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When my husband and I moved to South America full-time at the end of 2022, I expected to fall in love with the food, the cities, and the culture. I grew up in California and visited South America a few times already, so I was already somewhat familiar with the culture and food. And I did fall in love with those things. But what I didn’t expect was to fall in love with the malls.
South America has a lot of malls. I mean a lot. Not the suburban, half-empty American malls that are common in the United States now. South American malls are different. They are alive, social, and, at many times, even essential to how I experience daily life abroad. In short, I have realized that more and more of my life in South America revolves around the closest mall.
The Unexpected Role of Malls in South America
In the U.S., malls have become synonymous with decline: vacant storefronts, empty parking lots, and a lingering sense of obsolescence. There is even a YouTube channel dedicated to dying malls.
One personal example is the outlet mall in Anthem, AZ. We visit Arizona a lot to visit family, and we would go once per year to the Anthem outlets to stock up on cheap clothing. But in 2024, when we visited, it hit me how far the outlets had fallen. I saw more vacant stores than occupied stores. The parking lots were deserted, and it felt so depressing and dreary. Many brands I wanted were no longer there, although we scored at the Under Armour outlet store.
Yet, in many South American cities, the mall is not just surviving — it’s thriving. Why would this be so different than in North America? I believe it is because online shopping hasn’t overtaken South America like in the U.S. People still buy things in person by default. Culturally, there’s also a stronger emphasis on in-person interaction. This combination gives malls a vital role in daily life, far beyond just shopping.
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Malls in South America are where you go to:
- Work out (Most malls have a gym, including Smart Fit gyms, our favorite Latin America gyms.)
- Get groceries (It is common for a fancier supermarket to be attached to the mall.)
- Handle errands like banking, stopping by the pharmacy, or refilling your phone plan.
- Grab a meal.
- Meet friends.
In short, they function as modern-day public squares—lively, integrated hubs designed to be part of daily life. To be clear, older city centers and neighborhood squares function the same way. South America—much like many other parts of the world—has these traditional city centers. Some are even UNESCO World Heritage Sites, like Quito’s Centro Historico, and they are fantastic to visit – as a tourist. However, in terms of day-to-day life, Kevin and I prefer the modernity and convenience of modern malls in South America.
Are Malls in South America Good or Bad Urban Design?
Most of the malls we base ourselves around are quite modern and cater to society’s upper class. They feature many American brands and chains, such as Chili’s. Many of the malls in South America are enclosed, semi-private spaces that do not blend in well—if at all—with the surrounding urban fabric. On the surface, it sounds like malls are importing the worst of American urban design and replacing traditional Latin American culture. Essentially, what makes Latin America unique and exciting is being consumed by American capitalism.
But that is not necessarily true. First, the best malls add to the surrounding urban design and blend into the neighborhood. These malls welcome you. The worst malls surround themselves with expansive parking lots, creating a barrier to entry and actively discouraging non-motorized traffic. Now a mall connisseur, I can feel this difference right away.
Furthermore, does the mall encourage people to hang out? Are “public” spaces inside the mall encouraged, or is the mall actively discouraging groups from gathering? In Asunción, Paraguay, some of my favorite mall memories were from watching Copa América 2024 at the food court. I saw many families come right before the main games started, get food, and then start hanging out. One mall even had a big projector in the food court for the games, one of which Kevin and I ate Mexican food while watching the game with everyone else.
But in Puebla, Mexico, security was very tight. Security guards were everywhere watching you – one even told me to stop taking photos. The food court was small and impersonal and had no TVs. The mall surrounded itself by a vast parking lot without connection to the neighborhood. What I thought would be the center of our visit to Puebla turned out to be one of our least-visited malls in Latin America. I consciously and subconsciously recognized that the Angelópolis Mall in Puebla was not a welcoming place. And it wasn’t that busy.
Having graduated from graduate school with a master’s in urban planning, I believe malls are universally shunned as terrible urban planning, vehicles promoting consumerism, and privatizing what should be public spaces. Yet, I don’t believe all malls do this, and several malls act as great neighborhood anchors. Plus, the fact that they are quite popular with locals shows me that they serve a vital function for a segment of the population.
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My Three Favorite Malls in South America
Having been to many malls throughout South America over the past couple of years, I have several favorites and not-so-favorites, but three specific stand out as my top choices. I mentioned above what makes a “good” mall in my opinion. Below are some of my favorite malls in South America that exhibit those “good” qualities. And note that part of the reason why I write this blog is to keep a written memory of our travels. These malls all exhibit strong nostalgia in my mind.
Quicentro – Quito, Ecuador
Quicentro anchored our neighborhood in Quito. We bought a condo just a five-minute walk away, and Kevin and I found ourselves there regularly. The food court is probably one of my favorite mall food courts. GoGreen, my favorite spot, made the best taco salad I’ve ever eaten. I have so many memories of getting our Fuze iced tea bottles from Supermaxi (a grocery store in Quicentro), ordering our salads from GoGreen, and then eating outside on the terrace. Sitting outside, watching the city life pass below us, while eating amazing food just allowed me to pass into a relaxed state during lunch.
Taconazo was another standout in Quicentro. There isn’t great Mexican food in Ecuador, so by all means, Taconazo isn’t near the top of the list of Mexican food places. But they served great taquitos, and they were quite cheap. We also became friends with one of the cashiers at Taconazo; so much so that we have gone out to eat with him and his partner.
During the holidays, Quicentro came alive. The mall became beautifully decorated with aqua and silver Christmas decorations. The holidays amplified the hustle and bustle of the mall. People-watching became even more fun, and the atmosphere was electric. It wasn’t just shopping—it was festive, social, and fun. Overall, I have so many fond memories of Quicentro—and I know many future memories as well.
Shopping del Sol – Asunción, Paraguay
Shopping del Sol mall gave me one of my favorite memories: watching Copa América 2024 with locals. Just like I mentioned above at Shopping Mariscal, Shopping del Sol’s food court also turned into a makeshift stadium. People timed their meals around the matches. Strangers cheered, groaned, and celebrated together. I was right there with them, watching major games with people I had never met yet somehow felt connected to. I learned more about fútbol that summer than ever before.
Beyond that, Shopping del Sol is full of useful services, including a Smart Fit gym and a Delimarket, which is a fancy supermarket. It has several coffee shops, a movie theater, a food court and several fancier restaurants. Shopping del Sol has many upscale shopping brands as well.
I wrote an article here comparing Shopping del Sol to Paseo La Galería, another fancy mall right across the street. These malls were the center of our lives when we stayed in Asunción for two months in 2024. They are also quite popular with many expats. When we return to Asunción next month, we again will stay next to Shopping del Sol.
Parque Arauco – Santiago, Chile
We didn’t discover the Las Condes neighborhood of Santiago until towards the end of our five-week stay on our second trip to Santiago. I don’t know why I didn’t see it before, but it is everything that I love: modern glass-enclosed skyscrapers, a large urban park, many fancy places to eat—and a gym! We ended up staying our final week in Santiago in Las Condes instead of downtown, and Kevin and I absolutely loved it.
Parque Arauco is one of the reasons why. This is a very fancy – and very busy! – mall. While it has some American chains and “mall” food, Parque Arauco does an excellent job of encouraging one-of-a-kind niche eateries. We loved the craft hamburger place on the second level. I loved having the one gluten-free dish at the Korean restaurant, as we rarely can have gluten-free Asian food. There was also an incredible fish restaurant and an American BBQ diner that we loved. And for American expats that miss American food, there is a small market inside the mall that sells imported food from the U.S.
Parque Arauco is seamlessly part of the Las Condes neighborhood. It is right across the street from the central park in Las Condes, doesn’t have a large parking lot surrounding it, and has entrances and an exterior food court that blends into the main street. When we next visit Santiago, I really want to stay in Las Condes again, in large part because of Parque Arauco.
- Steves, Rick (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 448 Pages - 09/17/2019 (Publication Date) - Rick Steves (Publisher)
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Final Thoughts on Malls in South America
Looking back, many of my favorite memories of South American cities like Quito and Asunción are shaped by these malls. They were – and still are – the backdrop to our daily routine and unexpected joys.
Most of all, these malls taught me that what I really value is walkable urban life. I don’t need a megacity, but I do need density — the ability to meet daily needs within a short stroll. These malls aren’t isolated islands surrounded by seas of parking. They’re embedded in neighborhoods, easy to access on foot, and filled with essential services that make everyday life convenient and social.
Are they perfect? Of course not. Some may argue they contribute to consumerism or threaten small businesses. I thought this was an interesting essay about the downfalls of Latin American malls. But online shopping hasn’t exactly solved those problems either. Given the choice between a lively, human-scale mall or another box delivered by an algorithm, I’ll take the thriving malls of South America.
How about you? What are your thoughts on malls in South America? Or malls in general? What makes them special and likable vs being an eyesore of modern urban planning?
🌍 Want to live abroad but feel stuck? Let’s create your expat plan together! Book an Expat Coaching Call with me here.
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Very interesting article. I myself, can’t stand the malls here anymore in So. CA. The parking is nuts, level after level trying to find a space and once you do, you feel like you’re parked a mile away from the shops. Too many dead shops inside, and the store employees aren’t friendly or nice anymore like they were years ago. Finding a public bathroom is a nightmare. Once you’re done in the mall, good luck remembering where you parked. I notice the shoppers aren’t happy, either and that includes during holiday times, too. The malls in So. America sound much better and inviting. They would be fun to hangout in, especially when everyone is there for the futbol games.