Sao Paulo Casa
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SAO PAULO BRAZIL
Sao Paulo is the largest city in South America and the third more populous city of the world, with more than 10 million inhabitants. It is the economical capital of Brazil and a very busy place. It is also rich in culture parks and museums.
Sao Paulo is centered around the Praça da Se, where there is a stone mark symbolizing the "point zero" of the city. The subway system is clean and efficient but covers only a few areas of the city, although extensions are being made. Interesting neighbourhoods to visit include Jardins, Itaim and the Ibirapuera Park.
The main sights in the city include the different neighborhoods with their special Italian, Japanese or Arabic influences. They have their own characteristics atmosphere and it is a lot of fun to just walk around, go to one of the many small restaurants or have a drink somewhere.
Brazilians say that paulistanos (Sao Paulo locals) live to work and to eat. Which is probably true. Food in Sao Paulo is the best in the country and rivals that of any major capital in the world. If you are there and like to eat meat, make sure you try the rodizios (barbecue) or feijoada (pork and beans - served only on wednesdays and saturdays). The pizzas are also extremely tasteful and a must-eat. You can find it from a wide range of restaurants from the simplest delivery place to fine expensive ones.
Sao Paulo is also very much a party town. You can get stuck in traffic in the middle of the night when party animals return from their hunt.
Automotive traffic in Sao Paulo is complicated, especially in main routes, all along the day during weeks and gets worse at rush hours (from 8 am to 10 am and from 6 pm to 8 pm). Laws to regulate traffic includes a rule forbidding cars to circulate at specific week days depending on the final number of their license. In the weekends the traffic is better with some complications in places where there are bars, shoppings or other public attractions.
Sao Paulo has the largest underground transportation system in Brazil; the "Metro". It is not as comprehensive as the trains in Europe or North America, but it serves most of the important areas. It is the safest and cleanest way to get around Sao Paulo.
About São Paulo:
São Paulo, being Brazil's center of commerce, a huge sprawling metropolis and the largest city in South America, probably isn't on your list of vacation hot-spots.
"São Paulo works so that the rest of Brazil can play," say the paulistanos. But when the day's work is over, the residents of this city of trade and industry like to play as hard as they work. The city is huge. The best way to get around is by metro, the subway system is ranked as one of the best in the world. Taxis and buses are plentiful, but unless you're a wild, crazy, impatient driver yourself, you're better off not driving. The usual big city safety precautions apply.
The city of São Paulo is the capital of the Brazilian state of São Paulo, in southeastern Brazil. Covering an area 3,108 sq. miles large (8,051 sq. km) comprising 39 autonomous cities, the city has a population of approximately 20 million.
The city is the stage for the main fairs and trade events in the country, therefore attracting considerable national and international public. In addition to business, São Paulo offers some of the best museums and restaurants in Brazil.
Dining:
With the city's diverse ethnic populations, you'll choose from Italian, Japanese, German, Lebanese, Indian, and Oriental cuisine as well as French and Brazilian.
Nightlife:
RESTAURANTS IN SAO PAULO
There are two things Sao Paulo is best known for in Brazil: business and food. Because the city's sprawling population represents every ethnicity in the country, cuisine in Sao Paulo becomes a matter of choice. There are thousands of restaurants, and if there's something you crave it's bound to be there, be it the obscurest of world cuisine or a simple slice of pizza - a local favorite.
Some popular foods in the city:
1. Acqua Benedicta:
62 Rua da Matriz, Embu, Sao Paulo, 6846240 Brazil
Cuisine: American & Caribbean
Open Hours: 10a-11p
Known for its different kinds of cachaca, a popular sugarcane-based spirit and spicy food.
2. Restaurante Antiquario Patacao:
95 Rua Joaquim Santana, Embu, Sao Paulo, 6846240 Brazil
Cuisine: South American, spicy
Open Hours: 12:30p-11p
Expensive, but worth it.
3. Souto Maior:
70 Rua Anita Malfati, Embu, Sao Paulo, 6846240 Brazil
Cuisine: South American, spicy
Open Hours: 11:30a-11:30p
Small, local favorite doubling as an art gallery
4. Le Coq Hardy:
Rua Jerônimo da Veiga, 461, Itaim Bibi, Sao Paulo, 04536-001 Brazil
Cuisine: Classic French
Open Hours: M-F noon-2:30a, Sa 7p-1a, 7p-1a
Piano bar, an elegantly decorated dining room and a superb wine cellar. At lunchtime there is a fixed price menu that includes a glass of Bordeaux.
5. Antiquarius:
Alameda Lorena 1884, Jardim Paulista, Avenida Paulista
Cuisine: Portguese
Open Hours: Mon 7pm-1am; Tues-Fri noon-3pm and 7pm-1am; Sat noon-2am; Sun noon-6pm
"Antiquarius offers the perfect elegant setting to savor Portuguese cuisine served up with style and tradition. The menu offers dishes that are hard to find outside Portugal."
6. Jun Sakamoto:
Rua Lisboa 55 Pinheiros - Zona Oeste, Avenida Paulista
Cuisine: Sushi, Japanese
Open Hours: Mon-Thurs 6:30pm-12:30am; Fri-Sat 7pm-1am
"The setting is modern with wood and metal decorations, and the large sushi bar dominates the room."
7. Figueira Rubaivat:
Rua Haddock Lobo 1738, Jardins
Cuisine: Brazilian, Steak
Open Hours: Mon-Thurs noon-3:30pm and 7pm-midnight; Fri noon-3:30pm and 7pm-1am; Sat noon-1am; Sun noon-midnight
"The menu specializes in a la carte meats; most of the beef, chicken and other meats served at the Rubaiyat are home-grown at the owner's fazenda (cattle ranch), ensuring that the quality is always top notch."
8. Mestico:
Rua Fernando de Albuquerque 277 - Consolação, Avenida Paulista
Cuisine: Bahian, Thai
Open Hours: Sun-Mon 11:45am-midnight; Tues-Thurs 11:45am-1am; Fri-Sat 11:45am-2am
"This little restaurant is run by a woman from Bahia and her partner from Thailand -- each brings her own culinary traditions to bear in the cuisine."
9. Santa Gula:
Rua Fidalga, 340 Vila Madalena, Sao Paulo
Cuisine: Italian
Open Hours: Mon 8pm-midnight; Tues-Thurs noon-3pm and 8pm-1am; Fri-Sat noon-4pm and 8pm-2am; Sun noon-5pm
"One of the quaintest restaurants in São Paulo, Santa Gula is located in the backyard of an old house. The kitchen serves up a mix of Italian and Brazilian flavors."
10. Veridiana:
Rua da Veridiana 661 - Higienópolis, Higienópolis
Cuisine: Pizza (upscale)
Open Hours: Sun-Thurs 6pm-12:30am; Fri-Sat 1pm-1:30am
EXPLORING SAO PAULO
A proper description of Sao Paulo's many attractions and activities would take up more space than we can devote here. Perhaps the best way to get acquainted with the city upon arrival is to pick up a copy of the Sao Paulo edition of Veja Magazine--it has a good English section and will let you know Sao Paulo's happenings. What follows are just a few of the major, permanent attractions.
The Museo de Arte Sacra & Jardim da Luz is deemed by many to constitute the best collection of colonial art and artifacts in South America. The museum occupies a labyrinthine baroque monastery built during the eighteenth century. This charming museum, and the Jardim da Luz, are an unexpected center of tranquility. Visitors should also take the opportunity to stop by the Sao Paulo Museum of Art (MASP), which holds a very good collection of both European and Brazilian art dating from antiquity to the present.
Many visitors will make a beeline to the Butanta Institute, one of the world's leading centers for the study of poisonous snakes. At the research center, poisonous snakes are milked of their venom for serum. Although this process is itself no longer open for visitor observation, there is still plenty to see at this truly unusual place, which holds tens of thousands of snakes.
There is great shopping in Sao Paulo's malls, but the weekend markets and fairs are far more entertaining. At the Praca da Republica a fair runs from 8am to 2pm Sundays. People watching is one of the most enjoyable aspects of any fair, but an array of precious stones, leather, wood-carving, lace, paintings and more also dazzle the eyes. Another great fair is the weekend fair in Embu, 12 miles from Sao Paulo. Artists display their wares, as well as craftsmen; fine furniture is also one reason so many go to the Embu fair.
The Parque do Ibirapuera, a large grassy area, is Sao Paulo's major public park. Its lake is a refreshing presence, and the park's monuments add a touch of solemnity. But, the planetarium is what sets the park apart.
Soccer, Brazil's national sport, is big in Sao Paulo -which says a lot, considering it is big everywhere in Brazil. To see a soccer game in Brazil is to see soccer as art - no country brings so much joy and skill to the sport. Local games take place at large stadiums like Pacaembu, Morumbi, and Parque Antartica.
BUSINESS IN SAO PAULO
If you intend to conduct business in Brazil, there's a good chance you'll be going to Sao Paulo. It is by far Brazil's most import business center, affectionately called the "Brazilian locomotive" that drives the national economy. Almost every major industry in Brazil is based there (as well as most of the minor ones, too), and 15 percent of Brazil's gross national product is generated in Sao Paulo. Unsurprisingly, on any given week the city hosts major expositions, conferences, and international trade meetings. It offers a superb selection of meeting halls and convention centers.
Top ten industries in Sao Paulo:
FACTS AND INFORMATION SAO PAULO
Weather
Sao Paulo generally enjoys good weather, although the seasons are not well defined. This means that the weather is not always easy to predict. Here are some typical conditions and average temperatures:
Air - There are three airports in Sao Paulo: Congohas Airport, Sao Paulo International, and Viracopos Airport -check with your airline or travel agents to see which carries fly where. Their distances from the city center are 14km, 30km, and 100km respectively, and all of them offer bus and taxi service to the downtown area. Note, however, that the cost of transportation down- town will increase according to the distance of the airport --at Viracopos, be prepared to pay $50USD, while Congohas and SP International will only cost you about $7USD.
Taxis - There are three types of taxis in Sao Paulo: street cabs, radio cabs, and deluxe cabs. Street and radio cabs are metered, but radio cabs charge extra for radio service and pre-arranged pick-ups.
Subway - Sao Paulo's subway, regarded as one of the best systems in the world, is a great way to get around and avoid the city's infamous traffic. There are two major lines: the North-South and the East- West. All lines operate from 5am to midnight, ticket windows close at 10pm.
Rail - There are four train stations in Sao Paulo. The Barra Funda Station on Rua Capitao-Mor Goncalo Monteiro offers a Silver Train to Rio de Janeiro, which departs daily at 8:30pm. The Luz Station has trains to the interior and coast. Sub- urban trains heading to Itapevi can be caught at Julio Prestes Station, while trains east to Mogi das Cruzes board at Roosevelt Station.
Health & Medical
Sao Paulo has four premium hospitals. The Albert Einstein Hospital is regarded as one of the best in South America.
Business Hours
Shops and most offices are open Monday through Friday from 9 am. to 6 p.m. and from 9 am to 1pm on Saturday. Banks are open on Monday through Friday from 10am to 4:00pm. Most shopping centers and malls remain open until 10pm. Many pharmacies and small stores are also open on Sunday.
Sao Paulo is the largest city in South America and the third more populous city of the world, with more than 10 million inhabitants. It is the economical capital of Brazil and a very busy place. It is also rich in culture parks and museums.
Sao Paulo is centered around the Praça da Se, where there is a stone mark symbolizing the "point zero" of the city. The subway system is clean and efficient but covers only a few areas of the city, although extensions are being made. Interesting neighbourhoods to visit include Jardins, Itaim and the Ibirapuera Park.
The main sights in the city include the different neighborhoods with their special Italian, Japanese or Arabic influences. They have their own characteristics atmosphere and it is a lot of fun to just walk around, go to one of the many small restaurants or have a drink somewhere.
Brazilians say that paulistanos (Sao Paulo locals) live to work and to eat. Which is probably true. Food in Sao Paulo is the best in the country and rivals that of any major capital in the world. If you are there and like to eat meat, make sure you try the rodizios (barbecue) or feijoada (pork and beans - served only on wednesdays and saturdays). The pizzas are also extremely tasteful and a must-eat. You can find it from a wide range of restaurants from the simplest delivery place to fine expensive ones.
Sao Paulo is also very much a party town. You can get stuck in traffic in the middle of the night when party animals return from their hunt.
Automotive traffic in Sao Paulo is complicated, especially in main routes, all along the day during weeks and gets worse at rush hours (from 8 am to 10 am and from 6 pm to 8 pm). Laws to regulate traffic includes a rule forbidding cars to circulate at specific week days depending on the final number of their license. In the weekends the traffic is better with some complications in places where there are bars, shoppings or other public attractions.
Sao Paulo has the largest underground transportation system in Brazil; the "Metro". It is not as comprehensive as the trains in Europe or North America, but it serves most of the important areas. It is the safest and cleanest way to get around Sao Paulo.
About São Paulo:
São Paulo, being Brazil's center of commerce, a huge sprawling metropolis and the largest city in South America, probably isn't on your list of vacation hot-spots. "São Paulo works so that the rest of Brazil can play," say the paulistanos. But when the day's work is over, the residents of this city of trade and industry like to play as hard as they work. The city is huge. The best way to get around is by metro, the subway system is ranked as one of the best in the world. Taxis and buses are plentiful, but unless you're a wild, crazy, impatient driver yourself, you're better off not driving. The usual big city safety precautions apply.
The city of São Paulo is the capital of the Brazilian state of São Paulo, in southeastern Brazil. Covering an area 3,108 sq. miles large (8,051 sq. km) comprising 39 autonomous cities, the city has a population of approximately 20 million.
The city is the stage for the main fairs and trade events in the country, therefore attracting considerable national and international public. In addition to business, São Paulo offers some of the best museums and restaurants in Brazil.
Dining:
With the city's diverse ethnic populations, you'll choose from Italian, Japanese, German, Lebanese, Indian, and Oriental cuisine as well as French and Brazilian.
Nightlife:
- Hot spots come and go, so check with your concierge, but you'll have a choice of bars, nightclubs, dance clubs, cybercafes as well as gay and lesbian clubs. Be sure to see an exhibition of Capoeira , martial arts to music.
- Teatro de Cultura Artística hosts classical music, dance recitals and plays.
- Teatro Municipal presents ballet, opera, music and hosts an international array of visiting performers.
- Via Funchal holds more than 3,000 people and also hosts large international shows.
- People come from all over South America to shop in the city. You'll find department stores, shopping malls and markets. Consult your concierge for your particular needs.
- Specialty shops for antiques, art, clothing and handicrafts are scattered through the city.
- Weekend arts and craft fairs, antique fairs and flea markets draw considerable crowds.
- Parque Ibirapuera is the city's beautifully landscaped central park and home to museums, a planetarium, the Legislative Assembly, bicycle and motorcycle circuits, and a striking monument to the Bandeirantes, the trailblazers who opened São Paulo to the rest of the world.
- Every even numbered year,, a two-month long exhibit of modern artwork from around the world, attracts thousands of visitors to the free exhibits in its own pavilion in the Parque Ibirapuera.
- Praça da República is a shady place to rest between shopping excursions on the nearby streets.
- Praça do Patriarcha in the oldest part of the city has some restored old buildings, a marked contrast to the skyscrapers around it.
- São Paulo Jockey Club is the place for thoroughbred horseraces.
- Museu da Tatuagem displays the history of tattoos, or body art, with exhibits of techniques and equipment.
RESTAURANTS IN SAO PAULO
There are two things Sao Paulo is best known for in Brazil: business and food. Because the city's sprawling population represents every ethnicity in the country, cuisine in Sao Paulo becomes a matter of choice. There are thousands of restaurants, and if there's something you crave it's bound to be there, be it the obscurest of world cuisine or a simple slice of pizza - a local favorite. Some popular foods in the city:
- Tutu a Mineira: Mashed beans served with roasted pork loin, cabbage, and rice.
- Pao de Queijo: cheese bread.
- Acaraje: Fried shrimp pie.
- Virada Paulista: Rice, beans and banana served with meat.
- Feijoada: A stew of black beans and a variety of meats, served with rice and kale.
- Polenta: Baked dough of corn flour with salt.
- Churrasco: Excellent quality barbecued meat
- Pastel: Fried pies eaten with various fillings like meat, cheese, guava, and condensed milk.
1. Acqua Benedicta:
62 Rua da Matriz, Embu, Sao Paulo, 6846240 Brazil
Cuisine: American & Caribbean
Open Hours: 10a-11p
Known for its different kinds of cachaca, a popular sugarcane-based spirit and spicy food.
2. Restaurante Antiquario Patacao:
95 Rua Joaquim Santana, Embu, Sao Paulo, 6846240 Brazil
Cuisine: South American, spicy
Open Hours: 12:30p-11p
Expensive, but worth it.
3. Souto Maior:
70 Rua Anita Malfati, Embu, Sao Paulo, 6846240 Brazil
Cuisine: South American, spicy
Open Hours: 11:30a-11:30p
Small, local favorite doubling as an art gallery
4. Le Coq Hardy:
Rua Jerônimo da Veiga, 461, Itaim Bibi, Sao Paulo, 04536-001 Brazil
Cuisine: Classic French
Open Hours: M-F noon-2:30a, Sa 7p-1a, 7p-1a
Piano bar, an elegantly decorated dining room and a superb wine cellar. At lunchtime there is a fixed price menu that includes a glass of Bordeaux.
5. Antiquarius:
Alameda Lorena 1884, Jardim Paulista, Avenida Paulista
Cuisine: Portguese
Open Hours: Mon 7pm-1am; Tues-Fri noon-3pm and 7pm-1am; Sat noon-2am; Sun noon-6pm
"Antiquarius offers the perfect elegant setting to savor Portuguese cuisine served up with style and tradition. The menu offers dishes that are hard to find outside Portugal."
6. Jun Sakamoto:
Rua Lisboa 55 Pinheiros - Zona Oeste, Avenida Paulista
Cuisine: Sushi, Japanese
Open Hours: Mon-Thurs 6:30pm-12:30am; Fri-Sat 7pm-1am
"The setting is modern with wood and metal decorations, and the large sushi bar dominates the room."
7. Figueira Rubaivat:
Rua Haddock Lobo 1738, Jardins
Cuisine: Brazilian, Steak
Open Hours: Mon-Thurs noon-3:30pm and 7pm-midnight; Fri noon-3:30pm and 7pm-1am; Sat noon-1am; Sun noon-midnight
"The menu specializes in a la carte meats; most of the beef, chicken and other meats served at the Rubaiyat are home-grown at the owner's fazenda (cattle ranch), ensuring that the quality is always top notch."
8. Mestico:
Rua Fernando de Albuquerque 277 - Consolação, Avenida Paulista
Cuisine: Bahian, Thai
Open Hours: Sun-Mon 11:45am-midnight; Tues-Thurs 11:45am-1am; Fri-Sat 11:45am-2am
"This little restaurant is run by a woman from Bahia and her partner from Thailand -- each brings her own culinary traditions to bear in the cuisine."
9. Santa Gula:
Rua Fidalga, 340 Vila Madalena, Sao Paulo
Cuisine: Italian
Open Hours: Mon 8pm-midnight; Tues-Thurs noon-3pm and 8pm-1am; Fri-Sat noon-4pm and 8pm-2am; Sun noon-5pm
"One of the quaintest restaurants in São Paulo, Santa Gula is located in the backyard of an old house. The kitchen serves up a mix of Italian and Brazilian flavors."
10. Veridiana:
Rua da Veridiana 661 - Higienópolis, Higienópolis
Cuisine: Pizza (upscale)
Open Hours: Sun-Thurs 6pm-12:30am; Fri-Sat 1pm-1:30am
EXPLORING SAO PAULO
A proper description of Sao Paulo's many attractions and activities would take up more space than we can devote here. Perhaps the best way to get acquainted with the city upon arrival is to pick up a copy of the Sao Paulo edition of Veja Magazine--it has a good English section and will let you know Sao Paulo's happenings. What follows are just a few of the major, permanent attractions. The Museo de Arte Sacra & Jardim da Luz is deemed by many to constitute the best collection of colonial art and artifacts in South America. The museum occupies a labyrinthine baroque monastery built during the eighteenth century. This charming museum, and the Jardim da Luz, are an unexpected center of tranquility. Visitors should also take the opportunity to stop by the Sao Paulo Museum of Art (MASP), which holds a very good collection of both European and Brazilian art dating from antiquity to the present.
Many visitors will make a beeline to the Butanta Institute, one of the world's leading centers for the study of poisonous snakes. At the research center, poisonous snakes are milked of their venom for serum. Although this process is itself no longer open for visitor observation, there is still plenty to see at this truly unusual place, which holds tens of thousands of snakes.
There is great shopping in Sao Paulo's malls, but the weekend markets and fairs are far more entertaining. At the Praca da Republica a fair runs from 8am to 2pm Sundays. People watching is one of the most enjoyable aspects of any fair, but an array of precious stones, leather, wood-carving, lace, paintings and more also dazzle the eyes. Another great fair is the weekend fair in Embu, 12 miles from Sao Paulo. Artists display their wares, as well as craftsmen; fine furniture is also one reason so many go to the Embu fair.
The Parque do Ibirapuera, a large grassy area, is Sao Paulo's major public park. Its lake is a refreshing presence, and the park's monuments add a touch of solemnity. But, the planetarium is what sets the park apart.
Soccer, Brazil's national sport, is big in Sao Paulo -which says a lot, considering it is big everywhere in Brazil. To see a soccer game in Brazil is to see soccer as art - no country brings so much joy and skill to the sport. Local games take place at large stadiums like Pacaembu, Morumbi, and Parque Antartica.
BUSINESS IN SAO PAULO
If you intend to conduct business in Brazil, there's a good chance you'll be going to Sao Paulo. It is by far Brazil's most import business center, affectionately called the "Brazilian locomotive" that drives the national economy. Almost every major industry in Brazil is based there (as well as most of the minor ones, too), and 15 percent of Brazil's gross national product is generated in Sao Paulo. Unsurprisingly, on any given week the city hosts major expositions, conferences, and international trade meetings. It offers a superb selection of meeting halls and convention centers. Top ten industries in Sao Paulo:
- Telecommunications
- Automotive
- Banking
- Pharmaceutical
- Beauty & Cosmetics
- Fashion
- Electronic Appliances & Computers
- Food Processors
- Consulting
- Construction
FACTS AND INFORMATION SAO PAULO
Weather
Sao Paulo generally enjoys good weather, although the seasons are not well defined. This means that the weather is not always easy to predict. Here are some typical conditions and average temperatures:
- Winter - June through August:
Cold mornings and evenings, temperatures ranging from 8-18C. - Spring - September through November:
Sunny days, temperatures ranging from 18-28C. - Summer - December to February:
Very hot with occasional downpours during the day, temperatures ranging from 28-35C. - Fall - March to June:
Days are usually rainy by midseason, with temperatures ranging from 15-28C.
Air - There are three airports in Sao Paulo: Congohas Airport, Sao Paulo International, and Viracopos Airport -check with your airline or travel agents to see which carries fly where. Their distances from the city center are 14km, 30km, and 100km respectively, and all of them offer bus and taxi service to the downtown area. Note, however, that the cost of transportation down- town will increase according to the distance of the airport --at Viracopos, be prepared to pay $50USD, while Congohas and SP International will only cost you about $7USD.
Taxis - There are three types of taxis in Sao Paulo: street cabs, radio cabs, and deluxe cabs. Street and radio cabs are metered, but radio cabs charge extra for radio service and pre-arranged pick-ups.
Subway - Sao Paulo's subway, regarded as one of the best systems in the world, is a great way to get around and avoid the city's infamous traffic. There are two major lines: the North-South and the East- West. All lines operate from 5am to midnight, ticket windows close at 10pm.
Rail - There are four train stations in Sao Paulo. The Barra Funda Station on Rua Capitao-Mor Goncalo Monteiro offers a Silver Train to Rio de Janeiro, which departs daily at 8:30pm. The Luz Station has trains to the interior and coast. Sub- urban trains heading to Itapevi can be caught at Julio Prestes Station, while trains east to Mogi das Cruzes board at Roosevelt Station.
Health & Medical
Sao Paulo has four premium hospitals. The Albert Einstein Hospital is regarded as one of the best in South America.
Business Hours
Shops and most offices are open Monday through Friday from 9 am. to 6 p.m. and from 9 am to 1pm on Saturday. Banks are open on Monday through Friday from 10am to 4:00pm. Most shopping centers and malls remain open until 10pm. Many pharmacies and small stores are also open on Sunday.
Sao Paulo Casa
Sao Paulo:
+55-1130135426
International/Internacional:
+1 416-410-8883
(Canada)
Email: reservations@saopaulocasa.com
