Important Times of Day in Mendoza

Siesta!

Siesta (nap time) is from approximately 1:30 p.m to 5:00 p.m. every day. Downtown stores and most restaurants close at this time, and will reopen generally around 5:00 p.m. Some wineries and restaurants stay open through siesta.

Sunday Hours

In Mendoza, Sunday is the day to share an asado with your friends and family. The majority of stores, restaurants and wineries are not open, with the exception of large international companies and the local malls, (Mendoza Plaza Shopping and Palmares Open Mall). It is a great day to relax in Parque San Martin with friends or go for a hike. And if you are lucky enough to be invited to an asado, go! It is an unforgettable experience.

Eating in Mendoza

Restaurant Hours

Breakfast

7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Breakfasts in Argentina are light, but this certainly doesn't mean low fat! It consists of coffee and scrumptious pastries (called facturas), including delicious crossiant-like media lunas.

Lunch

12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Lunches come in all shapes and sizes - from small sandwiches to large pasta dishes. As with all meals in Mendoza, it is not rushed and can easily last easily longer than an hour (if it is an asado plan for at least two hours!)

There are few “to go” places for lunch in Mendoza, so if you’d like to take a lunch with you, plan to go to the local vegetable stand (verduleria) to select some vegetables, and the butcher to get some tasty fresh cut meat. Bakeries and dieteticas offer delicious bread options.

Tea Time

6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m

Tea time is a great time of the day to sit, relax and connect with friends and family—and the Park Hyatt has one of most well-known full tea services in town. Although for most Argentines, tea time consists of drinking mate - and lasts all day long.

Dinner

8:30 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.

Dinner can range from lomo sandwiches to large meals of steak. Have a look at our Dining section for more details on the amazing and diverse dining options in town.

9:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.

Argentines eat late. If you want to have a local experience, plan not to go before 11:00 p.m., and be aware that opening and closing times can vary 30 minutes from the times posted.

Using the Phone

Using the Phone in Argentina

+54 Country code

011 Buenos Aires’ city code

0261 Mendoza’s city code

For calling a landline from abroad, you will need to dial

00 54+city code+mobile number (without 15)

Mobile phone numbers start with 15 (e.g 151234567)

For calling an Argentine mobile from abroad, dial:

011+ 54+9 +city code+mobile number(without 15)

Maps

A funny thing about maps in Mendoza is that we have yet to find two that are alike. The other challenge is that very few streets outside of the city have street signs. Plus, many streets change names after a number of blocks. Together, these make for some interesting adventures! If you feel most comfortable driving yourself we suggest you buy two or three maps.

Walking in Mendoza

Growing up, all of our mothers would tell us to look both ways when crossing the street—you should follow that advice in Mendoza. We have a simple saying to describe walking in Mendoza: In most of North America, pedestrians have the right of way, and in Mendoza, pedestrians have the right to get out of the way. Keep that in mind and you'll be fine.

Dressing in Mendoza

Mendoza is a casual city. In the summer seasons, sundresses and shorts with flip flops will suit perfectly. In the colder months, be sure to layer. As you will be visiting vineyards, and perhaps riding horses and hiking, bring comfortable casual clothing and a sturdy pair of boots.

Boliches

As you would imagine, if you eat late, you also go out dancing late. Boliches, or dance clubs, generally don't open their doors until 1:00 a.m. at the earliest, and don't stop until the sun comes up. If you go, be prepared for the long haul, and be sure to try Fernet and Coke.

Acequias

Acequias (ah-say-key-ahs) are the small, open concrete canals that provide clean water from the Andes to the City. All the sidewalks have small paths over Acequias leading to the street. Make sure you stay on that small path or you could see an Acequia more up close and personal than you’d care for.

Stray Dogs

Stray dogs are common in Mendoza. Most are well fed, calm and happy dogs that wander throughout the city. There is no need to feed, pet or take them home. They are content as they are.