it one of the oldest continuously operating bars in Chile. The interior preserves a turn-of-the-century aesthetic: dark wood paneling, a tin ceiling, ornate mirrors, and a long bar that has served generations of dockworkers, sailors, poets, and now tourists. The room is narrow and deep, with tables packed tight enough that your neighbor's conversation is your background music. On weekend evenings, a small stage at the back hosts live tango and bolero musicians who play to a room that ranges from elderly regulars who've been coming for decades to backpackers on their first night in Valparaiso. The pisco sours are made traditionally, and the bar also serves wine and beer. Food is limited to Chilean bar snacks. Capacity is about 80 people.
What to Expect
A time capsule. Walking into Cinzano feels like stepping back a century. The wood creaks, the mirrors reflect dim light, and the music comes from real instruments played by real musicians. The crowd is mixed in the best way: old and young, local and foreign.
Historic, intimate, and a little melancholic. Port city soul in a glass.
Live tango, bolero, and traditional Chilean music on weekends. No music or quiet radio on weeknights.
Come as you are. Port bars don't judge.
History lovers, tango fans, and anyone who wants to drink in a place that's been pouring for over a century.
Cash preferred. Cards accepted but not always reliably.
Price Range
Pisco sour 3,500-5,000 CLP, beer 2,000-3,000 CLP, wine 3,000-4,500 CLP, snacks 2,500-5,000 CLP
Pisco sour ~.50-5/~3-4.50 EUR, beer ~-3/~1.80-2.70 EUR
Hours
Mon-Sat 11 AM to midnight, live music Fri-Sat from 9 PM
Insider Tip
Arrive before 9 PM on Fridays and Saturdays to get a table near the stage. The tango performances are worth planning around. Order pisco, not cocktails; it's a traditional bar.
Full Review
Cinzano is the kind of bar that makes you understand why people are nostalgic for places they've never been. The interior hasn't been renovated so much as maintained, preserving the dark wood, tin ceiling, and mirror-backed bar that have been here since 1896. The tin ceiling catches the warm light and throws it back in soft patterns.
On a Friday evening, the tango duo sets up on the small stage at the back of the room. Guitar and voice, no amplification needed in a space this intimate. The music fills the narrow room, and the conversations drop to a murmur. Old couples who've been coming here for years sit next to young travelers discovering the place for the first time. The music bridges every gap.
The drinks are straightforward. Pisco sours are made with a practiced hand: not fancy, not modernized, just the traditional recipe executed with the consistency that comes from doing it thousands of times. Wine is Chilean and basic. Beer is cold. Nothing else is needed.
The location on Plaza Anibal Pinto puts you at a crossroads between several other bars and the stairways leading up to the cerros. Starting an evening at Cinzano before climbing to the hillside bars is a classic Valparaiso move. The plaza outside fills with its own energy on weekend nights, with street musicians and vendors adding to the atmosphere.
The Neighborhood
Cinzano sits on Plaza Anibal Pinto in the Plan, Valparaiso's flat port-level district. The plaza is a natural gathering point surrounded by several other bars. The stairways and ascensores to Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepcion start a few blocks uphill from here.
Getting There
From the Valparaiso bus terminal, a taxi to Plaza Anibal Pinto costs about 3,000 CLP. The Ascensor El Peral, which connects the Plan to Cerro Alegre, is a 5-minute walk from the plaza.
Address
Plaza Anibal Pinto 1182, Valparaiso
Other Venues in Cerro Alegre-Concepcion
El Huevo
One of Valparaiso's most emblematic bars, open since 1969. A cramped, smoky dive in the Plan where poets, musicians, and university students have been drinking for decades.
La Playa
Popular live music bar near the port hosting rock, cumbia, and folk acts. The crowd dances hard in a small space. Cheap drinks and real energy from local bands.
Bar Abuelo
Tiny hilltop bar on Cerro Concepcion with a handful of tables and a terrace overlooking the harbor. Strong pisco sours and an intimate atmosphere. Cash only.
Fauna
Restaurant and bar on Cerro Alegre with a modern interior and a menu that mixes Chilean and international flavors. The cocktail list is creative, and the crowd is a mix of travelers and Valparaiso professionals.
Ruibarbo
Cocktail bar in a restored Cerro Alegre house with an inventive drink menu and a warm, low-lit interior. The bartenders take their craft seriously, and the atmosphere rewards settling in for the evening.
Mascarada
Valparaiso's closest thing to a proper nightclub, located near the Plan. Electronic and Latin music on weekends. Younger crowd, later hours, and a more energetic atmosphere than the cerro bars.