Where to eat in Mendoza: Good, beautiful, and affordable

Just half an hour from Mendoza City, in Maipú, you will find Bodega Finca Savina, a young winery founded by Abelardo Savina in 2017. For five years, it has welcomed visitors with a proposal that includes its restaurant Margalila, a space located next to the vineyards with mountain views, ideal for enjoying a natural and relaxed atmosphere.

Margalila offers a unique dining experience: distant tables for greater privacy, décor that combines wood, iron, wicker, and quality details like top-notch glassware. The open kitchen, equipped with a large grill and a clay oven, stands out for its versatility, adapting to dietary restrictions and offering options for vegetarians and celiacs.

They offer a premium picnic menu that includes a wide selection of cheeses, cold cuts, hummus, smoked eggplant dip, falafel, and options like arancini, grilled provolone, beef skewers, empanadas, and flavored breads. There is also a vegetarian version, which includes zucchini tortillas, stuffed peppers, and ratatouille, among others.

The price varies depending on the wine line paired with it. If it’s Savina, it costs approximately 50,000 pesos, and if it’s Viejo Sabio, it costs around 58,700 pesos per person.

Tip: If you're Argentine, you enjoy a 20% discount on the tasting menu at Margalila, while if you're from Mendoza, you get a 30% discount. Both come with a complimentary visit and tasting at the winery.

Where: Cjón. Zapata 771, Maipú, Mendoza.

Domaine Bousquet is the result of the vision of the Bousquet family, a winemaking dynasty with four generations of tradition in Carcassonne, southern France. In the 1990s, they arrived in Mendoza and, attracted by the unique soil and climate of the region, decided to found their winery in Gualtallary, Tupungato, in 1997. With vineyards at 1,200 meters above sea level and an ideal climate for viticulture, Domaine Bousquet combines European techniques with Mendoza's terroir, allowing them to stand out in the premium organic wine segment and gain international prestige. Not only that, but they also offer dining experiences that invite you to enjoy a day of relaxation, perfect for a full lunch and learning more about the essence of their wines and natural surroundings.

One of these is a 3-course menu that costs around 63,000 pesos and can be paired with the Ameri or Gaia line.

Tip: Domaine Bousquet is the first Argentine winery with Regenerative Organic Certification (natural processes such as composting, rotational grazing, cover crops, and minimal tillage). Additionally, it has biodynamic certification for its vineyards.

Where: RP89 km 7, Tupungato, Mendoza.

Just 20 kilometers from Mendoza City, in Vistalba, Luján de Cuyo, you will find Bodega Kaiken, home to the gastronomic proposal Ramos Generales, led by internationally renowned chef Francis Mallmann.

This restaurant offers a unique outdoor experience, with stunning views of the Andes mountains and surrounded by century-old vines. Ramos Generales invites you to enjoy a natural setting, perfect for sharing with family or friends, paired with the best wines and the distinctive touch of Chef Mallmann in every dish.

Available until November 30 for lunch—December to February, for dinner—they offer an exclusive menu for Argentines that comes with a bottle from the Desbandado line for every two people, along with water and coffee. Prices are quite similar: lunch costs around 55,000 pesos, and dinner about 58,000 pesos.

Tip: In 2022, the restaurant was named by the prestigious magazine Time as one of the best in Argentina.

Where: Roque Saenz Peña 5516, Vistalba, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza.

Kuro is the new restaurant by Hugo Martino, owner of Martino Wines. Lucas Olcese is currently their culinary consultant, while chef Romina Di Santo leads the kitchen. This space pays homage to the art of fire and the passion for cooking, surrounded by breathtaking views of the Andes.

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With fire as the protagonist, Kuro—meaning "black" in Japanese—offers a culinary proposal of intense, smoky dishes designed to provide a memorable experience. The rustic yet sophisticated décor complements a menu that seeks to blend deep flavors in each dish, creating an experience that stands out for both its taste and style.

They offer the Kuro Deluxe Experience, starting with eggplant paste and flank steak empanada, paired with a Kuro Wines white blend. The second course includes grilled sweetbreads with lime gremolata and couscous, accompanied by caramelized pears with blue cheese and toasted almonds, paired with a Kuro Wines red blend. The third course features filet mignon with carrots in various textures and beet gnocchi with hydrated tomatoes and blue cheese, paired with Malbec. To finish, they offer homemade flan with dulce de leche and walnut praline or chocolate cake with passion fruit sorbet and toffee sauce, accompanied by sparkling wine from Kuro Wines.

Tip: Tempted by this incredible menu? It costs around 54,000 pesos—an amazing opportunity to enjoy exquisite and accessible dining.

Where: Cobos 3318 Perdriel, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza.

In 2005, Mariano Gallego and Florencia D’Amico opened the doors of Brindillas on the family estate where they still reside, a small restaurant located in a Luján de Cuyo very different from today. After two decades of hard work and evolution, Brindillas occupies a prominent and recognized place in the culinary scene of our country, establishing itself as a must-visit destination.

In 2023, it received a Michelin Star thanks to its indisputable quality work. Brindillas is a family project where fine dining is infused with simplicity, maintaining a keen eye for detail and an unwavering dedication to serving only 18 diners per service.

The dining experience they offer for about 65,000 pesos includes an 8-course menu, and diners can choose a pairing—which increases the menu price—or select a wine from Brindillas' extensive wine list. Due to the variability of fresh products on the market, the menu may change constantly.

Tip: Brindillas is also known for its exclusive Private Dining experience, offering private dinners or events for large groups, which include access to their main cellar and the possibility of enjoying the restaurant in its entirety.

Where: Guardia Vieja 2898, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza.

Bodega Mil Suelos is the main project of Alejandro “Colo” Sejanovich, Jeff Mausbach, and Jorge Crotta, a trio of friends and partners who merge gastronomy and wine to celebrate the diversity of Mendoza. Their restaurant, led by Álvaro Muñoz, bases its cuisine on a fusion of fires and local products, as well as fresh ingredients from their garden.

Each dish, like Mil Suelos' wines, aims to highlight the authenticity of Mendoza's flavors, from grilled meats and fish to smoked vegetables. The garden supplies seasonal ingredients, reaffirming their commitment to sustainability and freshness in every preparation.

For around 55,000 pesos, they offer a 3-course à la carte menu, all centered on fire-based cooking. Water and coffee service is included. However, those wishing to elevate the experience further can opt for a wine tasting that perfectly accompanies each dish. Four different flights to satisfy all palates: from the Raíces Experience, with the Manos Negras line for about 22,000 pesos, to the Altura Experience, with selected wines from Mendoza, Salta, and Jujuy for around 80,000 pesos.

Tip: You can taste the wines from Estancia Uspallata, home to the highest vineyard in Mendoza, producing unique wines.

Where: Videla Aranda 7000, Mendoza.

Penedo Borges is a boutique winery located in Alto Agrelo, Mendoza, focused on producing high-end wines in small quantities. United by the same passion, Brazilian and Argentine friends came together to carry out this venture, choosing one of the finest and most elegant terroirs for the production of their wines. The wines are a true reflection of their 48-hectare single vineyard.

They also offer hundreds of wine tourism activities, including tastings, guided tours of the winery and vineyard, and regional cuisine to enjoy the best of Mendoza at the foot of the Andes Mountains.

Penedo Borges’ 3-course menu, priced at around $72,800, is available from Tuesday to Saturday from 12:30 to 15:00. It features a variety of options and is offered with pairings from their Alto Agrelo – Cepas line.

Tip: In 2023, the winery launched Juan De Luz Malbec Sustentable 2020, an organic wine with a triple economic, social, and environmental impact.

Where: Ruta Internacional N° 7, Km 8, Alto Agrelo, Mendoza.

Surrounded by historic vineyards of prestigious wineries and with the imposing backdrop of the Andes Mountains, MAAL winery is remarkable for its modern and clean architecture, entirely sustained by the use of recycled materials, including scrap metal.

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MAAL was born from a passion for wine and the friendship between its founders, Matías Fraga and Alfredo Merlo. For those seeking more complete experiences, they offer menu alternatives to pair with wines in their restaurant with incredible views or casual lunches at El Parador del Maal, their chill space in the gardens.

Autoasado MAAL at Maal Wines is the ideal experience for barbecue lovers. After a tour and tasting, groups are welcomed in the MAAL Quincho with everything ready: fire lit, table set, and all necessary items. The menu includes blood sausage, chorizo, and various cuts of meat, accompanied by salad, cheese, and sweets. The wines for pairing are NN Malbec Clarete, Biutiful Malbec, and Ambiguo La Vieja Brut Nature de Malbec. The capacity is for groups of 6 to 12 people, and the cost is approximately $72,000.

Tip: Maal Wines is the first winery in Argentina built from containers, offering a unique and disruptive proposal.

Where: Pasaje de la Reta 975, Las Compuertas, Mendoza.

Finca del Nunca Jamás is born from the fusion of 3 generations of viticulturists from the Uco Valley, the prominence of nature expressed through agroecology, precision viticulture, and terroir exploration, as well as the pursuit of excellence and innovation in our boutique winery.

Both in the winery—for lunch—and in the hotel—for dinner—the cuisine comes from their agroecological garden, featuring a farm-to-table proposal, in tune with the seasons. There, they believe in the importance of product quality, flavor, and simplicity, the passion for cooking, and the informal and joyful ceremony of sharing a table, relishing a good dish paired with a surprising wine.

They honor this with a delicious and unique proposal valued at about $44,000. The day begins at 12:00 with a guided tour of the winery, where guests learn its history and taste award-winning wines. Then, at the restaurant, a 3-course menu is served, made with seasonal ingredients and local suppliers, each dish paired with wines from the estate, available freely during lunch. It’s an ideal proposal to enjoy unique flavors, aromas, and landscapes.

Tip: Surrounded by 15 hectares of estates, they have a hotel where you can spend the day or stay overnight.

Where: Calle Tabanera 1.5 km, Col. las Rosas, Mendoza.

Bodega Santa Julia was the first winery to open a visitor center with its own restaurant. Today, the project is led by Julia Zuccardi. It features an art gallery, bicycle tours, cooking classes, and tasting courses.

The Casa del Visitante restaurant is their gastronomic space. Carefully designed, it uses regional materials to create a warm atmosphere where visitors can enjoy views of the vineyards, olive gardens, and mountains. Its concept is based on the use of regional, seasonal products, and the use of fire and clay ovens.

Among all the options they offer, one is ideal for recommending to those who love tranquility but are equally passionate about good food: Picnic in the Gardens. The drinks included in the proposal are water and Santa Julia natural wines. The cost is around $56,000.

Tip: They also have more recreational plans, ideal for after a picnic, such as a bike tour around their facilities and surroundings.

Where: RP33 km 7.5, Maipú, Mendoza.