Argentina - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget

Travel Reference

In-Depth Information

Ì Hostel Lao Rioja 771 T 0261 438 0454, W laohostel

.com. The most inviting of the city's hostels, this English-run

place is often full. Chilled-out but buzzing, it has plenty of

common space, travel photography graces its walls, there's

a large garden with a pool and hammocks, a roof terrace,

wi-fi and very clean dorm room s. Wine flows when the

owner is feeling generous. Dorms AR$80 , doubles AR$200

Winca's Hostel Sarmiento 717 T 0261 425 3804. This

hostel, set in a large, peach-coloured house, has a chef 's-

quality kitchen and big back yard with swimming pool.

The dorms, however, are small and dark. The owners have

another hostel at San Lorenzo 19 and fully furnished

apartments for rent - a good o ption for couples or long-

term stayers. Dorms only AR$70

1

Ì TREAT YOURSELF

Azafrán Sarmiento 765 T 0261 429 4200.

From venison ravioli to Patagonian deer,

the dining experience at this lauded

restaurant is pure gourmet. The sommelier

will guide diners on a rummage in the

wine cellar, where more than 450 vintages

from 80 different vineyards are stocked.

Mains around AR$75. Mon-Sat 12.30-4pm

& 8pm-1am.

Naturata Don Bosco 73 T 0261 420 3087. Wholesome

vegetarian buffet in light and airy surroundings on a leafy

residential street (AR$40 all-you-can-eat or AR$5/kg).

Mon-Sat noon-3pm & 7-11pm.

Ì Tasca la Plaza Montevideo 117 T 0261 420 0603.

Flickering candles set off the wooden floorboards, bright-

red walls and funky Mendocino art at the city's coolest

tapas bar and restaurant where you can swill a mojito

(AR$25) with your grilled king prawns (AR$45).

HOTELS

Ì Confluencia Hostal Av España 1512 T 0261 429

0430, W hostalconfluencia.com.ar. Perfect for couples

who want more privacy and sophistication than a hostel,

this modern boutique hotel offers spacious doubles (and

quadruples) with wooden floorboards and private bath-

rooms. There's a TV lounge and lar ge roof terrace with

mountain views. Breakfast included. AR$220

Quinta Rufino Rufino Ortega 142 T 0261 420 4696,

W quintarufinohostel.com.ar. A B&B offering large rooms

with private bathroom and cable TV in a converted villa.

It's a sho rt stroll to the city's bar strip. Breakfast included.

AR$230

DRINKING AND NIGHTLIFE

Mendoza's bar scene is concentrated along trendy Aristides

Villanueva, where pavement tables fill with drinkers on

summer evenings. The best nightclubs are in outlying

neighbourhoods like El Challao to the northwest, Las Heras

to the north and Chacras de Coria to the south. Women

generally get in free, and while Mendocinos like to party

late, keep in mind that a city law stipulates that last entry

is at 2.30am.

Apeteco San Juan, at Barraquero. A sophisticated crowd

packs into this sleek, cavernous club on weekends.

Following the midnight live music set, punters lose their

cool on the dancefloor to a mixed soundtrack of electro-

nica, rock, reggaeton and salsa. Wed-Sat. Free entry until

11pm, then AR$40 for men.

Decimo Garibaldi 7, 10th floor of Edificio Gómez. Yuppie

wine bar and restaurant par excellence . Set on the top

floor of a downtown apartment block, it offers a winning

combination of city and mountain views along with a

hundred Argentine wines to wrap your palate around

(small bottles from AR$25). Put on your glad rags and

live the high life. Mon-Sat 6pm-3am.

Vines of Mendoza Espejo 567 T 0261 438 1031,

W vinesofmendoza.com. A swanky wine-tasting room

with more than sixty wines from regional boutique

bodegas . Let the English-speaking staff talk you through

a tasting session (from AR$100) or nurse a glass of vino

tinto in the wisteria-shaded courtyard. Daily 3-10pm.

EATING

Mendoza has some exceptional restaurants, many speciali-

zing in local produce, Pacific seafood and regional wine.

Anna Bistro Juan B Justo 161 T 0261 425 1818. Cocktail-

sipping diners lounge outside on white leather couches

amid fragrant foliage and romantic lighting at this top-

notch French-run restaurant. The eclectic menu features

standouts like seafood pasta (AR$44). Set lunches are

good value. Tues-Sun noon-3pm & 8-11pm.

Ì Govinda's San Martín 453, bus ride or taxi from

centre T 0261 424 3799. Simply the best vegetarian

restaurant in the city; load up your plate with lovingly

prepared dishes from the gigantic buffet (AR$37/kg).

No alcohol served. Mon-Sat for lunch (noon-2.30pm) &

dinner (6-10pm); lunch only on Sun.

La Marchigiana Patricias Mendocinas 1550 T 0261 423

0751. This airy, family affair is widely considered to be the

city's best Italian restaurant and scores extra points for its very

fair prices (mains start at under AR$505). Sun-Thurs noon-

3pm & 8pm-midnight (Fri until 12.30am, Sat until 1am).

Mercado Central Las Heras between España and

Patricias Mendocinas. This bustling indoor market is full

of inexpensive cafés offering local dishes such as humitas

and empanadas, and is a great place to try goodies such

as Andean goat's cheeses. Most snacks AR$5.