Meandering Mendoza: A Self-Guided Walking Tour of the City

Most of Mendoza’s wineries and activities lay outside of town, but make time in your schedule to explore this laid-back little city becoming known for haute cuisine.

Shady, tree-lined avenues invite the casual stroll, and unlike Buenos Aires, you can get a feel for many of Mendoza’s different faces within one day.

Start in the historic center around Plaza Independencia to see Spanish colonial architecture and the city’s most buzzing areas.

Then wander into the quieter residential neighborhoods to experience Mendoza’s laid-back charm.

With a self-guided walking tour, you’ll discover why Mendoza makes such an appealing home base between winery visits.

 

(1): Museo Municipal de Arte Moderno (MMAM)

  10:00 a.m.

Nothing to wake you up like a nice jolt of modern art.

Head to Plaza Independencia to begin your day in the humble Modern Art Museum, featuring rotating exhibitions of local and national artists.

When you’ve moseyed on through, head back into the Mendoza sunshine and towards the mountains.

(2): Walk up Aristedes Villanueva St.

  10:30 a.m.

In the evening, all the bars along this boulevard fill with people who spill out into the sidewalk.

During the day there are a handful of nice shops for window gazing.

Try a stop at Santangelo Gallery (Olascoaga 631), featuring a well-rounded collection of works, all by local artists.

Further up the street, peek into Mutantes (Paso de los Andes 720), a DIY boutique where three art students display their collections as well as items from other local designers.

(3): Parque San Martin

11:30

Do a lap around the lake in sprawling Parque San Martin.

If it’s warm, consider a mid-morning ice cream stop — you have the whole afternoon to walk it off.

When you’ve done the rounds, head back down to town through the park’s main gates or portones, along Emilio Civit St.

Along this wide, open boulevard you’ll pass the colonial mansions of many of Mendoza’s most prestigious families.

(4): Lunch

   1:00 p.m.

Lunch in downtown Mendoza used to be a practice in culinary monotony — everywhere you turned, nothing but milanesa (breaded meat patties), pizza, pastas.

Today Mendoza is celebrated for its culinary scene.

Indeed the province has 17 Michelin star restaurants — more than Buenos Aires.

Nearby Fuente y Fonda (Montevideo 675) is an inviting bistro serving traditional Argentine cuisine and international specialties such as Shepard’s Pie.

It’s a bit pricey but the portions are generous.

Get a couple of appetizers and share the entree.

(5): Siesta

2:30-4:30

Now try to catch some zzz’s or lounge around with a good book in your hotel or in a plaza because you’ve run up against the endearing but sometimes vexing siesta, where everything (except the cafes) close.

(6): Mercado Central

5:00

Head over to this indoor market to stock up on meats, cheeses, herbal remedies, nuts or dried fruits.

There is an array of local and imported delicacies from mango paste to whole baby goat.

(7): General La Paz

5:30

From Mercado Central, dart out a side entrance towards General La Paz Street. Along these bustling few blocks, you’ll find street vendors with their wares displayed across the sidewalk, as well as a handful of indoor marketplaces mostly selling clothing and footwear.

(8):  La Alameda — Mendoza’s Pedestrian Thoroughfare

6:30

From General La Paz you’re just a stone’s throw from La Alameda, a lovely pedestrian boulevard lined with elegant and curving trees.

In this bohemian section of the city, stroll past the booksellers and artisans, and find yourself a cafe to enjoy some tea and some flaky pastries.

You have the rest of the afternoon to relax, take another siesta and gear up for a late dinnertime.

One great nearby dinner option is Azafrán (av. Sarmiento 765) headed by chef Sebastián Weigandt — one of the previously mentioned Michelin star restaurants of Mendoza.

It offers an eclectic menu and extensive wine cellar in a cozy yet sophisticated setting. (recommendations not sponsored).

—Gwynne Hogan

Gwynne Hogan is a journalist who lived in Mendoza for three years learning about wine and working at the local English magazine, Wine Republic.