Must see/do unique places/things of Sao Paulo, Brasil?

Question

My friends and I are going to Brasil for the first time this year and will spend a few days in Sao Paulo. I've been reading things to do in the city but since we don't have much time, what do you think is a must see attraction or something unique to Sao Paulo or Brasil in general? Obrigada!

Answer 1

Hi!

You should go to Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo to see some interesting paintings (here you can see the exposition they'll have when you get there: http://www.pinacoteca.org.br/). Right in front of it, inside a beautiful train station called Estação da Luz, you can go to Museu da Língua Portuguesa (something like Museum of the Portuguese Language). If you want to see more art, you can go also to MASP – Museu de Arte de São Paulo (http://masp.uol.com.br/), MAM – Museu de Arte Moderna (http://www.mam.org.br/) and Instituto Tomie Ohtake (http://www.institutotomieohtake.org.br/)...

Other interesting thing is Parque do Ibirapuera, our "Central Park". Is not as big as the park in New York, but it has a lot of green.

If you like architeture, you will like to see the houses in Jardim Europa. They are very interesting.

Vila Madalena is the neighborhood of writers and bohemians. The bars there are nice, you should go. Liberdade is the name of the Japanese neighborhood. But the best Japanese restaurant of the city is not there. It's in Pinheiros, and it's called Jun Sakamoto (the same name of the sushiman). The address is Rua Lisboa, 55, Pinheiros, Tel: [phone]. It's better you do a reservation. The restaurant is expensive, but it's worth. It's the fresh fish ever!

There is a lot of good restaurants in São Paulo, but if you want to go to the rising stars chefs, here they are: Allez, Allez, of the nice chef Luiz Emmanuel (http://www.allezallez.com.br/); La Brasserie, of the french chef Erick Jacquin (http://www.brasserie.com.br/); Ici Bistrô, with Benny Novak (http://www.icibistro.com.br/), and D.O.M. (http://www.domrestaurante.com.br/), of the well-known Alex Atala, which is in the list of the top 50 restaurants in the world (by the English magazine Restaurant).

Good luck and have a nice trip!

Answer 2

I loved a tipical restaurant called CARLOTA, really lovely...

I don't raccomand shops because in USA you can find the same....but MELISSA and OSKLEN are very paticular (rua haddok lobo or oscar freire...I don't remember)...brazilian style...then LIBERTADE, on sunday is full of tipical japanese food.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

1) You should go to Vila Madalena (neighbourhood) in the evening and walk around, choose a nice bar in my opinion Jacare is the best place in Vila Madalena  for desert go to Sorelle puccini a nice Macadamia Chocolate or restaurant, drink a caipirinha

2) You should visit fair on Saturday and eat "Pastel and Caldo de cana"

3) If you go to eat meet like the other answer suggests: then go to "Fogo de Chão" and O.K.  

4) If you like sophisticated shops, then go to Iguatemi Mall (Shopping Centre) or to Daslu there are AAA stores

Sao Paulo is a business oriented place, not many parks the best one is Ibirapuera  or nature to enjoy, but you can have fun and meet nice people, Brazilians are very open and like to meet foreigns. Enjoy it!

If you need some help ask me.

Do you speak Portuguese?

Answer 5

Go to a Gaucho restaurant.  The guys parade around with tons of different giant cuts of meats on a skewer and cut off slabs to your liking.  It is so good and fun to try new flavors.  Don't be afraid of the chicken hearts, they are actually quite tasty!!!

Answer 6

You should check out their Japantown called Liberdade. Friends who have been there tell me it's hard to believe that they were still on Brazilian soil because it's so culturally Japanese over there.

Answer 7

1) You should go to Vila Madalena (neighborhood) in the evening and walk around, choose a nice bar or restaurant, drink a caipirinha or many and have fun!

2) You should visit a flea market on Saturday afternoon, called Feira das Pulgas, is held in Pinheiros (neighborhood);

3) If you go to eat meet like the other answer suggests: then go to "Fogo de Chão" it's expensive (about USD 50 per person, if you eat meet and USD 35 if you just go for the salad buffet) but it's by far the best place;

4) You should certainly go to a party, if you like crazy places, go to: Love Story night club, it's the most famous and traditional after hour club in Sao Paulo; (just if you don't mind sharing the dance floor with prostitutes, but they just go there for fun, not looking for clients)

5) If you like sophisticated shops, then go to Iguatemi Shopping Center or to Daslu, they are the most expensive, Class A of Sao Paulo;

6) If you want to see a nice view of the city, go to Sky Bar at the Unique Hotel in Jardins (neighborhood), it's quite chic, with beautiful young people.

Sao Paulo is a business oriented place, not many parks or nature to enjoy, concrete jungle.... but you can have fun and meet nice people, Brazilians are very open and like to meet foreigns. Enjoy it!