The construction of the Central Market of Santiago began in 1869, after the fire that destroyed the old Abastos square in 1864. The building, designed by Edward Woods and Charles Henry Driver, has a square floor plan with a central iron structure, cast in Glasgow, Scotland, by Messrs Laidlaw & Sons. This iron structure covers an interior courtyard surrounded by a perimeter of fired brick masonry, designed by the urban planner Manuel Aldunate y Avaria.

The architect Fermín Vivaceta directed the construction, which was in charge of the contractor Juan Estephani and was completed on August 23, 1872. The inauguration coincided with the National Exhibition of Arts and Industries, organized by Mayor Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna during the government of Federico Errázuriz Zañartu.

Since its opening, the Central Market has undergone several modifications. In 1884, a second brick ring was added to the perimeter. In 1900, electric lighting was installed and informal stalls were added. Between 1927 and 1930, the north façade was demolished to widen Ismael Valdés Vergara Street. In 1983, the building was restored by the Municipality of Santiago, adding new administrative offices on San Pablo Street. Today, the market has two floors and houses 241 stores - including restaurants, butcher shops, bakeries, fishmongers, and grocery and handicraft stores - which employ some 800 people and are frequented by national and international tourists.

Today, the Central Market is known for its gastronomic offer, which preserves traditional Chilean recipes, highlighting typical dishes such as mariscal, paila marina and fried fish, becoming a symbol of Chile's culinary heritage.