Where to Stay in Mendoza, Argentina: 4 Best Areas & Hotels

Where should you stay in Mendoza? After exploring Argentina’s iconic town at the base of the Andes, we can tell you that choosing the right area makes a big difference.

We absolutely loved Mendoza. Between the city’s lively plazas, the Uco Valley’s mountain views, and epic outdoor adventures, there’s so much to enjoy in this region.

But each area offers a completely different experience, so where you stay really depends on the trip you’re planning. To make things easier, we’ve narrowed it down to the four best areas to stay in Mendoza, with hotel recommendations for every budget. Let’s get into it!

Where to Stay in Mendoza Map

Overview of the Best Areas to Stay in Mendoza

Choosing where to stay in Mendoza really comes down to whether you want city convenience or an immersive wine-country escape. The City Center and Quinta Sección are both walkable, and Uber and Cabify are handy when you’re heading farther afield.

Public transportation is also easy to use around the city. Buses and the Metrotranvía accept SUBE and contactless payments, while Google Maps and Cuándo Subo are useful for checking routes and live arrival times.

However, we wouldn’t rely on public transportation for winery hopping because the estates are pretty spread out. Instead, book a tour or hire a private driver so everyone can enjoy the tastings! If you want to stay among the vineyards, the Uco Valley is around 1-1.5 hours from Mendoza city, so we recommend spending a few nights there rather than traveling back and forth each day.

Here’s a quick look at the best areas to stay in Mendoza:

• Mendoza City Center – Best for first-time visitors – Stay here to be close to Mendoza’s main sights and wine bars, with plenty within walking distance. We recommend Huentala Hotel for its central location and upscale feel.

• Quinta Sección – Best for restaurants & nightlife – We love this leafy neighborhood for its restaurants and bars, plus you’ll be right by the HUGE Parque General San Martín. 718 Rufino Petit Hotel is a stylish boutique hotel in a great location.

• Chacras de Coria / Luján de Cuyo – Best for wine lovers & couples – If you want to swap the city for wineries and fantastic restaurants, this area will provide a much more romantic wine-country setting. Casona La Chiquita is a gorgeous farmhouse-style property here.

• Uco Valley – Best for luxury wine resorts & mountain scenery – Head even deeper into wine country for sprawling vineyards, beautiful resorts, and some seriously impressive Andes views. We recommend Auberge Du Vin, a gorgeous vineyard hotel surrounded by mountain scenery.

Where to Stay in Mendoza

Mendoza City Center

BEST FOR FIRST-TIME VISITORS

Pros

• Walkable and close to tons of restaurants and wine bars
• Huge choice of hotels for every budget
• Great jumping-off point for wine tours

Cons

• You won’t get the full wine-country atmosphere
• Busier and more urban than the areas outside the city

Mendoza City Center is our top pick for first-time visitors. It’s the most convenient place to stay, especially if you don’t have a car, with tons of restaurants, wine bars, shops, and hotels within easy reach. Most organized wine tours also offer pickup from central hotels, so exploring the surrounding wineries is nice and easy when you stay here! We were a little short on time on our first trip to Mendoza, and staying in the center let us explore a lot in a short time. 

Plaza Independencia is the heart of downtown, and we loved spending time here when we visited Mendoza. It’s surrounded by four smaller plazas, all just a few blocks apart, and exploring them is a great way to get a feel for the city. Interestingly, this layout came about after a devastating earthquake destroyed much of Mendoza in 1861, including its original central plaza.

You’ll also be within easy reach of Avenida Arístides Villanueva and the HUGE Parque General San Martín, while the center itself has plenty to keep you busy between excursions.

Of course, you won’t wake up surrounded by vineyards here. But if you want to explore Mendoza’s wineries by day and enjoy the city’s restaurants and bars at night, the center is hard to beat.

Diplomatic Hotel – $$$

If you’re looking for a luxurious stay in central Mendoza, we think that the Diplomatic Hotel is the best place to stay. This elegant 5-star hotel takes inspiration from grand European hotels, and many of the spacious rooms have fantastic views of the Andes. We also love the location, as you’ll be surrounded by some of Mendoza’s best restaurants and within easy walking distance of Plaza Independencia.

There’s an outdoor pool for those hot Mendoza afternoons, as well as a gym and a spa when you’re ready to relax after a busy day of exploring. Breakfast is included, and there’s also a restaurant and bar on-site. All in all, this is our top pick in the city if you’re happy to splash out!

Rooms typically start from around $220 USD per night.

Another fantastic luxury option is Park Hyatt Mendoza Hotel, Casino & Spa, which sits directly opposite Plaza Independencia in a beautiful French Neoclassical building. It has a spa, outdoor pool, casino, and several places to eat and drink, so there’s plenty to enjoy without even leaving the hotel.

Meanwhile, Sheraton Mendoza Hotel is a sleek and modern alternative in the city center with an indoor pool and a fantastic spa. There are also three restaurants on-site, making this a great choice if you love having lots of amenities at your fingertips.

Huentala Hotel – $$

Huentala Hotel is our favorite hotel in Mendoza City Center. It feels much more upscale than the price tag suggests, with stylish rooms and a polished boutique feel, so we think you get a lot for your money here.

The hotel has an outdoor pool and spa, plus a restaurant and bar, so there are plenty of places to unwind between wine tours. The location is another big selling point because you’ll be right in the heart of Mendoza, with restaurants and city sights close by. If you want somewhere that feels special without paying luxury hotel prices, this is an amazing pick.

Rooms typically start from $140 USD per night.

Gran Hotel Dakar is another solid option, especially if having a pool is high on your wishlist. It’s a modern hotel with spacious rooms and a location that puts the center within easy reach.

For something with a stronger wine theme, Hualta Hotel Mendoza is home to an urban winery, so you don’t even have to leave the city to start getting into the Mendoza spirit! This stylish Curio Collection by Hilton property also has a pool and spa, making it ideal for a more indulgent stay.

Montañas Azules Apart Hotel – $

If you’re on a tighter budget, Montañas Azules Apart Hotel is an awesome choice. It’s just a few blocks from Plaza Independencia, so you’re still right in the action, but instead of a standard hotel room, you’ll get a modern apartment with a kitchenette and seating area, so you don’t have to eat out for every single meal.

Free parking is also available, which is a helpful bonus if you’re renting a car to explore beyond the city. Breakfast is included, which helps you save even more money. For a wallet-friendly stay in Mendoza, you really can’t go wrong here. 

Prices start from $100 USD per night – bargain!

Hotel Raices Aconcagua is another affordable option in a super central location, with an outdoor pool that’s perfect during Mendoza’s warmer months. It’s a good alternative if you’d prefer the convenience of a traditional hotel rather than an apartment.

We also like Hotel Nutibara, which is just one block from Plaza Independencia and has an outdoor pool and jacuzzi. We think its location and competitive price make it another excellent budget-friendly base for exploring Mendoza.

Quinta Sección

BEST FOR RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE

Pros

• Fantastic restaurants and nightlife along Avenida Arístides Villanueva
• Leafy, walkable streets close to Parque General San Martín

Cons

• Fewer hotels to choose from than in the City Center
• Some downtown sights are a longer walk away

If eating and drinking your way around Mendoza sounds like your kind of trip, we think you’ll LOVE Quinta Sección! This leafy neighborhood sits just west of the City Center and is best known for Avenida Arístides Villanueva, which is packed with restaurants, bars, breweries, and cafes.

In fact, one of our favorite Mendoza breweries, Chachingo Craft Beer, is right around here. It’s a lively area at night, but venture away from the main strip and Quinta Sección quickly becomes much quieter and more residential. We think it’s a nice balance because there’s plenty happening nearby, but you’re not staying right in the middle of downtown.

You’ll also be close to Parque General San Martín, which we absolutely loved exploring. This park is HUGE, with a lake, rose gardens, fountains, walking trails, and the Cerro de la Gloria, where you can climb up for panoramic views over Mendoza. It’s totally worth doing, just FYI!

The trade-off is that there aren’t as many conventional hotels here, and some central attractions require a longer walk or quick taxi ride. Still, for foodies, couples, and anyone who loves going out in the evening, Quinta Sección is an amazing base.

718 Rufino Petit Hotel – $$ 

718 Rufino Petit Hotel is our top pick in Quinta Sección. It’s a stylish little hotel with bright, modern rooms, and we especially love the location. You’ll be within walking distance of Avenida Arístides Villanueva and all of its restaurants and bars, while Parque General San Martín is also nearby.

Breakfast is included, plus there’s a sunny terrace where you can hang out between adventures. Free parking is another big bonus if you’re renting a car, although you definitely don’t need one to enjoy this neighborhood. Overall, we think this hotel offers excellent value in one of Mendoza’s most fun areas!

Rooms typically start from around $110 USD per night, including breakfast.

If 718 Rufino is all booked up, Posada de Rosas is a charming alternative with a garden and seasonal outdoor pool. The rooms also have kitchenettes, so it’s especially handy for a longer stay.

Cóndor Suites Apart Hotel is another great choice if you’d like some extra space. Its apartment-style rooms have kitchenettes and seating areas, plus there’s an outdoor pool for cooling off on warm Mendoza days.

Casa Reconquista – $

For a cozy and affordable stay, Casa Reconquista is SUCH a cute option. This boutique hotel has just 10 rooms inside a traditional-style house, so it feels much more intimate than your average budget hotel.

There’s a lovely garden and an outdoor pool, and breakfast is included with your stay. Better still, you’ll be just a few blocks from Avenida Arístides Villanueva, and within walking distance of Plaza Independencia, so the location is fantastic for the price. We think this is perfect if you’d rather save your money for wine tours without sacrificing character or location!

Rooms typically start from around $70 USD per night.

Bohemia Hotel Boutique is another charming option with a leafy garden and seasonal outdoor pool, close to Parque General San Martin. There’s also an on-site restaurant and bar, so you can grab something to eat or drink without going far.

Or for something simple and super friendly, Huli B&B is a very affordable, adults-only B&B with breakfast included and a shared kitchen. It even has a wine cellar stocked with Mendoza wines, which feels perfect for this trip!

Chacras de Coria / Luján de Cuyo

BEST FOR WINE LOVERS & COUPLES

Pros

• Surrounded by some of Mendoza’s best wineries and restaurants
• Romantic boutique hotels and a peaceful wine-country atmosphere

Cons

• Wineries and hotels are quite spread out
• Less convenient for sightseeing in central Mendoza

If your dream Mendoza trip involves waking up near the vineyards, Chacras de Coria and Luján de Cuyo are calling your name! This is one of Argentina’s most famous wine-producing areas, and it’s especially known for Malbec. You’ll find tons of wineries here, from historic bodegas to sleek modern estates offering tastings and multi-course lunches with expert wine pairings. We had an amazing experience at Durigutti Family Wines, so definitely try to make it there if you can.

We passed through Chacras de Coria during one of our wine tours and loved its cute plaza and Spanish-style church. The village has a charming, laid-back feel, with lots of boutique hotels and fantastic restaurants dotted around the surrounding area. For couples especially, we think it’s a much more romantic alternative to staying downtown!

Of course, wine is the main attraction here, and you’ll be perfectly placed to explore Luján de Cuyo’s celebrated wineries. We’d definitely recommend arranging a tour or private driver so that everyone can enjoy the tastings! 

Just bear in mind that this is a large wine region rather than one compact neighborhood. Wineries, restaurants, and hotels are spread across several districts, so getting around takes more planning than it does in the city. 

Lares De Chacras – $$$

For a romantic wine-country stay, Lares De Chacras is SUCH a gorgeous pick. This boutique hotel feels cozy and rustic rather than flashy, with lots of stone and wood throughout, plus a lush garden that makes the whole property feel like a little oasis. Better still, you’ll be just a few kilometers from some of Mendoza’s best wineries.

There’s an outdoor pool and Jacuzzi surrounded by greenery, as well as a restaurant, bar, and gym. Breakfast is included and made with local ingredients, which feels very fitting when you’re staying in the heart of wine country! For couples who want somewhere peaceful and romantic without being isolated from Chacras de Coria, we think this is an amazing choice.

Rooms typically start from around $200+ USD per night.

If Lares De Chacras is all booked up, Casa de Coria is a lovely alternative right in the heart of the village, within walking distance of restaurants and a short drive from several wineries. It combines modern comforts with plenty of local character, making it another great option for a romantic getaway.

For something a little different, Huellas de Chacras consists of stylish tiny houses with a beautiful Japandi design. With natural wood and minimalist interiors, this peaceful property feels made for switching off after a day of wine tasting!

Casona La Chiquita – $$

Casona La Chiquita feels like a real hidden gem! This intimate inn is surrounded by beautiful gardens, so it has the peaceful wine-country atmosphere we’d want from a stay out here. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, and some even have balconies overlooking the greenery.

There’s a seasonal outdoor pool, sun terrace, and plenty of places to sit outside and enjoy the garden. Breakfast is included and gets fantastic reviews, plus there’s free parking if you’re exploring the region by car. For a charming stay that feels much more personal than a big hotel, we think you get a LOT for your money here.

Rooms typically start from around $160 USD per night, with a 2-night minimum stay.

Amérian Chacras de Coria is a more traditional 4-star hotel right on Mendoza’s wine route, with an outdoor pool, restaurant, and bar. Breakfast is included too, so this is a great alternative if you’d prefer a full-service hotel.

Meanwhile, Vistalba Hotel Aparts & Suites is a peaceful option in Luján de Cuyo with spacious accommodations and lovely grounds. We especially like this one if you’d rather stay farther from the bustle and really lean into the countryside feel.

Casa Lopez – $

If you’re doing Mendoza on a budget but still want that dreamy wine-country setting, Casa Lopez is an awesome find. This family-run guesthouse has a big leafy garden, outdoor pool, and cozy rooms overlooking the greenery, so it certainly doesn’t feel like you’re compromising to save some money!

Breakfast is included, and there’s free parking if you have a rental car. We also love that the owners are actually from Chacras de Coria, back when it was still a small village surrounded by vineyards, which gives this place a lovely local feel. If you’d rather spend your money on Malbec and fancy winery lunches, we think Casa Lopez is a fantastic pick.

Rooms typically start at around $100 USD per night, including breakfast.

Refugio Padma is another affordable gem in the heart of Chacras de Coria, surrounded by nature but close to local restaurants, bars, and wineries. It’s adults-only, with an outdoor pool, garden, yoga classes, and breakfast included, so it has a lovely retreat-like feel despite its lower price tag.

For families or groups, Villa Niagara is well worth a look because its duplex apartments have two bedrooms and fully equipped kitchens. There’s also a big garden and outdoor pool, giving you tons of space to spread out and relax between winery visits.

Related Read: Need help organizing the rest of your trip? See our 3-day Mendoza Itinerary for our favorite experiences!

Uco Valley

BEST FOR LUXURY WINE RESORTS & MOUNTAIN SCENERY

Pros

• Incredible wineries with spectacular Andes views
• Gorgeous wine resorts and destination restaurants

Cons

• Around 1-1.5 hours from Mendoza city
• You’ll need your own transportation or prearranged transfers

If you want to completely immerse yourself in Mendoza wine country, it doesn’t get much better than the Uco Valley! We visited on our wine tour and had an absolute blast. This high-altitude wine region sits at the foot of the Andes, so you get rows upon rows of vineyards with some seriously impressive mountains rising behind them.

Of course, the wine is the BIG draw. The Uco Valley is home to some of Mendoza’s most celebrated wineries, along with beautiful wine resorts and destination restaurants. This is somewhere we’d come to while away our days drinking Malbec, eating amazing food, and soaking up the scenery – sounds pretty dreamy, right?

However, the Uco Valley is much more remote than the other areas in this guide. It takes around 1-1.5 hours to reach from Mendoza city, and the wineries and hotels are spread out, so you’ll need a rental car or prearranged transfers to get around.

For that reason, don’t try to treat the Uco Valley like a city base. We recommend staying for at least two nights and making the wine country itself the focus of your stay. Yes, please!

Posada Salentein – $$$

If you’re going to splurge anywhere in Mendoza, Posada Salentein is one of the best places to do it. This gorgeous wine lodge belongs to the Salentein estate, so you’ll be staying right among the vineyards with the Andes providing one heck of a backdrop! The rooms are elegant and cozy, and the whole property feels secluded and private.

There’s an outdoor pool overlooking the vines, plus a restaurant where you can enjoy local dishes paired with Salentein wines. Of course, the HUGE perk is having the winery right on your doorstep, so you can really settle into the Uco Valley experience rather than rushing back to Mendoza afterward. Wine, mountains, beautiful food… yes please!

Rooms typically start from around $280+ USD per night, including breakfast.

Finca Boutique Un Buen Año is another gorgeous countryside escape surrounded by vineyards and mountain scenery. It’s intimate and peaceful, with an outdoor pool and just a handful of rooms, making it perfect for couples.

Or check out Casa Petrini, a stylish wine hotel set among the vineyards beside the Tunuyán River. There’s an outdoor pool, spa, restaurant, and winery on-site, so you really can make a whole vacation out of staying here!

Auberge Du Vin – $$

For a beautiful vineyard stay without going all-out on a luxury resort, Auberge Du Vin is our top pick in the Uco Valley. The hotel sits right among the vines with the Andes rising behind them, so the views are pretty spectacular. Some rooms even look directly over the vineyards, which is EXACTLY what we want from a trip to Mendoza!

There’s a particularly cool indoor-outdoor pool, plus a restaurant and plenty of outdoor space for soaking up the scenery. We also love that the hotel feels secluded and peaceful, so this is somewhere we’d happily spend an afternoon doing absolutely nothing after a morning of wine tasting.

Rooms typically start from around $135 USD per night, including breakfast.

Postales Finca & Bodega is another lovely vineyard hotel with rustic rooms, an outdoor pool, and beautiful views across the surrounding countryside. It has its own winery too, so you won’t have to travel far at all for your first glass of Malbec!

Casa Vidal Guesthouse – $ 

Uco Valley isn’t only about fancy wine resorts! Casa Vidal Guesthouse is proof that you can stay in this gorgeous region without blowing the entire travel budget on your hotel. It’s a simple, homey guesthouse with comfortable rooms and a much more local feel than the big vineyard resorts.

There’s a garden and shared lounge, plus breakfast is available in the morning. We think this is a particularly good choice if your priority is getting out and exploring the Uco Valley’s wineries during the day rather than spending lots of time at your hotel. After all, that leaves more money for wine, and we have NO complaints about that!

Rooms typically start from around $70 USD per night.

If Casa Vidal Guesthouse is full, no worries, because Hotel Chardonnay is another wallet-friendly option, this time in the town of Tupungato. The rooms are simple and modern, and the central location is handy if you’d rather have shops and restaurants nearby than stay somewhere remote among the vineyards.

Top Activities in Mendoza

Now that you know where to base yourself in Mendoza, you can start planning some fun activities! Of course, a lot of the best things to do here are wine-focused, but we actually found some really fun activities that went beyond the vino. Here’s how to make the most of your time in Mendoza: 

• Go wine tasting – A wine tour is a must in Mendoza, and this full-day luxury wine tour is the one to beat! We did this tour, and we had an incredible time visiting several wineries and sampling a ton of Malbec along the way, with all of the transport, bookings, and a five-course lunch taken care of.

• Explore the Andes – This full-day Andes tour is an amazing way to experience the mountain scenery surrounding the city. You’ll travel through the Andes, stopping at the Potrerillos Reservoir, Uspallata, the colorful natural formation of Puente del Inca, and a viewpoint overlooking Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas.

• Ride horses in the mountains – On our first evening in Mendoza, we booked this horseback riding experience, which took us off the beaten path and into the foothills of the Andes! We enjoyed mountain and sunset views, then had a traditional asado dinner back at the ranch.

• Take a cooking class – If you’ve fallen in love with Argentine food by this point, this three-hour cooking class is the perfect chance to learn how to recreate it at home! You’ll join a small group in a local home and get hands-on as you prepare classic dishes, including beef and humita empanadas, chimichurri, and a juicy bife de ancho steak.

Related Read: If you find yourself with extra time, see our complete list of the best things to do in Mendoza!

Planning your Trip to Argentina

Accommodation in Argentina

Booking accommodation is one of the biggest aspects of your trip, and we should know as we stay in a new hotel up to 40 times per year! Funny enough, we make 99% of these bookings on one website and that’s Booking.com – and there are a few reasons why we use this site!

Number one is the website is easy to use and sorts accommodation options. That takes the stress out of planning which honestly still affects us and we do it more than not.

Second, is the price guarantee. We have literally booked a hotel months before and then 1 week out found it cheaper (we always do a quick search), and they’ll match that price from anyone’s website including the hotels!

And third, is the Genius loyalty program. If you make a certain amount of bookings per year you get a Genius discount. We are level-two geniuses because we make more than 5 a year. At participating hotels, we get things like free breakfast included, early check-in, and up to 15% off.

You can check out all their accommodation options throughout Argentina!

Renting a car in Argentina

We enjoyed a rental car for our second trip to Argentina when we traveled in Patagonia – and wow, what a way to travel! But the best part was that we only paid $40 USD per day for a 5-person sedan!

But how? Well, if you’re renting a car in Argentina, the cheapest company is Discover Cars. We often get questions from readers asking us if the website is fake because it seems too cheap! It’s a great website and the one we used for our rental.

If you do want to compare prices (and you should), do a quick search on Airport Car Rentals too. They’re another big competitor and each company often has its own deals to offer!

Tours in Argentina

We love booking online because we can check reviews of the tour and know exactly what to expect on the tour, such as the itinerary and inclusions. Sometimes the tours are pricier online than booking directly in person, but this is why we always book with Viator. If we happen to find the exact same tour for a lower price once we’re at the destination, Viator will actually refund the price difference!

Thanks for reading!

Whether you’re here for the outdoor adventures, Andes views, wine tasting, or some incredible Argentine asado, Mendoza is a treat for the senses. Choosing the right place to stay for your travel style will help you maximize your time and experience as much of Mendoza as you can!

Before you go, check out our other Argentina travel blogs. We’ve been all over this stunning country and have plenty of resources to help you plan a memorable trip. Here are a few related blogs to get you started – cheers!

8 BEST Mendoza Wine Tours for First Timers

How to Spend THREE DAYS in Ushuaia, Argentina: 3-Day Itinerary

Where to Stay in Bariloche, Argentina: 6 Areas & Hotels