Mendoza Michelin restaurants: the 9 starred tables in the 2026 Guide

Mendoza has 9 Michelin-starred restaurants in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide Buenos Aires & Mendoza, published in July 2026. Three are new: Cal, Centauro and La VidA. Argentina as a whole has 14 starred restaurants, and only Aramburu, in Buenos Aires, holds two stars. In other words, more than half of the country's stars are in Mendoza.

That changes the trip. Not long ago, lunch was a side effect of the winery. Now, on some days, I pick the table first and the wineries around it.

Which are the Michelin star restaurants in Mendoza?

The nine in the 2026 edition, with the area of each:

• Azafrán — Mendoza city. Its sommelier, Camila Torta, won the 2026 Sommelier Award.
• Centauro — Mendoza city. New in 2026. A former manor house turned restaurant, with a tasting menu by Colombian chef Aris Pabón.
• Angélica Cocina Maestra — Luján de Cuyo. Catena Zapata's restaurant, in Agrelo.
• Brindillas — Vistalba, Luján de Cuyo.
• Riccitelli Bistró — Las Compuertas, Luján de Cuyo.
• Zonda Cocina de Paisaje — Mayor Drummond, Luján de Cuyo, at Bodega Lagarde.
• La VidA — Chacras de Coria, Luján de Cuyo. New in 2026. Inside winemaker Susana Balbo's house; chef Flavia Amad Di Leo's seven-course menu is built around the estate's wines.
• Casa Vigil — Chachingo, Maipú, next to El Enemigo.
• Cal — Gualtallary, Uco Valley. New in 2026. It's at Sitio La Estocada and also earned a Green Star for sustainability. Its chef, Enzo González Petra, won the Young Chef Award at 28.

Four of them, Azafrán, Brindillas, Casa Vigil and Zonda, have been in the guide since the first edition to include Mendoza, presented in November 2023.

In Mendoza, a Michelin star almost always comes with a vineyard next door. The table and the winery are often the same address.

Which Mendoza restaurants earned a star in 2026?

Cal, Centauro and La VidA. I follow Cal closely: it's a lunch place, with a single seven-course tasting menu built on what the estate itself produces. I wrote about it in Cal: the Mendoza Michelin star almost nobody talks about (in Portuguese).

Of the three, it needs the most logistics: it's in the Uco Valley, up a winding road. If you go, plan the whole day in the area.

Which Mendoza restaurants does the Michelin Guide recommend?

Beyond the stars, the guide has a "recommended" category. In 2026, six Mendoza restaurants joined it: Antigal Authentic Flavors, Awasi, Clos de Chacras, Crux, Diam's and Nube.

In total, the Buenos Aires & Mendoza 2026 edition lists 89 places: 14 starred, 11 Bib Gourmand and 64 recommended.

Recommended isn't a consolation prize. Often it's the table that best fits your day, your budget and your mood.

How far in advance should you book a Michelin restaurant in Mendoza?

With 1 month's notice you'll get a table without trouble, in high or low season. That's the rule I use.

What I see go wrong is the opposite: people lock in the table and forget the winery. The most famous ones, such as Catena Zapata, El Enemigo and Zuccardi Piedra Infinita, need about 3 months. At Catena, the visit and the Angélica restaurant are separate bookings. Details in Booking Catena Zapata: the calendar that opens every two months (in Portuguese).

One date needs special attention: on 31 December, only a few starred restaurants are open. More on that in New Year's Eve in Mendoza 2026/27 (in Portuguese).

Can you get to these restaurants without a car?

The city ones, yes: Azafrán and Centauro are in Mendoza city. The other seven are in Luján de Cuyo, Maipú and the Uco Valley, and need a vehicle. Since almost all of them pour wine generously, a driver beats a rental car. Since several are inside wineries, you can pair lunch with the visit: see the award-winning wineries in Mendoza.

Approximate times from downtown: Maipú, about 30 minutes; Agrelo, in Luján de Cuyo, about 45 minutes; the Uco Valley, 1 h 30 or more. Check them on Google Maps.

How much does a Michelin meal in Mendoza cost?

It depends on the menu, the wine pairing and the day, and prices change with the season. It's quoted to measure, and I give you that on the video call, together with each restaurant's days and hours for your travel dates.

Which star should you choose for your trip?

Nine stars don't fit into three, four or five days. Nor should they: two tasting menus on the same day is a punishment, not a prize.

What I do is choose with you the table that fits your itinerary, your palate and that day's wine region. I'm Beto, a private travel advisor in Mendoza. I'm not a travel agency or a tour operator and I take no commission: you book directly, at the real price.

• Initial Chat (USD 89): one video call and a written PDF itinerary.
• Tu Amigo Plan (USD 297): three calls, and you book live with me alongside you.
• Premium Amigo (USD 597): I make the bookings in your name, restaurants included.

See pricing or tell me about your trip in the form below.

FAQ

How many Michelin star restaurants are there in Mendoza?
Nine in the 2026 edition, all with one star. Cal also holds a Green Star.

Which Michelin restaurant is closest to downtown Mendoza?
Azafrán and Centauro, both in Mendoza city.

Do you need to book far ahead?
About 1 month is usually enough, in any season. For the famous wineries, the lead time is longer.

Are Mendoza's Michelin restaurants open for dinner?
It varies by restaurant and changes with the season. Cal, for example, is lunch only. I confirm days and hours when we build the itinerary.

Sources

• Michelin — The MICHELIN Guide Buenos Aires & Mendoza 2026 has 14 starred restaurants (13/07/2026)
• Forbes Argentina — Michelin Guide 2026: the 14 Argentine restaurants with stars, one by one (13/07/2026)
• Argentina.travel — Michelin Guide 2026: which restaurants in Argentina have stars? (16/07/2026)
• Great Wine Capitals — Mendoza is proud of 4 Michelin starred restaurants (Dec. 2023)
• MICHELIN Guide — Brindillas
• Argentina.travel — Bodega Lagarde
• Catena Zapata — official visits and contact page
• En Primeur Club — Cal, Mendoza