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Sao Paulo Restaurants

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São Paulo Restaurant Reviews

São Paulo's social scene centers on dining out, and there are many establishments from which to choose (new ones seem to open as often as the sun rises). You can find German, Japanese, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese restaurants as well as top-quality French and Indian spots. And when it comes to pizza, São Paulo is to Brazil what New York is to the U.S. Be sure to also try beirute, a Lebanese sandwich served hot on toasted Syrian bread and filled with roast beef, cheese, lettuce, and tomato.

Of the domestic restaurants, the innumerable churrascarias (places that serve a nonstop stream of barbecued meat) are beloved by paulistanos. Many restaurants serve feijoada (the national dish of black beans and a variety of meats) on Wednesday and Saturday; top restaurants do it up in fancy buffets. It's also easy to find restaurants that specialize in other traditional Brazilian dishes, such as moqueca (fish stew made with coconut milk and dendê, a palm oil), along with other regional dishes from Bahia and Minas Gerais states, and from the far northeast.

Virado à paulista (beans, eggs, and collard greens) is a typical São Paulo dish. In the nearby countryside, traditional farm cooking reigns, with rich stews and roasts and freshwater fish dishes. Pintado na brasa (charcoal-broiled catfish) is one of these regional classics that you can taste even in city restaurants.

When you finish the meal, don't forget to ask for a cafezinho ("little coffee," usually very strong). From authentic Italian espressos to regular Brazilian Santos, São Paulo serves the best coffees in the country.

Most places don't require jacket and tie, but people tend to dress up; establishments in the $$$ to $$$$ categories expect you to look neat and elegant—a step above what's expected at the best restaurants elsewhere in Brazil.

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