What is São Paulo neighborhood of Consolação like?

Question

I have friends who live in Consolação, a neighborhood of São Paulo. (They live on Praça Roosevelt, if anybody is familiar with the area.) Is it a nice neighborhood? How close is it to the Centro, airports, metro stations, tourist attractions, shopping malls etc.? Muito obrigada!

Answer 1

Consolacao is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Sao Paulo and used to be very nice some years ago. It's about 45 minutes from the airport. The landmarks are: a  very famous catholic church and the biggest cemetery of S.Paulo both called Consolacao as well. Unfortunately nowadays it is one of the most dangerous areas of the city, it's crowded with drug dealers, thieves, homeless people. It's very close to downtown and very close to Praca da Se (all subway lines run from there), and very close to the hottest night clubs in town (hookers, nudism,etc...) so that's why it's considered dangerous. Praca Roosevelt was also a nice park before, nowadays it's known for male's meetings (you know what I mean)...also the apartments at Praca Roosevelt are usually very very small, what we call  "Kitinetes", only one big room, a very small kitchen, and a small bathroom. So please my dear, unless you know these friends very well I would suggest you to not stay in this area or at least ask them for more information like, where you are going to stay, if they have rooms available, how many people are in the house, etc...

Sao Paulo is a nice city, lots of shopping malls, wonderful restaurants specially if you like to spend money on good food, very good night life - like discos (although dangerous) for young people, but I really think that you are better off far from the biggest cities from Brazil nowadays. Do not go there if you are not sure that your friends are good and reliable people.....it's trouble! Good luck! Ines

Answer 2

Its a highly commerical  neighbourhood. Its like living downtown. There are no major shopping malls nearby but you can get the metro easily. The internat. airport is about a hundred kms away by car and the city airport about 15. The city center (Praca da Se) is just nextdoor to Consolacao. This should give you an idea. The whole area of consolacao is mainly small shops and businesses and offices in high rise buildings.

Answer 3

Consolação is an old traditional neighborhood in São Paulo. It's near the old downtown (Centro), and there are some good restaurants within walking distance.

As others have mentioned, though, this neighborhood has its good parts and bad, and Praça Roosevelt can be pretty shady at night (no pun intended). It's next to the strip clubs, where there are lots of very questionable establishments. Not exactly a "tourist" spot, unless you're interested in "s*x tourism".

The closest metro stops are within walking distance, but not terribly close.

If you can choose, I'd try to stay near Avenida Paulista, where you'll have easy access to the subway, and lots of options for restaurants and shopping.

Boa viagem!

Answer 4

I just arrived from a business trip to Sao Paulo and I stayed in the Braston Consolacao hotel. I paid 175 reais/night (87,5 us dollars) with breakfast included.  The rooms have cable tv, queensize bed, air conditioning, private bathroom, cable internet. The hotel has gym area, sauna, pool, business office.

I like it very much and the stay was very good. In the stree in front of the hotel there is a fine pasta restaurant called Famiglia Mancini (Mancini's Family) with excelent italian food.

Bear in mind tha Sao Paulo is one of the best places for international food.

Answer 5

If this is a chance met and superficial friendship then take care. The area is very downscale and its best to be sure of these friends before you venture further. Closeness to facilities such as metros and tourist attractions are a secondary issue. You can always get to wherever you want to go. Safety is of prime importance especially in a country/city you dont know. Never try to save money by staying with chance met acquaintances. You are better off in a decent hotel. Here again please dont go for rock bottom prices in Sao Paulo unless you want to be stuck in a sleazy hotel with go go dancer bars on all sides. Thats mostly the kind in the Consolacao area. Expect to pay at least a hundred dollars a night for a two or three star place which is the minimum you should book.

Answer 6

I love Consolação, I live in this neighborhood for a couple of years now and it's really good.  You have everything with a walking distance, you don't even need a car if you live in Consolação.  That first person that says there are no shopping malls, it's wrong, Shopping Frei Caneca is in the neighborhood of Consolação, Shopping Patio Higienopolis is also very closed.  Downtown is few minutes walk and the same happens with Paulista which is very closed.  You have metro, hospitals, schools, universities, parks, est..., you name it, you have it in Consolação.