Among the best things to do in São Paulo are exploring the attractions, dining at delicious restaurants, and visiting local late-night spots.
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| The Top 16 Activities in São Paulo |
1. Igrejinha Bar
What is it? a cozy, LGBTI-friendly bar with excellent cocktails and house music.
Why leave? Igrejinha is a bar where you can feel at home among the quirky trinkets and biblical memorabilia, fitting decor for its name, which translates to "Little Church." It has a collection of colorful sofas and sinkable armchairs. But when the weekly parties kick in, the house special, Hercules, a potent cocktail made with coffee and vodka, and the delectable gin and tonics are the closest things to divine here.
2. The Porco Bar at A Casa
What's that? a well-liked, grounded restaurant in the heart of São Paulo, well-known for its daily crowds and menu inspired by pork.
Why leave? When a food establishment attracts a line as soon as it opens, good things are likely to happen. Fittingly dubbed "the house of the pig," the creative menu features only pork dishes, the highlight of which is the San Zé, which has flawlessly tender meat on the inside and crispy outside. The sidewalk kitchen hatch is a good place to grab a quick bite, especially the fast-food shredded roast pork sandwich.
3. The Municipal Market
What's that? A massive indoor market crammed with hundreds of food vendors and lively neighborhood eateries and bars.
Why leave? Located in the downtown area of São Paulo, this culinary paradise is a must-visit, housed inside a multi-story warehouse. Get lost in the hundreds of vibrant, bustling stalls offering cheeses, seafood, poultry, exotic fruits and vegetables, drinks, baked goods, and spices. The vendors warmly welcome you to try their wares. When you bite into the most well-known sandwich on the market, a tiny baguette filled with a massive mortadella wedge, be ready to let loose a few inches around your waist.
4. Roosevelt Plaza
What's that? One of São Paulo's hippest gathering spots, this square is encircled by underground eateries and bars.
Why leave? Previously a neglected area of the city, Praça Roosevelt has developed into one of São Paulo's most intriguing gathering spots, particularly on the weekends when the square's roughly twelve bars come alive with a genuinely diverse clientele. Naturally, part of the excitement is that it's one of those places where you never know who you might run into. Lekitsch Bar, which is well-known for its sophisticated cocktails and vintage-inspired décor, is one of the busiest bars.
5. The Peruvian Rinconcito
What's that? A reasonably priced restaurant that offers traditional Peruvian cuisine, like the star-dish ceviche.
Why leave? São Paulo's multiculturalism, which brings amazing cuisine to the city and unites some of the most remote places on Earth, is one of its most fascinating aspects. Rinconcito Peruano, a restaurant in Peru, is a good example. Situated in the downtown core of the city, its understated décor allows the food to take center stage, particularly its delicious ceviche that tastes as though it was made in Lima. Even more welcoming are the affordable prices and the staff's friendliness.
6. São Paulo Sala
What's that? One of the most significant concert halls in the world, renowned for its exquisite interior design and superb acoustics.
Why travel there? The state symphony orchestra of São Paulo is housed in the Sala São Paulo, an impressive architectural feat, but the real star of the show is the sound. You can enjoy the powerful ebbs and flows of the various instruments playing while sitting back thanks to a large, adjustable ceiling that helps the orchestra's acoustics be optimized based on the genre they are playing.
7. The Italian bar Terraço
What's that? A classy Italian eatery and jazz lounge featuring tasteful furnishings and an unparalleled rooftop view of the city.
Why leave? Perched atop the Edifício Itália, Terraço Itália offers a prime location from which to view the city below, making it the ideal spot to appreciate São Paulo's sheer size. Savor the views from its 41st-floor restaurant or its less expensive bar on the floor above. The bar itself is charming, with tasteful furnishings and dimly lit tables that create the ideal setting for a romantic evening.
8. Park Ibirapuera
What's that? A charming park in the center of São Paulo that provides both a tranquil escape from the city and a venue for performances and cultural events.
Why leave? Ibirapuera Park, one of the biggest parks in all of Latin America, is one of the few places to escape nature in the crowded metropolis of São Paulo. It has bike lanes, beautiful lakes, and an abundance of vegetation in addition to housing multiple museums and cultural venues and serving as a venue for fashion shows, art exhibits, and late-night parties.
9. Paulista Avenue
What's that? The bustling main street of the city is home to interesting galleries and bars and is bordered by tall office buildings.
Why leave? The main boulevard of São Paulo has two distinct personalities: during the day, it's bustling with white-collar workers going from meeting to meeting; at night, however, it becomes more like a weekend as relieved executives enjoy happy hours at the bars and street performers put on various acts and songs. On Sundays, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., the street is closed to vehicles and is a well-liked hangout for locals and tourists alike.
10. The Plaza do Sol
What's that? A verdant plaza that provides the ideal vantage point for watching the sunset.
Why leave? It's difficult to imagine discovering a breathtaking sunset in a city where the horizon is made up of tall skyscrapers. Rethink your thoughts. This verdant, leafy square comes alive on weekends with families, couples, dog walkers, street performers, and groups of friends enjoying the small, homey atmosphere. As the sun sets behind the horizon, embrace the moment and join in on the custom of clapping.
11. El liberdade
What's that? a neighborhood in São Paulo that is Japanese and offers traditional restaurants, shops, and outdoor markets.
Why leave? The greatest Japanese community outside of Japan is in Brazil, more precisely in the São Paulo neighborhood of Liberdade. Nearly every area of Liberdade has been influenced by Japanese culture, from the streets with their traditional lanterns and specialty shops to the restaurants offering some of the best ramen and sushi in the city. One of São Paulo's favorite hangouts is the outdoor market on weekends, which offers a delicious array of street food.
12. Minhoção
What's that? A congested highway that passes through the city and becomes a hub for activity on the weekends.
Why leave? "Big worm" or Minhoção is the name of a 2.2-mile highway that passes through the center of São Paulo. Are you curious as to why it's so exciting? One of the hippest urban hangouts in the city, the road is closed to cars on weekends and during off-peak hours. Here, skaters and rollerbladers rehearse their skills, street entertainers provide entertainment, and beer vendors keep the patrons hydrated and content.
13. FabricationWorm
What's that? An electronic music party that goes on all night in a closed factory.
Why leave? Brazil's nightlife capital, São Paulo, is home to some of the country's best party animals. Fabriketa, a massive party venue housed in an abandoned factory with architecture preserved from its days as a production house, is one of the best places for late-night fun. This will be an amazing night because the space is divided into multiple areas, each of which creates a different ambient. Dramatic lighting adds even more magic to the scene.
14. Juvenitude Park
What's that? Calm urban park ideal for a quick getaway from the nearby city. It does, however, have a troubled past.
Why leave? Compared to its counterpart, Ibirapuera, this park is considerably quieter and makes for a pleasant place to escape the bustle of the city. The fact that Parque da Juventude is situated on the site of the former Carandiru Penitentiary—a notorious jail best known for its 1992 massacre that claimed 111 lives—makes it particularly intriguing. Some of the walls of the closed prison still stand, despite the park being a world away from the location's troubled past.
15. Calixto Benedito
What's that? Every Saturday, there's a bustling outdoor market featuring live music, food, and vendors.
Why leave? There's not much more enjoyable than meandering through an open-air market on a sunny Saturday, particularly at Benedito Calixto. Every Saturday, the fair erupts with dozens of stalls selling handicrafts and antiques, as well as a food court brimming with dried fruits, nuts, and traditional northeastern Brazilian fare as well as an abundance of Brazilian sweets. The bands that play chorinho, a type of Brazilian music, start to play around noon, which is when the locals start dancing.
16. Confraria das Ideias Nossacasa
What's that? a unique multipurpose space that holds cultural events and themed parties.
Why leave? This multiracial space embodies all that makes São Paulo's art and culture scene unique and diverse. The venue promotes freedom of (respectable) thought and behavior, so activities like readings of naked poetry can be included in the schedule. It also hosts themed parties, art exhibitions, and movie screenings. Approach with an open mind and take in the fun, laid-back vibe enhanced by electronic music and some of the most entertaining people in the city.