Crowd-pulling national and international megabands typically play in the Estado Nacional or the Estación Mapocho. You'll find listings for these shows in the daily newspaper. If you're looking for something mellower, Bellavista is a good bet for jazz, bolero, and folk music that is often performed Thursday through Saturday in several restaurants/cafes. La Tasca Mediterráneo's next-door cafe at Purísima 161 (tel. 2/735-3901) hosts mostly jazz acts in a cozy atmosphere, but it can get crowded as the night wears on.
Also in Bellavista, there are four similar cozy bars at Antonio López and Mallinkrodt. La Casa en el Aire at Antonia López de Bello 0125 (tel. 2/735-6680) has a great ambience lit by candlelight, and is a relaxing place to enjoy a drink listening to soft live music. Across the street at López de Bello 0126 is El Perseguidor (tel. 2/777-6763), a literary cafe with jazz performances every evening Thursday through Sunday. For salsa dancing, try the Habana Salsa at Dominica 142 (tel. 2/737-1737). Despite the hokey exterior of faux building facades, it's where many salsa fanatics spend their weekend nights. For a younger crowd, head to Delirio Caribeño, at Bucarest 117 (tel. 2/231-8029).
There are dozens of music venues spread across the city, but several are concentrated in the Ñuñoa neighborhood, about a 5- to 10-minute taxi ride from downtown and Providencia. La Batuta at Jorge Washington 52 (tel. 2/274-7096) is a dance club on Saturday; the rest of the week it's a great spot to check out a wide variety of international and national contemporary and folk bands. The atmosphere is underground, but the crowd profile depends on who's playing.
The Club de Jazz at José Pedro Alessandri 85 (tel. 2/274-1937) is one of the city's most traditional places (Louis Armstrong once played here), and every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday beginning at 11pm, several excellent bands get together and jam for the audience.
In Providencia, Tomm at General Holley 2366 has live music and a changing crowd depending on the music that evening.
Santiago's club scene typically caters to an 18- to 35-year-old crowd, and it all gets going pretty late, from midnight to 6am, on the average. If you like electronica music, you might check out "fiestas" publicized in the weekend entertainment sections of newspapers that list one-night-only raves and live music, or, in Bellavista, try La Feria at Constitución 275, in an old theater. Blondie at Alameda 2879 (tel. 2/681-7793) is like spending a night in 1985, with an '80s revival scene, and music to match. Harder to get to (semi-long cab ride) but worth the distance is the Skuba club in Paseo San Damian (Av. Las Condes 11271; tel. 2/243-1108), a European-style disco that attracts Chilean jetsetters. OZ at Chucre Mansur 6 in Bellavista (tel. 2/737-7066) draws the Chilean yuppie crowd; you'll find a mixed crowd at Laberinto at Vicuña Mackenna 915, closer to downtown.
