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Avenue Arístides Villanueva, simply known as Aristides by the locals, is Mendoza‘s main nightlife drag. Lined with bars, Irish pubs, restaurants, dance clubs and hostels, Aristides is where all the action happens. In warm weather months, crowds flock to the outdoor tables lining the sidewalk. It’s a great option for bar hopping and getting a dose of the late-night Mendocenan culture.

Visiting Santiago Achaval and Manuel Ferrer’s boutique winery Achaval-Ferrer is a requisite visit while in Mendoza to sample Argentina’s most awarded wines. Their malbec wines and blends consistently earn high scores from Robert Parker, Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator. Started by a group of Argentine and Italian friends, Achaval-Ferrer’s Italian winemaker Roberto Cipressois specializes in small production wines that yield a high concentration of flavors, colors and aromas. Their beautiful 60-acre vineyard, Finca Bella Vista, offers free wine tours and tastings daily. You’ll sample three of their red wines, a sweet dessert wine and homemade olive oil. Chances are you won’t walk out empty handed. Calle Cobos 2601, Pedriel, Mendoza; +54 9 261 553 5565

Argentines are much like the Italians in that they take their gelato very seriously. They consume lots of it all year round, but in the summer consumption skyrockets. Families, couples and friends need no excuse to enjoy an “helado” at the ice cream parlor. Heladeria Famiglia Perin is a traditional staple for classic artisanal gelato in downtown Mendoza with an abundance of outdoor seating. Sarmiento 799; +54 261 425 7624

As the saying goes, “When in Rome...,” and in Mendoza, this means slipping into an immodestly cut bikini bottom to blend in with the locals. Get rid of those American tan lines with some of the most adorable bikinis in the southern hemisphere. Two young Mendocenean sisters design and stamp the bathing suits themselves, making each one slightly unique. You can mix and match tops and bottoms for size and cut. The only question is, do you have enough courage to wear it back at home? With your flattering new tan lines, you just might.

The Mendoza Zoological Park stretches 100-acres in General San Martin Park and is home to over a thousand animals including a lion, leopard, elephant, zebra, buffalo, camel, flamingos and seals to list a few. The original zoo was built in 1903 as part of the park’s original design by landscape architect Carlos Thays, but was moved to its present location near Cerro de la Gloria in 1941. The new zoo was designed with semi open enclosures that simulate the animal’s natural habitat. Guided visits are offered. Entrance fee: 10 pesos for children; 25 pesos for adults. The safest way to arrive is by car or bus rather than on foot. Av. Libertador S/N, General San Martin Park, Mendoza; +56 261 444 4411

Bodega Los Toneles is a meticulously restored winery located in downtown Mendoza, just three minutes from the city center. The restoration was so faithful to its original 1920s architecture that it has been declared a Cultural Heritage site of Mendoza. A stunning blend of traditional and modern, Bodega Los Toneles offers walking tours through the winery (the event space is breathtaking) with the opportunity to learn about winemaking. Wine tastings are offered Monday thru Saturday from 9am to 6pm. The restaurant, Abrasado, offers gourmet cuisine in one of the private rooms or grand halls overlooking the wine cellars. Lateral Acceso Este 1360, Guaymallén, Mendoza; +54 261 431-0403

Downtown Mendoza’s finest luxury hotel, the Park Hyatt Mendoza Hotel, Casino & Spa enjoys a privileged location on Plaza Independencia with choice rooms overlooking the Andes mountains. A stunning 19^th-century Spanish colonial whitewashed façade gleams beautifully with majestic columns and ornate cornices. Behind the historic entrance lies a modern, six-story hotel with a contemporary art collection featuring the works of 23 renowned local artists.

Park Hyatt Mendoza’s signature service extends to 186 luxurious guestrooms and suites, plus a spa, health club, casino, and outdoor swimming pool. The hotel’s Grill Q is known for its steaks, while its fine-dining restaurant Bistro M features an impressive two-story wine library with a Wine Spectator stamp of approval for having one of the most outstanding wine lists in the world. The Vines Wine Bar & Vinoteca is a contemporary bar offering local wines.

The hike up Cerro de la Gloria in General San Martin Park is a steep 45-minute trek but worth the panoramic city views. Make sure you bring lots of water and go early in the day before the weather is too hot and the views too hazy. At the top, you’ll also be rewarded with an impressive bronze monument honoring the Army of the Andes led by Argentina liberator General San Martin, a battalion he marched from Mendoza to Chile to free the country from Spanish rule. The memorial was built to commemorate the Argentina Centennial of 1910. If you’re too tired to climb back down, you can take the public bus, but will need exact change to ride (check current price at the tourist office).

Once a modest deli hawking local meats, Azafran has become a Mendoza staple with its extensive 300 bottle wine list. It’s still known for its cured meat and cheese plates, but also don’t miss the ahi tuna tartare appetizer. The restaurant has a casual vibe but it is on the pricier side. For a unique experience, reserve the large table in Azafran’s wine room, where the sommelier will help you discern the most palatable wine to go with your entrée or tasting menu. Av. Sarmiento 765; +54 261 429 4200

In a country that has more cows than people, you can’t visit Argentina without shopping for leather goods. Prune opened its doors in 1999 and is one of Argentina’s premier brands for quality leather goods that are stylish and great value. They sell European-inspired handbags, clutches, leather jackets, belts and shoes. You can find Prune shops in both Palmares Open Mall and Mendoza Plaza Shopping in Guaymallen.

American entrepreneur Michael Evans and Argentine winemaker Pablo Gimenez Riili joined forces to create an unparalleled viticultural paradise for wine lovers from around the world. Set on 1,500 pristine acres in the heart of the Uco Valley, the Vines Resort & Spa is a haven of laid-back luxury with a robust offering of culinary and wellness activities, winemaking endeavors, and outdoor adventures. Every aspect of the hotel is designed to share Mendoza’s natural beauty, superior wines, and Argentina’s warm culture through a tailored guest experience provided by the resort’s “Gauchos”—personal concierges and tour guides who curate one-of-a-kind itineraries for visitors.

The resort’s 22 spacious villas have ample indoor/outdoor living space, with wood-burning fireplaces, open-air fire pits, plunge pools, hot tubs, and private rooftop terraces with 360-degree views. Siete Fuegos, the resort’s signature restaurant, showcases open-flame grilling techniques mastered by Argentina’s acclaimed chef Francis Mallmann. The fitness center and yoga studio look out to the Andes, while three miles of running trails weave through the property’s vineyards. There’s never a dull moment at the Vines, with horseback riding, hiking, biking, cooking lessons, and winetasting at your fingertips—unless lounging is your preferred activity, in which case a cabana next to the 1,000-square-foot infinity pool will be calling your name.

El Palenque is a classic where locals and tourists can both be found sipping wine from “pinguino” carafes—vessels historically used by Argentine gauchos nicknamed for their distinct penguin shape. El Palenque is fashioned after an old-time “pulperia” or tavern where neighbors would come together to drink house wine, eat bar food and catch up on the daily gossip. Order the melt in your mouth fried calamari (rabas) while you sit outside and people watch. Aristides 287; +54 261 429 1814

Chef Pablo del Rio blends traditional recipes and ingredients from Argentina’s seven regions under one roof at Siete Cocinas restaurant. The seven regions represented include: Noa and Litoral in northern Argentina; Cuyo, which includes the Mendoza province; Metroplitana is Buenos Aires; Mar Argentino, the country’s East Coast; Patagonia Andina and La Pampa. The elegant restaurant is a refurbished colonial home in downtown Mendoza. It has a minimalist design with an open kitchen that seats 70 guests. The menu features Patagonian lamb, rabbit, pork, trout and traditional Mendocenean empanadas. Work your way around the country with Siete Cocina’s seven region tasting menu: a pacu (fish) filet salad (Litoral); watermelon salad (Cuyo/Pampa); fried Atlantic pollock cheeks (Mar Argentino); veal tail with tortellini (Metropolitana); succulent goat roasted in a clay oven (Cuyo); red berry sorbet (Patagonia Andina); and sugarcane ice cream with almonds crisps and toffee (Noa). The wine list is extensive. For a memorable dining experience, book the private dining table in the wine cellar. If you’re leaning towards a non-alcoholic beverage, try the infused Tealosophy teas from the in-house tea sommelier’s personal brand. The restaurant is closed on Sundays.

A refined yet rustic restaurant and guesthouse nestled into the rural landscape of Mendoza’s Uco Valley, Finca Blousson is a hidden treasure for wine lovers seeking life’s simplest pleasures. Pair the Bistro’s blend of Argentine and French Provencal fare with wines sourced from the region’s top local boutique wineries, and you’ll be treating yourself to an unforgettable experience. The intimate country guesthouse has three cozy rooms overlooking the vineyard or a spectacular view of the mountains. Owners Victoria Jones and her French partner, Patrick Blousson, will look after you like a member of their own family. Route 94, km 14, on the road to The Manzano Histórico, Tunuyan, Valle de Uco, Mendoza; +54 9 261 15 655 3382

I love the wines of Mendoza, Argentina, but I wanted to marry the wines of Catena Zapata when I had the chance to drink them whilst overlooking the green vineyards backdropped by the soaring, snowcapped Andes peaks. The wines of Catena are mostly big reds made from malbec or cabernet, and they make some chardonnay and sauvignon blanc as well. The winery is fashioned after a stepped Maya pyramid and is furnished with state of the art equipment. Wine tours last about an hour and a half and finish at the tasting room, where you can purchase bottles of wine. Catena Zapata and the rest of the Mendoza region wineries are only open by appointment, so be sure to have a day’s worth of wine tours booked in advance for your itinerary. Be sure not to skip over the city of Mendoza, as there are many wine tasting rooms featuring wines from the region and selling limited releases and other rarities not readily available at the wineries.