Experience Mendoza

Overview

The bustling city of Mendoza is best known for its famous Malbec wine and is the gateway to Argentina’s wine country. The charming quaint city is filled with pretty squares and beautiful verdant parks, there are over 50,000 trees found throughout the city. The wide leafy tree-lined streets are home to fantastic restaurants, relaxed wine bars, and high-end stores with a mixture of modern and art deco architecture. Mendoza features many stunning plazas of various sizes that stem from the massive Plaza Independencia where locals gather, markets are held, and dancing and music play at night. 

The city of Mendoza sits at an elevation of 2,497 feet above sea level at the foot of the Sierra de los Paramillos, and is home to Mount Aconcagua which is the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere. The city and surrounding region attract adventure seekers and wine lovers alike with a host of outdoor activities such as hiking, rafting, and skiing opportunities and over 1,000 vineyards. Mendoza has earned itself the name of “the land of sunshine and good wine” and has evolved as a world-class tourism destination. The city is home to internationally acclaimed chefs serving world-class cuisine accompanied by Medoza’s famous Malbec wine for an unparalleled gastronomic experience.

Things to see and do

Take an exploratory stroll around the heart of the city and check out some of the main sights and attractions such as La Plaza Independencia, intricately manicured parks, and airy bustling plazas that make up the geographical center of the city. Admire the central fountain, browse the market stalls, bask in the sunshine, and enjoy nature. 

Wander along the beautiful wide tree-lined streets and see the Basilica of San Francisco Solano, a National Historic Landmark in the city since 1875. This stunning pink stucco renaissance-style church houses the image of Virgen del Carmen de Cuyo and the baton of command of General Jose de San Martin. Witness the elaborate altar and religious artifacts inside.

Mendoza is home to several fascinating museums, including the Museo Cornelio Moyano, a natural history museum, and the Museo del Área Fundacional (Historical Regional Foundation Museum) on Pedro del Castillo Square. The Museo Nacional del Vino (National Wine Museum), focuses on the history of winemaking in the area. The Casa de Fader is a historic house museum, housed in a mansion built in 1890. It was once home to artist Fernando Fader in nearby Mayor Drummond and is home to many of the artist's paintings.

Visit the Historical Museum `General San Martin' honors the general who liberated the country from the Spanish during the War of Independence. There are documents, objects, weapons, and uniforms that belonged to the General on display.

Take a quick hike up Cerro de la Gloria which leads you to a beautiful viewing spot in the city to capture a sunset, and breathtaking panoramic views over the city. The spectacular monument commemorating Jose de San Martin stands on the famous hill. Terraza Mirador is another great location to capture a sunset in Mendoza. A beautiful rooftop terrace situated on top of the City Hall with great views of the city and the surrounding mountain area.

Spend a day in Argentina’s spectacular Wine Country! The city of Mendoza is nestled in the majestic foothills of the Andes Mountain, ranges, it is an important wine-producing region in the country with varying altitudes, alluvial soil, and stone and clay surfaces found along the banks of the Mendoza River making it the perfect setting for producing the most delicious wines in the country. The region is famous for producing the famous Malbec grape and there are hundreds of vineyards, wineries, and bodegas offering tours, and tastings with delicious wines and award-winning cuisine.

The four main regions of wine country are Maipu, Uco Valley, Chakras de Coria, and Lujan de Cuyo which offer wine lovers plenty of options for day trips and visiting some of the best wineries in the country. The locations offer their own unique qualities with Maipu and Lujan de Cuyo being quaint neighboring towns that offer cutting-edge wineries and a world-class food scene. Maipu boasts some of the best-known wineries in Argentina including Familia Zuccardi, El Enemigo, and the world-famous Trapiche Bodega.

The Valle de Uco region is regarded as the ‘Napa Valley of Argentina’, it is the largest wine-producing region in Latin America overflowing with over 800 wineries and notable bodegas including Bodega la Azul and Bodega Salentein along with resorts and spas that offer pampering treatments.

Visit the breathtaking Aconcagua National Park which is encompassed by the Andes Mountain region with heights that reach up to 22,837 feet above sea level. These majestic mountain ranges are the tallest mountains in the Americas and the highest peak in the Southern Hemisphere. The national park and the mountain ranges offer endless outdoor activities like hiking, trekking, mountain biking, and mountain climbing through scenic trails and breathtaking lookout points. There are several lakes dotted throughout the park as well as rock formations, flora, and fauna.

Shopping

There are many bustling shopping avenues to explore in the city of Mendoza including Avenida Las Heras in the heart of the city which is filled with lots of wonderful shops and unique boutiques. There are many other quaint shops, souvenir stalls, upscale restaurants, and bars dotted around Las Heras. The city offers some vibrant market selling handicrafts, food, and more with leather goods, shoes, and clothing for sale. Many stores in the city make custom goods and regional products that can be eaten, drank, worn, or used to decorate a home. The beautiful plazas around the city are where the markets are held on the weekends and the evenings during the summer. These busy markets sell jewelry, handmade wool clothing like sweaters and ponchos, mate gourds, olive oil, and regional wares. There are many items made from “Carpincho”, the tanned hide of Argentina’s Indigenous rodent the Capybara sold at markets in the city. Mendoza is home to some great shopping malls like Guaymallen Mall featuring over 150 stores that include American-style department stores, a movie theater, a bowling alley, an indoor amusement park, and cafes and restaurants. The Palmares Open Mall has 120 stores with lots of great restaurants and 10 movie theaters. La Barraca offers local brands, a children’s play area, and restaurants. The Mercado Central has been around for over 120 years and is the place to buy local foods from stalls including butchers, grocers, cheese shops, and a few restaurants. Visit Avenida Rivadavia, and Calle Aristides Villanueva which are both lined with upscale chain stores and home to expansive fashion boutiques. The “Urban Shopping Trolley” is available for shopping tourists it follows a fixed route that circulates the four main avenues of the city (San Martin, Colon, Belgrano, and Las Heras) and operates from 8 am until 10 pm running every 15 minutes in each block.

Dining

Mendoza boasts a rich and varied culinary culture offering diners some delicious food and several regional specialties. Food in the city is paired nicely with the region’s award-winning wines like the famous Argentinian Malbec made in Argentina’s wine country. The city is home to numerous all-you-can-eat restaurantswhere food lovers can enjoy as much delicious food as they want. Mendoza is a food lovers paradise with chefs introducing new food and different treats, they love experimenting with food from around the world. Argentina’s meat is considered to be the best in the world and comes in several different flavors and cuts of delicious beef such as bife de lomo (tenderloin), bife ancho (ribeye), bife angosto (strip loin), and chorizo (sausage). Meat lovers can also dine on mutton, lamb, chicken, and beef cutlets as well as ‘offal’ (organ) like “mollejas” which is calf sweetbread, “rinones” for kidneys, “tripas gordas” or “chinchulines” for tripe. Argentina is also considered the land of the three Ps; parilla, pasta, and pizza due to the country’s strong Italian ancestry. There are some great places to eat all around the city, especially on the bustling Avenida las Heras which is brimming with many amazing restaurants. There are also tons of fantastic restaurants found along the famous wine route, including Michelin-starred establishments.

Some other Argentine favorites are the Empanadas con carne (fried or baked), Milanesa a la Napolitana (breaded and fried meat covered with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and ham), Chimichurri (Argentine pesto used to marinate meat or as a dipping sauce), and Choripan (sausage). If you want to try something different, the Pacu fish is delicious as long as the human-like teeth don't unnerve you. According to National Geographic, Argentina is one of the 5 places in the world to have the best hilado (Ice cream). We suggest you try the dulce de leche or the tiramisu. Alfajor de Maicena (dulce de leche cookies) is another Argentine favorite. Malbec wine makes a great complement to every steak meal. If you're looking for something softer, Yerba Mate the national drink of Argentina is a herb placed in a mate pot - it is a focal point for social gatherings.

Nightlife

Mendoza offers visitors a vibrant nightlife scene that features many bustling bars and vibrant clubs, with upscale wine bars serving the region’s famous Malbec wine, and live music. Their city and region are known for their wine and are home to many cozy, classy wine bars with a casual laid-back, and jovial atmosphere and tasting rooms with various excellent wines to choose from. Calle Aristides Villanueva which is known as “Beer Street” is a bustling popular strip that runs east to west just south of the city center filled with restaurants, cocktail bars, and clubs that come alive at midnight. The city’s many beautiful plazas are a gathering place in the evenings and come alive once the sun goes down. Thursday and Sunday are particularly popular with live music and theatre on display.