Mendoza-born Sebastián Weigandt’s love for gastronomy stemmed from the delicious traditional meals prepared by his maternal grandmother in his childhood home. “Here, surrounded by pots and pans that were left to cook for hours on end, I started to train my palate,” he tells us. “When I finished school, I decided to study gastronomy. This was in 2001 when Argentina was experiencing a major economic crisis and cooking was not in fashion, but I was certain about what I wanted to do”. The passing of time has shown that this was the correct decision: today, the chef is responsible for the fine-dining experience at the Azafrán restaurant, where Sebastián received one of the four MICHELIN stars awarded to the city of Mendoza in the MICHELIN Guide Buenos Aires & Mendoza – recognition for a chef who has scanned the entire province in search of its very best ingredients.
A Day’s Shopping in the Mercado Central
“I love markets, both for the quality ingredients they sell and for their atmosphere. One of my favourites is the Mercado Cooperativo de Guaymallén, Mendoza’s largest fruit and vegetable market. I really enjoy going to the Mercado Central, which has been existence for over a century and is located in the centre of the city and is very close to Azafrán. Here, I source fruit and vegetables as well as veal, fish, hams, cheeses, spices and sweet delicacies. I particularly love eating mozzarella pizza with a ‘fainá’ topping”, Sebastián adds. Created in 1883, the Mercado Central was initially a large open-air market in an area that at the time was on the edge of this provincial capital. Over the years, it grew in size and popularity with locals to what it is today: a meeting place and a shopping destination for the city’s inhabitants and tourist alike.
Avenida Las Heras 279, M5500 Mendoza
Small Plates and a Glass of Felino Chardonnay in the Wine Cellar of VinoBien
Mendoza is the viticultural capital of Argentina and as such is home to a number of vinotecas and bars where you can enjoy a glass of the country’s renowned wine. “I love going to VinoBien to try some of their wines. I can particularly recommend the ‘tiradito’ of trout with a lemon reduction to accompany a glass of white wine from Viña Cobos, such as the Felino Chardonnay”. Having been recognised in the Best of Mendoza’s Wine Tourism 2023 awards, this vinoteca run by sommelier Rodrigo Kohn is one of the few that offers wine from Mendoza as well as from around the country, such as regions as far afield as Patagonia, the Atlantic coast and the hilly landscapes of the Calchaquíes valley. We recommend booking a space in the new underground cellar in order to taste some of Argentina’s best labels.
San Martín 6371, Carrodilla, M5505 Mendoza
Eating Family Style: Pie de Cuba
“Pie de Cuba is a great place to eat with my family. It has a beautiful open-air garden where my daughters (who are eight and four) can also run around. All its food is really good: they use seasonal ingredients and are always striving to create dishes with plenty of flavour”. In business for 15 years now and run by owner-chef Ignacio Molina, Pie de Cuba is part of the Maipú Wine Route, and features a menu that offers something for everyone – there are always meat, fish and pasta options, as well as a mouthwatering fried empanada to whet your appetite. Here, the best thing to do is to sit in the shade of its mature trees in order to enjoy Mendoza’s sunny climate to the full.
Urquiza 800, Maipú, M5515 Mendoza
Cuisine Created from Vegetables from Riccitelli Bistró’s own Kitchen Garden
“What Juan Ventureyra is doing at Riccitelli Bistró is really amazing. He is a true trailblazer in placing vegetables at the forefront of his cuisine – others are now following suit but he started out on this quest seven years ago”. The recipient of a MICHELIN Green Star, Riccitelli Bistró offers two menus: one with six courses, the second with eight, including dishes such as duck with peach and beetroot; and alubia beans with almonds, aubergines, corn and peperonata. Based around the concept ‘from the soil to the table’, the restaurant is surrounded by its own vegetable garden, with the immense Andes cordillera as a stunning backdrop. “It is one of the few places I visit at least four or five times a year. We share a love of vegetables with Juan and on more than one occasion we have exchanged ingredients with him”.
Callejón de La Reta 750, M5509 Mendoza.
Keep the Night Alive with a Penicillin Cocktail at The Garnish Bar
“Once a week, when we have a finished a shift, the entire Azafrán team heads to The Garnish Bar. The bar appeals to me not only for its quiet yet fun ambience, but also because they know how to make my favourite cocktail, Penicillin, with its hint of smokiness, to perfection”. Located in the heart of Mendoza, along the busy Calle Colón, The Garnish Bar has one of the best selections of whiskies and malts in the city. Run by bartender Gonzalo Palacio, it has become a must for cocktail-lovers.
Avenida Colón 670, M5500 Mendoza
Accommodation Amid the Vineyards
“If there’s one thing I particularly enjoy it is staying in hotels. Fortunately, Mendoza has some incredible hotels offering plenty of different options. These include the Rosell Boher Lodge, the Hualta Hotel Mendoza Curio Collection by Hilton, Cavas Wine Lodge as well as the Susana Balbo Winemaker's House & Spa Suites, a boutique hotel created by wine expert Susana Balbo in Chacras de Coria, in a tranquil setting surrounded by trees”. Run by Susana herself and her daughter Ana Lovaglio Balbo, the hotel has just seven guestrooms with a dry sauna, private garden and deck, as well as a fire pit for cooler evenings. It is the best place in which to rest and relax after a visit to the vineyards of Luján de Cuyo, one of Argentina’s most historical wine-producing regions.
Viamonte 5022, Chacras de Coria, M5505 Mendoza
With the ever-present Andes demarcating its stunning scenery, vineyards linings its roads and rural tracks, and over 300 days of sunshine a year, Mendoza is a food and wine paradise for tourists visiting Argentina, and is a city surrounded by wine bodegas and restaurants where you can spend several unforgettable days.
Hero image: Chef Sebastián Weigandt © Azafrán
This article has been written with the support of our Destination Partner in the "MICHELIN Guide Buenos Aires & Mendoza 2024".
