Where to Shop in Mendoza

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.

La Peatonal is a four block pedestrian street that starts at Plaza Indpendencia and transforms into Calle Sarmiento. Restaurants, cafes and bars all have outdoor seating tucked under the shade of Mendoza’s leafy trees. Clothing boutiques, pharmacies and other businesses attract both locals and tourists. This is the place to grab a coffee (I don’t recommend the food) and people watch. Saturday morning is the busiest time to witness life unfolding in Mendoza.

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.

Go Bar occupies an old colonial house on a leafy Mendoza street (formerly Winery & Company). Its old, worn wooden floors speckled with sunlight have just the right vintage feel for wine browsing. It’s several rooms are stacked with wrought iron shelves featuring the region’s numerous wine labels. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and will give you the perfect packaging to carry wines in your suitcase back home. Chile 898 (corner of Montevideo)

Mendoza has suffered devastating earthquakes that have reduced the city to rubble. The earthquake of 1861 destroyed most of the city. Instead of repairing all the damage, the city decided to build a new city center southwest of the original location. They created a large principal plaza—Plaza Independencia—surrounded by four smaller plazas: Plaza San Martin; Plaza Chile; Plaza Italia; and the most picturesque, Plaza Espana. These open spaces created a safe retreat for residents to gather in the event of another destructive earthquake. On weekends the plazas come alive with artisan markets, food vendors, lip-locked lovers and families. Enjoy the people watching and be aware of your belongings.

Las Heras isn’t Mendoza‘s most picturesque of avenues, but it’s replete with leather shops and souvenir stores selling chotchkies and trinkets. You can pop in and out of the stores until you find something you like. Cueros Armados is worth checking out for women’s leather jackets and Las Viñas for cheap mate gourds. You’ll also find items made from “carpincho,” which is the tanned hide of Argentina’s indigenous rodent the capybara. Start at the Carrefour on the corner of Las Heras and Belgrano and walk east. Mercado Central is on this street, which attracts a lot of tourists, and consequently wily pick pocketers. Be attentive of your belongings.

Travelers who think heaven should include golf, tennis, horseback riding, mountains, vineyards, and mouthwatering food and wine all in one place should book a stay at Algodon Wine Estates. The property rolls across 2,000 acres of picturesque foothills in San Rafael, Mendoza. The land blossoms with walnut, pear, and plum orchards, miles of olive groves, and a world-class vineyard producing a wide range of varietals. Eight estancia-style suites are housed in the Algodon Villa and Algodon Lodge, featuring wood-burning chimneys and wraparound stone patios overlooking the vineyard and surrounding estate.

The sprawling property has a history that dates back to Argentina’s golf legend Jose Jurado, whose descendants (also professional golfers) owned and designed the first nine holes of the estate’s golf course. Today’s 18-hole course winds through lush vineyards, glacial water reservoirs, olive trees, and fruit orchards. The championship tennis facilities feature seven clay courts, one hard court, and two grass courts. With such an attractive range of on-property activities, it might take some willpower for guests to venture beyond the estate grounds, but the natural wonders surrounding San Rafael are worth a visit.