{"id":6063,"date":"2022-09-06T10:14:10","date_gmt":"2022-09-06T09:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magazine.secretescapes.com\/?p=6063"},"modified":"2022-09-06T10:30:06","modified_gmt":"2022-09-06T09:30:06","slug":"sao-paulo-a-city-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.secretescapes.com\/escapist\/sao-paulo-a-city-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"S\u00e3o Paulo: a city guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Brazil might be synonymous with beaches and coconuts, rainforests and wildlife, carnivals and coffee, but its cities are what makes the country so fascinatingly rich. A melting pot of cultures, music, and cuisine, you\u2019ll find just as much soul in any of Brazil\u2019s cities as you would in an underground Jazz club. Take S\u00e3o Paulo, for instance: the vibrant cultural and financial capital of the world\u2019s fifth-largest country, the city is a thriving metropolis that draws visitors in with infinite magnetic appeal. Home to 12.5 million people from all over the globe, it\u2019s no wonder the city\u2019s overflowing with diverse neighbourhoods; ask any paulistino <\/em>what they think of their city, and they\u2019ll be more than glad to share their favourite spots and stories. Of course, we thought we\u2019d save you the trouble, so we\u2019ve rounded up a selection of our very own recommendations: read on to find the best eateries for steak and sushi, epic views over the city, and the coolest cultural spots in town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discover S\u00e3o Paulo\u2019s foodie scene <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Image: Getty\/10\u2019000 Hours<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The best part of most holidays is the food, and S\u00e3o Paulo is no exception to the rule. With a culinary heritage that embodies Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, and more interestingly, Japanese and Lebanese cuisine, the city\u2019s food scene has plenty to draw upon and does it expertly. We\u2019ll start with some classic rodizio<\/em> recommendations: Barbacoa<\/a> has two steakhouses in the city, in Itaim and Morumbi, which serve a broad range of succulent cuts alongside a generous buffet of pastas, salads, and cheeses (but be sure to leave plenty of room for the meat \u2014 it\u2019s the star of the show, after all). While you can find Fogo do Ch\u00e3o<\/a> here in the UK, it\u2019s better to experience the real thing in Brazil. Attentive staff, a wine list brimming with South American vintages, and sweet sobremesas <\/em>to round off your evening will leave you satisfied down to the last mouthful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Botanikaf\u00e9 in Jardins. Image: Botanikaf\u00e9\/Bruno Geraldi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Like most cosmopolitan cities, there\u2019s a thriving brunch scene in S\u00e3o Paulo. If you wanted, you could easily try somewhere new every morning and never be disappointed. You\u2019ll find the majority of hot spots in the ever-so-trendy Jardins area, such as Botanikaf\u00e9<\/a>, where an all-day healthy brunch menu serves up the likes of honeyed figs and cream cheese on artisanal sourdough and acai smoothie bowls. You\u2019ll find plenty of locals <\/em>having morning coffee meetings or working remotely, thanks to the aesthetically pleasing amount of plants and foliage decorating the space. The caf\u00e9 is open well into the evening for an unpretentious dinner, with an emphasis on Asian-inspired cuisine and gorge-worthy pizzas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those with a sweet tooth, Padoca do Man\u00ed<\/a> is another favourite, a rustic-style caf\u00e9 with some great value-for-money brunch deals and an incredible selection of homemade cakes and pastries (with plenty of gluten-free and vegan recipes thrown into the mix). Casar\u00eca<\/a>, a caf\u00e9-slash-restaurant and bar, has a great range of European-inspired brunch dishes and a dizzying array of sweet treats to choose from; they aren\u2019t shy of their dulce de leche<\/em> here. A must-try in all of these places \u2014 and anywhere in S\u00e3o Paulo, or Brazil at large \u2014 is p\u00e3o de queijo<\/em>, doughy balls of cheesy heaven where one portion won\u2019t simply be enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image: Getty\/Claudia Totir<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Brazil has the largest population of Japanese descendants in the world outside Japan, so sushi lovers will be in their absolute element. Mori Ohta Sushi<\/a> is an innovative sushi restaurant in Cerqueira C\u00e9sar, with sophisticated interiors and an even more sophisticated menu. Forget the likes of Itsu or Wasabi; this is sushi at its finest, with intriguing flavour combinations that you\u2019ll want to try time and again (luckily, there\u2019s an all-you-can-eat option on the menu, so you can keep requesting your favourite). Some particular highlights include salmon sashimi in truffle oil, uramaki topped with quail\u2019s yolk and caviar, and nigiri with cream cheese or foie gras. If you enjoy all things Japanese, there\u2019s also a number of karaoke bars and more traditional restaurants in the Liberdade neighbourhood. The city\u2019s gastronomic scene is huge, and plenty of the best spots combine gourmet cuisine with incredible views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take in the views<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Tatuap\u00e9 Neighbourhood, S\u00e3o Paulo. Image: Getty\/Adriano Siker<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With a city as sprawling as S\u00e3o Paulo, it\u2019s almost an obligation to take in its skyscrapers from as many angles as possible. Thankfully, you\u2019ll have ample opportunity to do so: the city is teeming with sky bars and restaurants where you can soar to new heights, literally and figuratively. A particular favourite is the aptly named Sky Bar at Unique Hotel<\/a>, a sleek terrace featuring a rooftop swimming pool (with an underwater sound system, no less) and a fantastic restaurant headed up by chef Emmanuel Bassoleil. In between courses \u2014 or cocktails \u2014, you can gaze out towards Ibirapuera park and the tremendous S\u00e3o Paulo skyline, including Avenue Paulista\u2019s skyscrapers. The award-winning Vista Restaurant<\/a> is equally impressive, having been named best Brazilian Restaurant in 2018 and Debut of the Year by Veja Comer e Beber.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Evening on Paulista Avenue, S\u00e3o Paulo. Image: Getty\/Fandrade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It doesn\u2019t have to be swanky dinners and low-lit terraces: there are plenty of other viewpoints scattered across the city. Take Sesc Paulista<\/a>, for example. An arts and culture centre sitting on S\u00e3o Paulo\u2019s busiest shopping streets, you can take the elevator to the rooftop deck and admire the urban hubbub far below. And the best part? It\u2019s totally free. There\u2019s a handy caf\u00e9 one floor below if the rooftop\u2019s closed, so it\u2019s still worth a visit in between shopping trips. Finally, the Mirante 9 de Julho, an abandoned-tunnel-turned-multicultural-space, lets you see the underbelly of the city as you sip on an artisan coffee and admire temporary art exhibitions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seek a little nature<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Ibirapuera Park, S\u00e3o Paulo. Image: Getty\/BDMcIntosh <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While bright lights and crowds are a prerequisite of any city escape, it\u2019s always good to know you can inject some outdoor buzz into your stay. Thankfully, there are plenty of green spaces in the city, the most popular being Ibirapuera Park. The Central Park of S\u00e3o Paulo (albeit half the size), escape the faster pace of life in the city with a walk around the lake or along its tree-lined path. The park receives up to 150,000 visitors at the weekend, a testament to its popularity. Ibirapuera is home to a clutch of cultural attractions as well, including the Modern Art Museum, the Biennial Art Exhibition building, and the Oca and Japanese pavilions. Live music and performances are scheduled frequently, so it\u2019s worth checking out what\u2019s on when you plan your visit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Botanical Gardens, S\u00e3o Paulo. Image: Getty\/Conrad Tramontini<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Botanical Gardens in \u00c1gua Funda provide a welcome respite from the skyscrapers and shopping malls. Founded by botanist Frederico Carlos Hoehno in 1928, the gardens have gone from strength to strength and are still thriving nearly a century later. Stroll through the natural woodland and spot howler monkeys hanging from the branches, discover tropical orchids harvested from the rainforests of Brazil, and admire the marriage of art and nature in the sculpture park, where a collection of contemporary sculptures stand tall amid free-growing trees and plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soak up some culture<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In between visiting megamalls and flitting between the bars in Jardins or Vila Madalena, throw some art and culture into the mix. Sitting on Avenida Paulista, Museu de Arte de S\u00e3o Paulo<\/a> is one of the city\u2019s most prominent museums, a floating glass block propped up by four red pillars. It\u2019s a one-stop shop for all forms of art from around the world, boasting over 10,000 works. Chinese warrior statues? African deities? Impressionist paintings? Absolutely \u2014 and that doesn\u2019t include the ever-changing exhibitions showcasing some of Brazil\u2019s hottest new talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Museu de Arte de S\u00e3o Paulo, Avenue Paulista. Image: Getty\/Wsfurlan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Pinacoteca <\/a>is well worth a visit, not least for its stately appearance in an otherwise urban landscape, but for its 11,000-strong collection of art. It\u2019s the oldest museum in the city, and showcases works from the likes of Anita Malfatti, Almeida J\u00fanior,  Pedro Alexandrino, and Oscar Pereira da Silva among others. With around 30 exhibitions a year, there\u2019s always something new to see alongside the original collection. For something more interactive and performative, the Museu da Imagem e do Som<\/a> is one for your museum tick list. It\u2019s much more than a gallery, utilising multimedia to educate and entertain locals and tourists; you\u2019ll often find interactive stages, live music performances, independent cinema films and plenty more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Beco do Batman, Rua Medeiros de Albuquerque. Image: Peter Croucher<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of contemporary, it doesn\u2019t get much cooler than a stroll around Beco do Batman<\/em>, an alleyway between Rua Gon\u00e7alo Afonso and Rua Medeiros de Albuquerque in the Vila Madalena. These graffiti-laden walls are chock full with alternative works of art; some are inspired by comic books (as its name suggests), others by political goings-on, but many are just vibrant forms of expression that make excellent backdrops for your insta snaps. As you can imagine, the artwork never stays long, so each walk up and down the psychedelic alleyways will be different to the last. Not only that, but there\u2019s a decent food and music scene in the area: stop for a drink and a salgado<\/em>, dance along to Brazil\u2019s latest pop tunes, and feel yourself slip into the rhythm of urban life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t