When Europe shivers, Argentina basks in long golden evenings, outdoor milongas, and vineyard sunsets. This one-week itinerary pairs cosmopolitan Buenos Aires—birthplace of tango and a paradise for steak and specialty coffee—with Mendoza, the gateway to Malbec and the Andes. Expect warm days (bring sunscreen), late dinners, and a lively street culture that runs on conversation and choripanes.

Buenos Aires’ story stretches from colonial plaza to immigrant port to 20th-century boomtown, leaving behind grand Beaux-Arts theaters, Italianate bodegones, and leafy parks. Fun fact: Avenida 9 de Julio is among the widest avenues in the world, and El Ateneo Grand Splendid—set in a 1919 theater—is often ranked among the world’s most beautiful bookstores. In Mendoza, irrigation canals (acequias) dating to the 16th century helped turn desert into vineyards that now produce celebrated high-altitude wines.

Practical notes: Spanish is widely spoken; card payments are common. Dinner starts late (9–10 pm is normal). Keep an eye on belongings in busy areas and use registered taxis or rideshares. Summer runs roughly December–March; pack a hat, refillable bottle, and lightweight layers. For flights to/from Europe, compare on Omio; for domestic flights, check Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is a city of cafés and conversations—equal parts European elegance and Latin pulse. Wander from stately Recoleta to street-art-streaked Palermo, listen for bandoneón drifting from open doors, then settle into a corner table for a long dinner and a longer sobremesa.

• Top sights: Recoleta Cemetery (Evita’s resting place), Teatro Colón (guided tours are excellent), MALBA’s Latin American art, La Boca’s Caminito, San Telmo’s Sunday market, the Japanese Garden, and the riverside Ecological Reserve.
• Where to stay: Palermo (boutique, nightlife), Recoleta (elegant and central), Puerto Madero (modern waterfront). Compare stays on Hotels.com and VRBO.
• Getting there: Nonstops from Europe (e.g., Madrid ~13h, Paris ~13.5h) arrive at Ezeiza (EZE). Expect a 45–75 minute transfer to Palermo/Recoleta; budget roughly $30–45 by official taxi/rideshare. Search flights on Omio.
• Eat & drink highlights: Don Julio (legendary parrilla), El Preferido de Palermo (revived bodegón classics), Parrilla Peña (old-school gem), La Brigada (San Telmo steakhouse lore), Chori (gourmet choripán), El Sanjuanino (empanadas). Coffee at LAB Tostadores or Lattente; cocktails at Florería Atlántico or Tres Monos; gelato at Cadore or Rapa Nui.

Day 1: Arrival and Recoleta’s grace

Afternoon: Land in Buenos Aires and check into your Palermo or Recoleta base via Hotels.com or VRBO. Stretch your legs around Recoleta Cemetery’s labyrinthine mausoleums, then people-watch at Plaza Francia. Pause at La Biela, a storied café shaded by giant gum trees.

Evening: Dinner at El Preferido de Palermo—order the tortilla de papas, house-cured morcilla, and a milanesa napolitana for the table. For a nightcap, slide into Florería Atlántico (a hidden bar behind a flower shop) for a Patagonian gin cocktail. If jet lag bites, stroll down leafy Avenida Alvear and call it early.

Day 2: Palermo parks, street art, and a parrilla icon

Morning: Coffee and medialunas at LAB Tostadores (Palermo Hollywood). Wander the Bosques de Palermo—rose garden, lakes, and shady paths—then dip into the Japanese Garden nearby.

Afternoon: Explore MALBA’s modern Latin American collection (Frida, Berni, Torres-García). Lunch at Casa Cavia’s courtyard (seasonal Argentine produce in a 1920s mansion) or Salvaje Bakery for sourdough sandwiches and sticky buns. Hunt murals along Palermo Soho’s side streets; Gurruchaga and Thames hide great photo ops.

Evening: Book ahead for Don Julio. Start with provoleta al fierro, share an ojo de bife (ribeye) and entraña (skirt steak), with fries and ensalada mixta. Finish with flan and dulce de leche. Post-dinner, Tres Monos shakes playful, award-winning cocktails until late.

Day 3: History from Plaza de Mayo to San Telmo and La Boca

Morning: Early hot chocolate and churros at Café Tortoni (est. 1858). Walk Plaza de Mayo’s landmarks—Casa Rosada, the Cabildo, and the Metropolitan Cathedral—then along Avenida de Mayo’s Belle Époque façades.

Afternoon: Browse San Telmo Market’s food stalls; try a choripán at Chori’s market outpost or a hefty lomo sandwich. Continue to La Boca’s Caminito for colorful conventillos and local painters. If you’re a football fan, peek into La Bombonera’s museum.

Evening: Steakhouse time in San Telmo at La Brigada (yes, they claim to cut steak with a spoon). Alternatively, Parrilla Peña near Recoleta serves generous bife de chorizo and a classic provoleta at friendly prices. Cap the night with vermouth at Bar Los Galgos, a revived 1930s corner bar.

Day 4: Puerto Madero, Teatro Colón, and a real milonga

Morning: Espresso at Lattente, then rent bikes to circle the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve—wild grasses, birdlife, and skyline views. Snack on a street-side choripán along the old costanera grills.

Afternoon: Guided tour of Teatro Colón—acoustically famed and visually exquisite. Browse El Ateneo Grand Splendid’s stage-turned-bookstore. Lunch nearby at El Sanjuanino for salteña-style empanadas and locro if on the menu.

Evening: Dine at Elena (dry-aged beef, charcuterie, and wood-fired mains) or El Preferido if you missed it. For tango, skip the tourist dinner show and drop into a milonga: Salon Canning or La Catedral Club are classic spots where locals dance late. Even if you just observe with a glass of Malbec, it’s unforgettable.

Mendoza & the Uco Valley

At the foot of the Andes, Mendoza’s sunbaked vineyards thrive thanks to snowmelt-fed canals. Tastings here are leisurely and scenic, often coupled with farm-to-table lunches and mountain views that steal your attention between sips.

• Top experiences: Uco Valley wineries (Zuccardi, Salentein, Andeluna, Domaine Bousquet), Luján de Cuyo classics (Catena Zapata, Achával-Ferrer, Alta Vista), hot springs at Cacheuta, and sunset from Cerro de la Gloria in Parque San Martín.
• Where to stay: Mendoza city (walkable dining), Chacras de Coria (leafy village feel), or on-vineyard lodges in Uco for dawn-in-the-vines magic. Compare options on Hotels.com and VRBO.
• Eat & drink highlights: Azafrán (downtown tasting menu and stellar cellar), María Antonieta (seasonal, Italian-Argentine), Fuente y Fonda (home-style comfort), Chachingo Craft Beer for hops between tastings, and Ferruccio Soppelsa for classic gelato.
• Getting there: Fly Buenos Aires (usually Aeroparque AEP) to Mendoza (MDZ) ~1h50. One-way fares commonly ~$40–100 when booked early. Compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Many BA–MDZ flights depart from AEP; plan 45–60 minutes by car from central neighborhoods.

Day 5: Fly to Mendoza and taste the city

Morning: Depart Buenos Aires on an early flight (aim for ~8–10 am) booked via Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Flight time ~1h50; taxis from MDZ to city center are ~20–30 minutes.

Afternoon: Check in via Hotels.com or VRBO, then lunch at María Antonieta—try the burrata with roasted tomatoes and a glass of crisp Torrontés. Stroll Plaza Independencia and Peatonal Sarmiento; detour into leafy Aristides Villanueva for wine bars.

Evening: Dinner at Azafrán: a seasonal tasting menu alongside a deep Argentine wine list (their sommeliers are happy to guide you through single-vineyard Malbecs). Finish with gelato at Ferruccio Soppelsa, a local institution.

Day 6: Full-day Uco Valley wine tour (no rush, no clock)

Set out on a full-day guided tour into the Uco Valley, where high-altitude vineyards meet snow-capped peaks. A classic route includes three stops: morning tasting at Andeluna (elegant Chardonnay and Malbec with mountain panoramas), cellar tour and tasting at Bodega Salentein (don’t miss the art space), and a long, lazy open-air lunch at Bodega La Azul or Casa de Uco—grilled provoleta, seasonal salads, and Malbec flowing. Many tours cap at 8–12 guests for a convivial feel; expect ~8–9 hours door to door. In summer, bring a hat, apply sunscreen, and drink as much water as wine.

Day 7: Luján de Cuyo sips and departure

Morning: Closer to the city, Luján de Cuyo is ideal for a half-day before your flight. Pre-book tastings at Catena Zapata (iconic Mayan-inspired pyramid winery) and Alta Vista (elegant old-vine Malbec). Alternatively, visit small, characterful Carmelo Patti for a hands-on, old-school cellar chat if slots are available.

Afternoon: Lunch in the courtyard at Clos de Chacras—order housemade pastas or ojo de bife with garden herbs. Return to MDZ for your afternoon flight back to Buenos Aires or onward. If connecting to an evening long-haul, consider an earlier MDZ–AEP flight for buffer time. Search domestic legs on Trip.com or Kiwi.com, and international flights on Omio.

Where to eat and drink along the way (quick reference)

• Buenos Aires coffee/breakfast: LAB Tostadores (third-wave), Lattente (Colombian-run espresso), Salvaje Bakery (sourdough and pastries), Café Tortoni (historic).
• Buenos Aires lunch/dinner: Don Julio (book early), El Preferido de Palermo (bodegón classics), Parrilla Peña (local favorite), La Brigada (San Telmo), Chori (choripán), El Sanjuanino (empanadas), Elena (refined grill).
• Buenos Aires bars/dessert: Florería Atlántico, Tres Monos, Bar Los Galgos; gelato at Cadore or Rapa Nui.
• Mendoza coffee/lunch: Bröd Panadería (breads, toasts), María Antonieta (seasonal plates), Fuente y Fonda (comfort food), Anna Bistro (garden setting).
• Mendoza dinners & wineries: Azafrán (tasting menu), Chachingo Craft Beer (pints), wineries: Zuccardi, Salentein, Andeluna, Domaine Bousquet, Catena Zapata, Clos de Chacras, Alta Vista, Carmelo Patti.

Accommodation tip: For Buenos Aires, search Palermo/Recoleta on Hotels.com or VRBO. In Mendoza, look in Mendoza Centro, Chacras de Coria, or Uco Valley lodges via Hotels.com and VRBO. Expect air-conditioning (useful in high-summer), reliable Wi‑Fi, and walkable dining if you stay central.

This week threads together tango, steak, and late-night café culture with vine-to-glass afternoons in the shadow of the Andes. You’ll leave with a new appreciation for Malbec, a playlist of bandoneóns, and the enviable habit of lingering at the table just a little longer.