Must-see restaurants in São Paulo

  • Maní

    São Paulo

    Rustic-chic Maní will astound you. Run impeccably by the 2014 Veuve Cliquot World's Best Female Chef, Helena Rizzo, it's often rightfully touted as Sampa…

  • A Casa do Porco

    São Paulo

    Chef Jefferson Rueda's casual temple of swine is a wonderful descent into all things pork. Delicious and decadent specialties such as porco san zé (R$48…

  • Tuju

    São Paulo

    Delicate flavors and unconventional Brazilian ingredients inventively spun to delight your taste buds are hallmarks of top chef Ivan Ralston, who still…

  • Shin-Zushi

    São Paulo

    Barely a blip from Paraíso metro station is this outrageously good and authentic sushi hotspot where brothers Robinson and Ken Mizumoto execute an…

  • Mocotó

    São Paulo

    It's worth the trek to Zona Norte for a meal at this darling of regional restaurants, where the city's most likeable and impressive young chef took over…

  • Futuro Refeitório

    São Paulo

    A former Pinheiros parking lot has been transformed into this unapologetically trendy canteen that bills itself as the future of eating. Indeed, low-key…

  • Feijoada da Lana

    São Paulo

    Lana, a journalist by trade, and daughter Luísa, offer their hugely popular version of feijoada, Brazil's national dish, inside a smallish Vila Madalena…

  • Tordesilhas

    São Paulo

    Chef Mara Salles creates some of the very best contemporary Brazilian cuisine in the city at dependable Tordesilhas. There is a palpable lean on…

  • Komah

    São Paulo

    Set well off the culinary eaten track in Barra Funda, friendly Chef Paulo Shin (a D.O.M. alum) nevertheless draws in droves for his authentic Korean…

  • Patuá da Baiana

    São Paulo

    It's expensive; we probably shouldn't even include it, but the experience at Bahian beauty Bá's 'secret' underground restaurant in her own home is just…

  • Leggera Pizza Napoletana

    São Paulo

    Brazilian-Italian-American pizzaiolo Andre Guidon imports everything humanly possible from Italy – and this small, family-run affair epitomizes the…

  • Kan Suke

    São Paulo

    Sushi superman Keisuke Egashira speaks broken Portuguese, arriving a few years back after 23 years at Tokyo's Sushi-Kan. This uneventfully simple, raw…

  • Bráz Pizzaria

    São Paulo

    This Pinheiros pizza Paulistana warrior will leave you questioning (for a minute, anyway!) if pizza ever originated elsewhere. Do as Brazilians do: keep…

  • Carlos Pizza

    São Paulo

    This intimate Vila Madalena pizzeria has been scooping up citywide pizza awards and its novel concept makes for a quick explanation: Neapolitan-style…

  • Speranza

    São Paulo

    One of the oldest and most traditional pizzerias in the Italian neighborhood of Bixiga, where the Tarallo family has been serving serious pizza since 1958…

  • Lamen Kazu

    São Paulo

    It's not as famous (or cheap) as its nearby rival Aska, but take the hint: the 99% Japanese clientele should tell you something. The fiery Kara Misso…

  • Capim Santo

    São Paulo

    Top chef Morena Leite turns out excellent regional Brazilian fare, with an emphasis on local and organic ingredients, served in a relaxed, beautifully…

  • Estadão

    São Paulo

    This classic Centro lanchonete (snack bar) serves working folk's meals at all hours, but its signature pernil (pork loin) sandwich, smothered in the…

  • Jiquitaia

    São Paulo

    Accolades abound for upstart Brazilian chef Marcelo Bastos and his affordable entry-level into contemporary Brazilian cuisine. Pick any three courses at…

  • Bacio di Latte

    São Paulo

    Most folks crave burgers and fries after a late night of being overserved in Vila Madelana, but if your sweet tooth is calling, the neighborhood outlet of…

  • Bacio di Latte

    São Paulo

    A Scotsman and two Italians were the first to do what nobody outside Buenos Aires could previously do: produce amazing Italian gelato in South America…

  • Bacio di Latte

    São Paulo

    This cutely, Av Paulista outlet of one of the city's best gelatarias is a calm and cool pitstop for those seeking a bit of sweet energy as they explore…

  • Hot Pork

    São Paulo

    Superstar Sampa chef Jefferson Rueda's kids wanted hot dogs at their parties, so what was a gourmet chef to do? Make the best one ever! The 100% pork…

  • Balaio IMS

    São Paulo

    In what can only be considered a gift to Paulistanos, one no longer needs to schlep all the way out to Mocotó to try upstart chef Rodrigo Oliveira's…

  • Izakaya Matsu

    São Paulo

    Foodies in the know consider this São Paulo's best traditional izakaya (Japanese pub), where Sergio Ouba, Toshi Akuta and Adriano Silva slice, dice, boil…

  • Vista

    São Paulo

    Opened on the rooftop of Museu de Arte Contemporânea near Parque Ibirapuera in 2018, Vista is true to its name: the outstanding panoramic view on offer of…

  • D.O.M.

    São Paulo

    Brazilian celebrity chef Alex Atala's small and deceptively casual contemporary Brazilian restaurant serves up some of the finest food in Sampa, which is…

  • Varanda Grill

    São Paulo

    This top-quality casual grill (there's a more formal location at gastronomy-heavy Shopping JK) serves the city's best steak – don't let anyone tell you…

  • Bráz Pizzaria

    São Paulo

    The Moema location of this classic pizza Paulistana chain follows suit from its more lively Pinheiros location, churning out wood-oven baked pies (try…

  • Bráz Pizzaria

    São Paulo

    Cooking up what many consider to be Sampa’s best pizza Paulistana in wood ovens, this Higienópolis location of the Bráz chain is an always-animated and…

  • Açougue Central

    São Paulo

    Supertsar chef Alex Atala's carnivorous venture into VIla Madelena is a surefire sign the neighborhood's culinary offerings are catching up to its…

  • Pastel de Maria

    São Paulo

    Maria Kuniko Yonaha has nearly 40 years experience frying up one of Brazil's best street eats, pastel (stuffed fried pastries), which are said to have…

  • Underdog Meat & Beers

    São Paulo

    A humble Argentine is behind the grilled perfection that emerges from this rapidly expanding den of carnivorism, where the perfectly charred meat – add…

  • Piccolo

    São Paulo

    Piccolo represents a new breed of Italian restaurants in the city – up-and-coming chef Marcelo Milani, who has grabbed two Michelin Bib Gourmand…

  • Rinconcito Peruano

    São Paulo

    Success has been good to the little Peruvian restaurant that could. Expanded, remodeled and borderline too classy for the dicey neighborhood, this is a…

  • Tenda do Nilo

    São Paulo

    This criminally small, sidewalk-simple joint epitomizes the city's indelible Lebanese and Syrian links; two huge immigrant forces who thankfully didn't…

  • Pinati

    São Paulo

    What once was an old-timer's kosher haunt catering to Sampa's orthodox Jewish community remains such today, but son Alon has stepped up the family's game…

  • Pão de Queijo Haddock Lobo

    São Paulo

    Pão de queijo (Brazilian cheese bread) is one of the country's culinary pride and joys. Do as Brazilians do and pop in to this well-regarded take-away…

  • Bráz Elettrica

    São Paulo

    Part of the exceptional Bráz chain, the informal Elettrica outlet of its pizza empire takes a different approach, spearheaded by Anthony Falco of Brooklyn…

  • Delí Garage

    São Paulo

    Near the entrance to Beco do Batman, this artisanal bakery from well-honed breadmaker Fernanda Valdívia makes for a perfect morning pitstop. You'll find…

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