Calle Arístides Villanueva is Mendoza's main entertainment street, a long avenue of restaurants, wine bars, clubs, and cafés that constitutes the city's nightlife spine. It runs westward from the centre and is at its liveliest from around 10pm — which, by Argentine standards, is still early — to the small hours of the morning.
The street suits all budgets and moods. At the cheaper end there are simple pavement bars with plastic chairs and good house wine by the glass; at the better end are wine bars with curated lists of regional producers and proper kitchens. The ambience is consistently convivial, and on Thursday through Saturday nights the strip fills with a thoroughly mixed crowd of locals and visitors.
Several of the city's better restaurants are on or just off Arístides Villanueva, and it's worth walking the length of it before sitting down to see what appeals. Booking ahead is advisable on weekends for the more popular spots.