La Peña Cultural Center or La Peña for short, is a Chilean-American culture center in the United States. It was founded in 1975 by two Chilean expatriates on Shattuck Avenue in the Ashby neighborhood of Berkeley, California in response to the 1973 golpe de estado. The center was a focal point for the opposition-in-exile to dictator Augusto Pinochet during his rule, and later evolved into a community gathering place, artist center, entertainment venue, retail store, and left-leaning meeting place which aims to promote community through artists and social activism.HistoryIn 1975 two Chilean expatriates, along with community members and $10,000, opened La Peña as a reaction to the downfall of democracy and the Salvador Allende administration in Chile. The center began its life as the center of the anti-Pinochet dictatorship movement in the United States.CaféA restaurant was added in the 1980s, Café Valparaíso, that has added itself to the neighborhood's Gourmet Ghetto and is award winning. It is also known as Café de la Peña. The cafe also sells endemic Chilean foodstuffs and novelties. Valpo's menu focuses heavily on Chilean empanadas. The menu has evolved over the years adding other Latin American cuisine such as food from Cuba, Mexico, Guatemala, and Peru. The menu does however continue serving many Chilean dishes such as Humitas.
