Fauna
Fauna occupies a two-story space at Paseo Dimalow 166 on Cerro Alegre, operating as both a restaurant and cocktail bar. The interior design is modern for Valparaiso: clean lines, natural materials, large windows overlooking the hillside, and a color palette that matches the neighborhood's mural-covered walls. The menu is Chilean with international influences, strong on seafood and seasonal produce from the central valley. The cocktail list is inventive, using Chilean pisco and local spirits alongside fresh ingredients. A DJ plays on weekend evenings, keeping the volume at a level that supports conversation. Capacity is about 80 people across both floors. The crowd is a mix of well-traveled Chileans and international visitors staying at the cerro's boutique hotels. Reservations are recommended for dinner on weekends.
What to Expect
A polished restaurant-bar that feels like it belongs in a bigger city but fits Valparaiso perfectly. The food is excellent, the cocktails are creative, and the view through the windows adds to every meal.
Modern, warm, and polished without pretension.
Weekend DJs playing deep house, world music, and downtempo at background volume.
Smart casual. The most dressed-up you'll get in Valparaiso.
Couples on a date, food-focused travelers, and anyone wanting Valparaiso's most refined evening out.
Cards and cash accepted.
Price Range
Cocktails 6,000-9,000 CLP, wine 4,000-7,000 CLP, mains 10,000-16,000 CLP, starters 6,000-9,000 CLP
Cocktails ~-9/~5.50-8 EUR, mains ~0-16/~9-15 EUR
Hours
Tue-Sat noon to midnight, kitchen closes at 10:30 PM
Insider Tip
The window tables on the upper floor have the best view. Ask the bartender for a cocktail based on your taste; the off-menu recommendations are often the best. Book for dinner on Saturday.
Full Review
Fauna is Cerro Alegre's most polished venue, and it earns the distinction through food and drinks rather than decor. The kitchen works with local ingredients, including seafood from the Valparaiso port and produce from the central valley. The ceviche uses fresh local catch and is properly acid-balanced. The grilled fish mains are simple and well-executed.
The cocktail program stands apart from Valparaiso's norm of straight pisco and beer. The bartenders here use pisco as a base but build creative drinks around it: fruit infusions, herb syrups, and smoked preparations that show technique without showboating. A seasonal cocktail might feature pisco with mango, cilantro, and merken (smoked chili), which sounds experimental but works.
The space is divided between a ground-floor dining room and an upper lounge area with sofas and a small bar. The windows on both levels frame views of the cerro's colorful houses and the harbor below. On clear days, the light alone is worth the visit.
The crowd is Valparaiso's cosmopolitan slice: travelers who chose the port city over Santiago for its character, Chilean couples from Santiago on weekend trips, and local professionals who appreciate quality. The atmosphere never gets rowdy, which distinguishes it from the Plan's bars. This is where you go for a refined evening in a city that usually rejects refinement.
The Neighborhood
Fauna is on Paseo Dimalow, one of Cerro Alegre's pedestrian walkways. The surrounding streets have galleries, boutique hotels, and other restaurants. The Ascensor El Peral connects the cerro to the Plan below.
Getting There
Walk up from the Plan via Ascensor El Peral (300 CLP) or the stairways. From the bus terminal, a taxi to Cerro Alegre costs about 4,000 CLP.
Address
Paseo Dimalow 166, Cerro Alegre, Valparaiso
Other Venues in Cerro Alegre-Concepcion
Cinzano
Historic bar on Plaza Anibal Pinto operating since 1896. Live tango and bolero music on weekends. A Valparaiso institution where old port culture meets the tourist trail.
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.
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.