Taberna Club de la Unión occupies the basement of the Sara Braun Palace - a 19th-century merchant's mansion - and that geography is half the draw: stone walls, wooden beams, cellar light, the feeling of descending into the hold of a Spanish galleon. Cocktails arrive in crystal coupes with southern Chilean ingredients; the octopus emerges perfectly cooked; the lamb, king crab, and tuna tartare confirm the kitchen knows what it's doing. The catch: when the dining room fills, service becomes scattered. Drinks take time to arrive, the bill requires insisting, and waits stretch beyond reason. It's not an isolated night. Arriving around 7 PM, before the room fills, substantially reduces the risk.
Taberna Club de la Unión, in the basement of the Palacio Sara Braun, gets the cordero and the centolla right in a way few places in Punta Arenas can match. Go early, around 7 pm, because when the room fills up the service falls apart and getting a drink or the bill becomes a project
What to order
Octopus, king crab, lamband tuna tartare. Cocktails with southern ingredients.
Reservations
Recommendedespecially after 8 PM. Service slows noticeably when busy.
Price range
Mid-to-high for Punta Arenas. Budget accordingly for mains and drinks.
Vibe
Cellar tavern: stone, wood, low light, European basement aesthetic. Formal without fuss.