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Rua Oscar Freire
On the southern slope of Paulista lies Jardins, the city's leafiest and chicest central neighborhood. This is where you will find some of the city's most over-the-top shopping, especially along Alameda Lorena and, above all, Rua Oscar Freire, with its show-stopping series of boutiques and super-refined eateries. A recent face-lift has Oscar Freire looking better than ever (and the same can be said for many of its most avid shoppers).
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Shopping Light
Across Viaduto de Chá bridge lies Shopping Light, a modern, midrange mall that occupies a rather grand building once belonging to the Light English Company. There's a good food court on the 5th floor.
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Solar da Marquesa
Down a narrow side street near the cathedral stands the city's last surviving 18th-century residence, Solar da Marquesa. It is a simple but delightful villa that was once home to a lover of Emperor Dom Pedro I and which now houses a modest museum devoted to the history of the city.
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Theatro Municipal
São Paulo's most splendid construction, the Theatro Municipal was begun in 1903 in the style of Paris' Palais Garnier. Its heavily ornamented façade seems to combine every architectural style imaginable, from Baroque to Art Nouveau, and its interior is clad in gold and marble. The theater hosts the city's top classical music and opera performances.
