South America's financial powerhouse is primarily defined by its size. Everything is enormous - the traffic jams, the number of bars and restaurants, the bodyguards and the scale of the cultural divide. As the biggest city in South America, São Paulo is the continent's melting pot. With the largest Japanese and Lebanese communities outside their respective motherlands, São Paulo is no stranger to strangers.
Printable version
We've made a version for you to print out and take with you. Simply download and print.
01
Essentials
| 01 |
Avoid travelling by car between 08.00 to 10.00 and from 18.00 to 20.00 - São Paulo redefines rush hour. |
| 02 |
Most cab drivers speak little or no English; always have your directions written down before you enter the cab to prevent any confusion. |
| 03 |
Hide your Rolex when you're out and about, there are gangs who specialise in stealing Rolex Oysters. |
| 04 |
If you have friends who are local, do call them. If not, try to meet some. Paulistanos love visitors and entertain at home a great deal. |
| 05 |
Enjoy the nightlife. While other cities pretend that you can go out every night of the week, in São Paulo you actually can. |
| 06 |
Business is conducted over dinner - everything in the city begins and ends in a restaurant. |
| 07 |
São Paulo is more formal than Rio, so sandals and Bermuda shorts should not be worn in the city, unless you are in the park. |
| 08 |
Stay in the Jardins neighbourhood, this is one of the only areas in the city where people leave the car and stroll without threat. |
| 09 |
Book a car service if you need to cover a lot of ground. Taxis are the only other reliable option, but in the end they can be more expensive. |
| 10 |
If you intend on travelling within Brazil's interior be sure to fly in and out of Congonhas city airport - it's much closer to everything than the international airport at Guarulhos. |
02
Hotels
Independent and easy
Blue Tree Towers Faria Lima
3989 Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, Vila Olímpia
+ 55 11 3896 7544
bluetree.com.br
Dependable chain
Grand Hyatt São Paulo
13301 Avenida das Nações Unidas
+ 55 11 6838 1234
saopaulo.grand.
hyatt.com.br
Premium
Fasano Hotel
88 Rua Vittorio Fasano
+ 55 11 3896 4000
fasano.com.br
03
Dining
Fast breakfast
Any neighbourhood bakery.
Business breakfast
Santo Grão Café
413 Rua Oscar Freire, Jardins
+ 55 11 3082 9969
santograo.com.br
Mid-morning coffee
Café Suplicy
1430 Alameda Lorena (between Priest Joao Manoel and Augusta)
+55 11 3061 0195
suplicycafes.com.br
Working lunch with colleagues
Rodeio
1498 Rua Haddock Lobo
+ 55 11 3474 1333
churras-
cariarodeio.com.br
Need-to-impress-clients lunch
Parigi
275 Rua Amauri
+ 55 11 3167 1575
fasano.com.br
Lunch on your own
Ritz
1088 Alameda Franca, Jardins
+ 55 11 3088 6808
Afternoon tea/drink
Armani Caffé
1568 Rua Haddock Lobo
+ 55 11 3897 9093
Dinner with colleagues
Spot
72 Rua Ministro Rocha Azevedo
+ 55 11 3283 0946
Private dinner
Gero
1629 Rua Haddock Lobo, Jardins
Big dinner with partner clients
Fasano
88 Rua Vittorio Fasano, Jardins
+ 55 11 3896 4000
fasano.com.br
Drink after dinner
Baretto
88 Rua Vittorio Fasano, Jardins
+ 55 11 3896 4000
fasano.com.br
Late drinks
D.Edge
170 Alameda Olga
+ 55 11 3666 9022
d-edge.com.br
Late bite
Lanchonete da Cidade
110 Alameda Tietê, Jardins
+ 55 11 3086 3399
lanchonetedacidade.com.br
On the tiles
Pasta & Vino
206 Rua Barão de Capanema
+ 55 11 3062 7542
pastaevino.com.br
04
Reading
News
Livraria da Vila
915 Rua Fradique Coutinho, Vila Madelena
+ 55 11 3062 1063
livrariadavila.com.br
05
Thank yous
Food and wine from Casa Santa Luzia
1471 Alameda Lorena
+ 55 11 3897 5000
santaluzia.com.br
06
Shopping
Something you can't get anywhere else
Designer clothes from Pelù
Casa 2, 1257 Alameda Lorena
+ 55 11 3891 1229
pelu.com.br
Lost luggage - where to buy dress shirts, socks and undies
VR Menswear
697 Rua Oscar Freire
+ 55 11 3081 2919
vrmenswear.com.br
Something for the kids
Toys from Infantaria
212 Rua Joaquin Antunes
+ 55 11 3083 0091
Something for someone you love
Jewellery from Jack Vartanian
2232 Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima
+ 55 11 3097 8693
jackvartanian.com.br
Something for yourself
Designer clothes from Clube Chocolate
913 Rua Oscar Friere
+ 55 11 3084 1500
clubechocolate.com
07
Two hour tour
| 01 |
Pinacoteca do Estado
Gallery designed by Ramos de Azevedo in 1897.
2 Praca da Luz
+ 55 11 3229 9844
saopaulo.sp.gov.br/
saopaulo/cultura/
museus_pinac.htm |
02 |
MASP
São Paulo's other main gallery
1578 Avenida Paulista
+ 55 11 3251 5644
masp.uol.com.br |
03 |
Oca Parque do Ibirapuera
The city's second largest park, featuring buildings designed by Oscar Niemeyer.
55 11 5539 0041
|
08
Transport
Get a cab or a private driver, or check the distance and walk.
Limousine/car
Norbert Car Service
+ 55 11 9951 4500
09
Fitness
Good Gym
Competition
2066 Rua Oscar Freire
+ 55 11 3061 1155
competition.com.br
Good running route
Ibirapuera Park