Best restaurants in Mendoza

Best restaurants in Mendoza

Mendoza, the wine-production capital of Latin America and one of the ten great wine capitals of the world, has evolved into a world-class tourism destination. A desert oasis resting in the Argentinean foothills of the Andes mountain range, Mendoza is bursting with over a thousand wineries growing Mendoza’s famous Malbec grape. You’ll also find internationally acclaimed chefs pairing top-quality wines with unmatched gastronomic experiences. Most chefs work at the restaurants located inside topnotch wineries.

Take a look at our list of recommended restaurants and don't miss the chance to explore the wineries and eat at some of these excellent restaurants of Mendoza. Note that in Mendoza, in order to visit the wineries and be part of wine tastings you need an appointment well in advance. You cannot walk-in directly.

Given the COVID-19 pandemic, call ahead to verify hours, and remember to practice social distancing.

IN MENDOOZA CITY
La Marchigiana

“La Marchigiana” is a traditional Italian restaurant with tables inside and on the patio. The dishes are abundant and of excellent quality, among which all the varieties of pasta and sauces stand out, some really innovative. Some of the star dishes are “lasagna ai quattro formaggi, “pasta di ceppia” with seafood cream, “paglia e fieno a la papalina”, “capelletti Caruso”, “gnocchi all'uso nostro” and agnellotti with cream.

A private cellar also offers the possibility of carrying out different events and activities such as wine tastings, workshops, courses, thematic talks, private meetings, birthdays, commercial presentations and other events.

Phone: : +54 261 423-0751
Address: Patricias Mendocinas 1550, M5500 EAV, Mendoza, Argentina

La Barra

This is the best steakhouse in town. La Barra grill stands out for the delicious “bife de chorizo” (recommended: ask for it juicy). In addition, you will be able to find all Argentine cuts of meat such as the asado strip, entraña, ribs, achuras, loin and rump tail. You can also find other typical Argentine foods such as locro and fried empanadas. To enhance the flavor of the meats, you can try the recommended house cabernets which are worth trying.

Phone: +54 261 654-1950
Address: Avenida Belgrano 1086

1884

1884 was the first fine dining restaurant to open in Mendoza, back in 1999, and has been one of the hottest dates in the city ever since — as the flagship restaurant of renowned Argentine chef Francis Mallmann. With a penchant for the open flame, Mallmann’s cuisine is typically flame-grilled with a focus on native ingredients and flavors from around Argentina. 1884 wasn’t only a pioneer of fine dining in Mendoza, but this was also the first restaurant to have a serious cellar — with over 300 labels on the menu making it a favorite of winemakers and wine lovers too.

Good to know: As of August 2021 the restaurant is temporarily closed for the prevention of covid-19. Francis Malmann (acclaimed Chef and owner of the restaurant) said he hopes to reopen soon.

Phone: +54 261 424-3336
Address: Belgrano 1188

IN THE WINE COUNTRY
Brindillas, Lujan de Cuyo

This intimate restaurant is the creation of a young chef Mariano Gallego and sommelier Florencia D'Amico. Their refined menu and wine selection reflects their own evolving tastes having spent a few years living in Spain and Japan before resettling in Argentina.

The restaurant is open five nights a week, only admits 18 people in each service, prior reservation, and structures its proposal around two tasting menus that change entirely with the seasons of the year. Among the star dishes, we recommend that you try the artichokes with prawns, accompanied by rice with mushrooms, reinforced by a pine mushroom bonbon.

Another delicacy of the place is the trout with a brilliant sauce, the product of a champagne and lemon reduction accompanied by sautéed and sweet and sour vegetables. All dishes can be accompanied by the great variety of red and white wines from the outstanding Brindillas wine cellar.

Phone: +54 9 2615598684
Address: Guardia Vieja 2898, Luján de Cuyo

Terruño (Located at Club Tapiz Winery)

The restaurant was distinguished in 2007 and 2008 by Great Wine Capitals as one of the best in Mendoza. Located in Club Tapiz, Terruño is located just 30 minutes from Ezeiza Airport. The restaurant reflects the essence of regional food with an international touch. It offers dishes made with local products such as goat, rabbit, trout and greens from our organic garden are paired with the best Mendoza wines. The extensive wine list not only offers the wines produced by Bodega Tapiz but also that of the main wineries in the area.

Phone: +54 261 4299962
Address: Pedro Molina S/n - Ruta 60 Club Tapiz, Km 2.5, Mendoza 5514 Argentina.

La Bourgogne ( Located inside Carlos Pulenta Winery in Vistalba)

The native criollo architecture of the Carlos Pulenta winery in Argentina (an elegant mix of lofty ceilings and natural stone) is upstaged by the spectacular location. Nestled at the base of the Cordon del Plata range of the Andes, the winery, built in 2002, was one of the first to establish Mendoza as a prime wine tourism area. The French restaurant La Bourgogne is widely considered one of the region’s best—with mountain views to match. Don’t want to leave? Book a room at La Posada, the winery’s lodge.

Good to know: Only open for lunch; Definitely ask to take a tour of this winery.
Phone: +54 261 498-9400
Address: Roque Sáenz Peña 3531, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

Andeluna (at Andeluna winery)

The gastronomic proposal of the Andeluna restaurant is born from Argentine Cuisine, with regional ingredients, emphasizing the perception of the mountain in every detail. The products used are mostly organic, coming from a garden in the area and carefully selected. It is for this reason that the menu changes with the passing of the seasons. The entire team participates in each new proposal, from the chef to the winemaker, to achieve the best, as in each vintage.

Phone: +54 9 261 508-9525
Address: RP89, M5561 Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina

Cavas Wine Lodge Restaurant

This Relais & Chateaux restaurant is located at Cavas Wine Lodge, one of the first luxury lodges in Mendoza. The hotel has an unparalleled location right in the middle of a vineyard filled with old vines. The intimate restaurant is equally as charming and the wine cellar may well be one of Mendoza’s best kept secrets as sommelier Martin Krawczyk keeps 500 labels in stock, all served alongside the organic cuisine.

Good to know: Guests of the hotel can cook with chef Lucas Gonzalez and learn how to make empanadas and other traditional Argentine recipes such as chimichurri and humitas.

Phone: +54 9 261 533-5205
Address: Costaflores, Cobos s/n, M5507 Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

Bodega Zuccardi

It was chosen in 2019 as the best winery in the world. The Zuccardi family rises to the top spot in the "The World’s Best Vineyards" category. Tradition, innovation and a visionary spirit are the ingredients of a project that began more than 50 years ago (1963), with the engineer Alberto Zuccardi planting the first hectares of vines in Maipú, Mendoza.

The building in front of the vine plantations was built by the architect Fernando Raganato. It was made from materials such as iron, sand and stone, with a metal dome that reflects the sunlight and with principles of sustainability.

The route is through the vineyards, the different spaces and the ‘Piedra Infinita’ restaurant. There they offer up to 50 diners a 4-course menu made with regional products, paired with Zuccardi wines and with unparalleled views of the mountains.

Good to know: The restaurant is open from Wednesday to Sunday, it is advisable to book in advance.
Phone: +54 261 441-0010
Address: RP33, M5531 Maipú, Mendoza, Argentina

Casa Uco, Uco Valley

This luxury hotel and restaurant en-route to the Manzano Historico in the Uco Valley is also a boutique winery and vineyard estate. But it isn’t only the wines of Casa de Uco that you can taste at the contemporary restaurant, but also a smart selection of Uco Valley wines and some choices from further afield. Overlooking the vineyards and estate, the airy and bright restaurant serves up a fantastic lunch and dinner menu and the service is some of the best in the Uco Valley. The owner is an architect, so you can expect expertly choreographed interior design too.

Phone: +54 261 476 9831
Address: Ruta Provincial 94 km 14.55 5565 Tunuyán, Mendoza,

7 Fuegos at The Vines of Mendoza (Uco Valley)

Siete Fuegos, or “seven fires,” describes Francis Mallmann’s honed collection of open-flame cooking techniques, inspired by Argentine gauchos and European migrations, and refined through hundreds of years of history.

Flavor the rustic, fiery flavors of specialties like 9-hour slow-grilled rib eye, cast-iron baked salt-encrusted salmon, grilled seasonal fruits, and more, paired with award-winning boutique wines. The restaurant also has fabulous options for kosher guests as well as vegetarians and vegans.

Dine indoors or out, or enjoy a front row seat in the open kitchen where you can watch our artisans of fire create impassioned Argentine fare.

Good to know: Make reservations in advance. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, call ahead to verify hours, and remember to practice social distancing.
Phone: +54 261 461-3910
Address: Ruta Provincial 94, km 11, Tunuyán, Uco Valley, Mendoza.

Best Restaurants in Cusco

Best Restaurants in Cusco

Peru has one of the most exquisite and varied cuisines in the world. Chefs have had success adapting various varieties of indigenous ingredients while keeping the possibility of outside food influences open.
The cuisine of Peru is an invitation to discover fragrant flavors and smells that are as authentic as they are ancient. Andean cuisine is heated in a wood oven, the mud from the highlands brings together the smells and flavors associated with it. Meats, tubers, grains, and herbs are used in a wide variety of simple but delicious dishes.
Cusco food is characterized not only by its flavor and the masterful combination of typical Andean products of the region, but also by being one of the living expressions of Peruvian culture.

Pachapapa

The Pachapapa Restaurant in the city of Cusco is located in the Plazoleta de San Blas, a bohemian and very popular neighborhood in the historic capital of the Inca Empire. This busy place offers traditional flavors of Cusco regional food without losing the traditional touch, that is why the food is cooked in clay pots and wood-fired stone ovens.
There are different rooms, from the charming interior spaces and its large outdoor terrace, you have the opportunity to enjoy delicious dishes such as Pachamanca, Causa Stuffed with smoked trout, which arrives covered in avocado, tomato and bathed in mayonnaise between layers of seasoned yellow potatoes with chili. Occasionally, you might be surprised by a live Peruvian band playing traditional music for a treat.

Good to know: One of the best dish of Pachapapa is the Anticucho de Alpaca. It consists of small pieces of meat (the richest are from the heart), seasoned with chili, skewered by a straw and then roasted over charcoal. The word anticucho comes from Quechua language: Kucho is cutting, cutting, art and action of cutting.

Pachapapa: Traditional Peruvian Cuisine.
Address: Plazoleta San Blas 120, Cusco
Reservations: +51 84 241318
Good to know: Given the COVID-19 pandemic, call ahead to verify hours, and remember to practice social distancing.

MAP CAFÉ

The MAP Café menu covers a gastronomic itinerary of ancient indigenous products, such as quinoa, kiwicha or the incomparable Andean potatoes, reinterpreted in creations that, without neglecting their Andean roots, take on a cosmopolitan and innovative sense. You can't miss the grilled alpaca loin, served with Andean tuber cake, grilled asparagus, fresh asparagus salad ; or the sealed lamb steak with creamy green bean puree, citrus-braised onions, liquid corn croquettes, feta cheese and confit cherry tomato.
Good to know: Our team strongly recommends all who visit Cusco to visit this gem and heritage of the Imperial City: The Museum of Pre-Columbian Art. The MAP offers its visitors a complete trip, which includes not only the Inca cultural legacy but also a first class gastronomic experience.

MAP CAFÉ: International New-Andean Style Haute Cuisine;
Reservations: +51 84 242476
Address: Nazarenas 231, Cusco
Good to know: As of September 2021 the restaurant is temporarily closed for the prevention of covid-19.

LIMO

Limo enjoys one of the best locations of any restaurant in Cusco, on the upper floor of an ancient colonial building overlooking the gorgeous Plaza de Armas itself. Inside is divided into a Pisco bar, main restaurant and balcony area, all sharing relaxing and tasteful décor.

Good to know: The ceviche is fresh, and the small plates are simply excellent.

Limo – Novo Andino (Peruvian- Japanese fusion);
Reservations: +51 (0)84 424 068
Address: 2nd Floor, 236 Portal de Carnes, Plaza de Arma, Cusco

Organika

Located in the historic center five minutes from the Plaza de Armas, Organica is an organic and healthy restaurant that serves fresh food prepared with products harvested from its own farm located in Urubamba, the Sacred Valley. It's a cozy little restaurant that's always busy (and for good reason). Organica is a must see when venturing through Cusco.

Good to Know: Bear in mind that not all dishes are vegetarian, meat and fish options are also available. We really like: vegetarian lasagna, organic salad, fettuccine pesto, and healthy plant extracts.

Peruvian and International, Healthy Eating.
Address: Ataud 154, Cusco
Reservations: +51 84 772448

Chicha

Chicha is about regional food: the produce, traditions and culture from each location elevated with good culinary techniques, working with responsibility and by the hand of the local producers. The restaurant is located only one block from the Plaza de Armas of Cusco and it is also another great spot for vegetarians and for those who love cocktails.

The menu is mostly Peruvian with staples such as causa – mashed native potatoes topped with trout, avocado, quail’s egg and hot red pepper; ceviche; adobo – a rich meat stew; and, of course, guinea pig. Even the more cosmopolitan pizza includes alpaca in its topping. I can recommend the grilled octopus with pickled radish and micro herbs and the pork chicharron with native potato fries, “giant corn” and fresh herb huacatay sauce. It is a huge, well-cooked portion that would satisfy even the healthiest of appetites.

Good to know: This is one of the most reasonable restaurants of legendary Gaston Acurio.
Phone: +51 (0)84 240 520/240 717
Address: 261 Plaza Regocijo, 2nd floor, Cusco

Uchu

Ucho is located near the beautiful Plaza Nazarenas, home to four of the most charming, luxurious and exclusive hotels in Cusco. If you are lucky enough to stay here, take a short walk down the hill from the plaza and slide into the modest courtyard that leads to this "steakhouse".

Don't expect to run into great steaks. The food is primarily Peruvian - entrees include causes, as well as a variety of classic ceviche dishes. All delicious. The main attraction is the generous entrees of various types of fish, meat and seafood, served on heavy slabs of volcanic stone.

Good to know: Very reasonable prices and generous servings.
Address: 135 Calle Palacio, Cusco
Opening Hours: daily from 12:30pm to 11pm
Reservations: +51 (0)84 246 598; uchu@cuzcodining.com

Morena Peruvian Cuisine

Morena stands out among the best restaurants in Cusco as one that specializes in authentic Peruvian cuisine. The restaurant serves delicious and nutritious food from all over Peru, showcasing the diversity of Peruvian cuisine. Morena’s menu will take you on a culinary journey from the coast to the Amazon and up to the Andes.

Good to know: There are many vegetarian options.

Reservations: +51 84 265409
Address: 348-B Calle Plateros Cusco

Kion Peruvian Chinese

Thanks to the enormous wave of Chinese immigrants that came to Peru at the beginning of the XX century, today we can enjoy this unique food that combines the best flavors of both Chinese and Peruvian cuisine, which is so popular among local Peruvians and tourists alike. The best restaurant in Cusco to try this fusion is Kion. Impressive food presentation, beautiful interior, and flavors you will remember long after your trip.

Good to know: order several dishes to share.
Reservations: +51 84 431862; kion@cuscorestaurants.com
Address: : Calle Triunfo 370, 2nd floor, Cusco

Before you travel to Cuzco

Cuzco is 11,154 feet above sea level. If you are arriving from Lima, which is at sea level, it is recommended that you refrain from eating highly spicy foods *, as this can be a factor in the feeling of altitude sickness or "soroche". It is also recommended to drink only bottled water. The main restaurants in Cuzco can prepare typical or traditional meals with a low content of seasonings and fats at the request of tourists. Given the height of the city, the digestion of food may take longer than normal.

* The first day you arrive in Cusco we recommend that you avoid alcohol and big heavy meals. Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. * Spend a couple of days in Cuzco to settle in and prepare for your trip to Machu Picchu.

Best 10 Restaurants in Buenos Aires

Best 10 Restaurants in Buenos Aires

Even while in a pandemic, Buenos Aires restaurants rallied to not only keep their doors open and staff paid but supplied locals with unforgettable meals. We’ve eaten at hundreds of establishments, and we have identified the best restaurants in Buenos Aires. In addition to the spots we already know and love (mentioned in former posts), here are 10 best restaurants to incorporate into your dining or take-out repertoire.

Don Julio

This buzzy steakhouse, located in the heart of Palermo district, is worth the hype. All the meat at Don Julio comes from grass-fed Aberdeen Angus and Hereford cattle raised in the fields outside of Buenos Aires. It is stored in a climate controlled refrigerator for at least 21 days to reach optimum maturity. Then, the grill master Bienvenido 'Pepe' Sotelo cooks all the meat on a traditional iron grill in the shape of a "V”.

What to order: The owner Pablo Rivero recommends ordering bife de cuadril (tenderloin steak) and entraña (skirt steak). As a starter, he opts for the deep-fried veal patties and crispy sweetbreads, which are lightly seasoned with just lemon juice and salt. Most plates are shareable and they can be paired with their excellent wine list.

Address: Guatemala 4699, Palermo,Buenos Aires.
Phone #: +54 11 4832-6058

Fervor

Fervor is a classic restaurant in the ritzy old-world Recoleta neighborhood. Frequented by locals as well as tourists, it serves excellent meats and fish accompanied by exceptional service. Chefs dry age all meat, allowing enzymes to break down, resulting in melt-in-your-mouth tenderness and a more concentrated flavor. The fillets are then charcoal-grilled for a smoky flavor and thick crust that pairs nicely with a robust glass of Malbec.

What to order: The "star" cut of meat is undoubtedly the tender loin with rosemary and garlic, and barbecue of vegetables for four people. If you fancy fish, we strongly recommend the “parrillada de mar” which is also a barbecue of fish and seafood, and brochettes of prawns and squid.

Address: Posadas 1519
Phone #: +54 11 4804-4944

Fayer

The Fayer experience is based on modern Israeli cuisine, with a strong Mediterranean influence, using the best seasonal products from Argentina. Creative dishes such as beet root hummus, super home cooked bread and even the fries had a very original taste with home-made tomato sauce

What to order: Their pastrami with bone, unique in its way of preparation, is not to be missed.

Address: Cerviño 4417, Buenos Aires
Phone #: +541147743313

Roux

This quaint corner bistro ( only 30-seats) specializes in locally sourced seafood. Seasonal, market-fresh, young, contemporary, the Mediterranean-inspired menu consists of artistic plates that don't lose taste to texture and color. Some favorites: the shrimp risotto, llama carpaccio, couscous salad with seafood, ossobuco ravioli, Patagonian trout.

What to order: Try options like prawns with grilled melon, bok choy and almond sauce, or stick with the classics, which still come with a twist: ossobuco ravioli, for example, or chimichurri-seasoned basmati rice.

Address: Peña 2300 Phone #: +54 11 4805-6794

Casa Cavia

This immaculately restored 1927 mansion is the ideal place for breakfast, lunch, or a pre-dinner aperitif. Designed by London-based architecture studio Kallos Turin, it features white marble with green accents, antique mirrors, and mid-century Bertoia chairs; it all feels like you are a guest in a very elegant home. The mansion is a kind of store concept: the various rooms house a bookstore, a perfumery, a florist, a cocktail bar and a restaurant, La Cocina. It also serves as a social club - you'll see locals networking over coffee or mingling at independent film screenings and literary gatherings.

What to order: Grilled prawn sandwich, grilled flank steak and leek (with chorizo crumbs and caramelized onions) and Dulce de leche ice-cream, salted nuts and lemon. Drinks are varied and really good.

Address: Cavia 2985
Phone #: +54 11 4809-8600

Chila

Argentine gastronomy has found its highest representative in front of the docks of the port of Buenos Aires. Chila. Chef Pedro Bargero is responsible for innovation in the kitchen. His task begins by going to the Central Market to select the best products and producers, an absolute guarantee of the taste exploration of this vast country. The menus, both the tasting and the vegetarian, change every month. The key to success: traceability. Choosing between refined dishes will seem easy when they are presented in a way that is as wise as it is original: leeks, wild papaya or hake with pataca.

Address: Alicia Moreau de Justo 1160, Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires, C1107 AAT
Phone #: 54 11 4343 6067

Aramburu

Hidden away on a gritty, graffiti-covered street is one of the most beautiful, intimate, and romantic restaurants in the city. Night after night Gonzalo Aramburu turns out his exquisite 12-course tasting menu of seasonal dishes, each reinterpreted through the lens of what here is called cocina vanguardia, or cutting-edge cooking. Aramburu is the undisputed star of the nascent local molecular gastronomy scene.

Address: Salta 1050
Phone #: 11-4305–0439

Elena

Finally, last week Elena returned, the most successful hotel restaurant in recent times. When something works, you don't have to change too much, so the proposal continues to have the same concept.

Under the paradigm "from farm to table", this emblematic restaurant in the downtown area offers charcuterie and cheese tables - a tribute to the Argentine picada - within its extensive menu, which come from different producers, selected from the best of the country. The beef, part of the main spirit of the menu, uses the ancestral dry aged method, it is aged to concentrate its flavors and achieve the perfect texture.

Address: Posadas 1086, Buenos Aires. (Inside Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires).
Phone #: +54 11 4321-1200

Tegui

Its owner is Germán Martitegui, former Master Chef jury. It is one of the most expensive places in Buenos Aires. The proposal consists of choosing between two menus, one with 5 steps and the other with 10 steps. The way of treating vegetables is one of the strengths of Tegui: raw, in juice, pureed, among others. The way they are made is the purpose: to preserve the natural potential of vegetables on the table.

Address: Costa Rica 5852
Phone #: +54 11 4770-9500

Niño Gordo

The bar is one of the best places to sit, as it allows you to witness the show that takes place in the kitchen on the front line. From here come Asian delicacies inspired by Vietnam, Japan, China, Thailand and Korea, but with a Buenos Aires touch. Its star dishes include prawns with bacon, cauliflower and coconut, although the sweetbreads are also tempting. In addition, the menu can be washed down with an elegant cocktail served in peculiar glasses, including one with the face of a panda bear. There is no shortage of liquors and distillates from Asia such as Sake, Soshu, liquor with bamboo extract, Ginseng root distillate, makgeolli and Japanese whiskey.

Address: Thames 1810, Buenos Aires
Phone #: 54 11 2129-5028