55 Best Restaurants in São Paulo, Brazil

Paulistanos of all types and ages flock to this luncheonette on the stylish Rua Oscar Freire for its beirute sandwiches, filled with ham and cheese, tuna, or chicken, and for its draft beer and fruit juices in flavors such as acerola (Antilles cherry), passion fruit, and papaya.

This is a unique whimsical café in São Paulo. The 2D hand-drawn black-and-white decor makes you feel like you're stepping into a comic book. The menu offers playful themed dishes like the Hello Kitty Burger and adorable desserts such as the Kitty's Strawberry Cheesecake. It's a delightful spot for fans of the character and anyone looking for a fun and immersive dining experience. There's also sushi on the menu. The popcorn sweet pie is a must try.

The classic neon sign that adorns this restaurant's exterior cues diners about what to expect inside: traditional Italian cuisine. No surprises here, but dishes such as the unchanging and unmatchable polpettone alla parmigiana, a huge meatball with mozzarella and tomato sauce, inspire devotion among the local clientele.

Camper cooking meets Korean at this Liberdade mainstay serving bul go gui (Korean barbecue that blends raw meat, spices, sauces, and veggies) over small, do-it-yourself gas stoves. You can prepare other Korean dishes, and there are Chinese options, including several involving tofu.

Facing a little Centro flower market, this romantic Parisian-style bistro has been around for five decades and has witnessed more than its share of wedding proposals. Surrounded by wood-paneled walls decorated with art that nods at famous French artists, you can dine on such delights as gigot aux soissons (roast leg of lamb in its own juices, served with white beans), canard à l'orange (roast duck in an orange sauce), and a classic crème brûlée.

After several years in Italy, the founders of La Piadinha Cucina decided to open a restaurant, which has now been a success for over 14 years in São Paulo. Known for its authentic Italian flavors, the Piadina di Parma, featuring Parma ham, arugula, and stracchino cheese, is a popular choice among diners.

This Italo-French restaurant with a partially enclosed garden isn't just a place for businesspeople and impresarios to see and be seen. It also has some of the best food in town and is one of the most classic restaurants around. Popular dishes include the pan-seared foie gras over apricot and dried fig chutney, and grilled shrimp with curry sauce, saffron risotto, and pine nuts.

An ideal place for an intimate meal, this small bistro has a good wine selection and an upstairs bar furnished with mismatched sofas and armchairs. The menu changes daily; a favorite is the classic coq au vin, but you can also fill up on entrées such as beef tenderloin, pasta, soups, and quiches.

Generous portions at reasonable prices and live music—that's the Lazzarella way. The cantina, a classic Italian joint founded in 1970, is hardly extravagant, but the rich flavors of a meal here and the Neapolitan stylings of the crooners circling among the red-and-white checkered tabletops are memorable. The signature house lasagna dish, made old-style with ground beef and mozzarella in a Bolognese sauce, is meal enough for two. All the pastas here are worth a try.

Even the fabulous people have to hang at the bar before being shown to a table in this large, sleek dining room; but especially for vegetarians, dishes such as the tofu and vegetable curry make the wait worthwhile. The decidedly eclectic menu includes Italian, Brazilian, Bahian, and even Thai cuisine.

Low-key, dependable, and well-loved, Nagayama consistently serves excellent sushi and sashimi. The chefs like to experiment: the California uramaki Philadelphia has rice, cream cheese, grilled salmon, roe, cucumber, and spring onions rolled together.

At one of São Paulo's few pizzerias where you can order by the slice, the options for toppings range from pepperoni and other traditional favorites to shimeji mushrooms, kale, and other innovative ingredients.

This restaurant looks like something Spanish architect Gaudí might have designed had he spent his later years in the tropics, but the pizzas couldn't be more Italian and straightforward. Try a pie with mozzarella and toasted garlic.

Pé de Manga's name and charm come from the massive mango tree surrounded by tables on the shaded patio, where appetizers like mini acarajé and main dishes named after celebrities—think Mel Gibson and Will Smith—are served. A two-story covered seating area lends the whole affair a Robinson Crusoe touch.

The restaurant boasts a chic and minimalist decor with warm tones and sleek design, creating a sophisticated-yet-cozy dining atmosphere. The linguine alla carbonara is a standout dish, perfectly creamy and rich. Pair it with the Negroni Sbagliato, a refreshing twist on the classic cocktail. To finish don't miss the tiramisù.

Though it's neither fancy nor beautiful, Pizzaria Camelo has kept Paulistanos enthralled for ages with its many thin-crust pies. The chopp (draft beer) is great, too.

The family that owns and runs this restaurant serves meat from its ranch in Mato Grosso do Sul State. Charcoal-grilled fare— steak, chicken, salmon, and more—is served at the buffet, and options abound at the salad bar. Wednesday and Saturday are feijoada nights, and on Friday the emphasis is on seafood. It was so successful in Brazil that it opened restaurants in Madrid, Chile, and Argentina.

After a nice walk around the park, why not stop by Selvagem for lunch? It offers contemporary Brazilian cuisine with a creative twist, utilizing local ingredients for a unique dining experience. Located within Ibirapuera Park, the Picanha Selvagem, a juicy cut of meat accompanied by exclusive sauces, exemplifies the chef's dedication to authentic and innovative flavors.

One of the most traditional pizzerias in São Paulo, this restaurant is famous for its margherita pie. In 2010, Speranza became the first pizzeria in Latin America to win recognition from the Italian pizza quality-control board Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. Pasta, chicken, and beef dishes are also served.

A few blocks west of MASP, this quaint yet futuristic glass-encased diner occupies a lonely single-story building tucked between government skyscrapers. Entrées—Argentine beef is a favorite—don't come with sides, so you'll have to order a dish such as rice with broccoli to fill the plate.

Occupying corners on both sides of the street, the modest Sujinho honors its roots as an informal bar by serving churrasco without any frills. This is the perfect place for diners craving a gorgeous piece of meat to down with a cold bottle of beer.

Owner Marconi Silva started his little slice of Bahia by selling acarajé (deep-fried bean balls usually stuffed with paste made from shrimp and other ingredients) on the sidewalk in front of where his restaurant now stands. Since moving indoors, he's expanded his menu to include favorites such as escondidinho (a lasagna-like dish with cheese, meat, and manioc) and shrimp risotto in a coconut shell.

The brainchild of the late Marcos Bassi, a former butcher turned restaurateur and radio host, Templo da Carne (Temple of Meat) makes no bones about its specialty. Contrafilé (sirloin) and famed Brazilian picanha (rump cap) are among the highlights.

Typically Brazilian from its decor to its daily specials, rustic-elegant Tordesilhas prides itself on spotlighting recipes from across the republic. Feijoada takes center stage on Wednesday and Saturday, while a Brazilian tasting menu is served Tuesday through Saturday.