C'mon down! I love this time of year down here. Sunny, mid-70s, sun up until around 9 pm. Clear, much less smog/haze than in winter, mountains clear as a postcard photo. ^^

If you want to be close to the action, stay in 4Pts, or in Interconti or Holiday Inn Express in Las Condes. If you can swing it, look for the $150 govt rate at the San Cristobal Tower. During the week, you can also find a $120 govt rate at the Sheraton Miramar in Vina del Mar.

There are indeed some nice restaurants here, I don't buy the "don't go to Buenos Aires" alone advice - the bar scene there is fun, you can hang out with Spanish speakers and ex-pats alike. Much cheaper in BsAs than here.

Why not do both? And once here, fares are pretty decent to Lima as well, where the ceviche is amazing.