11 Best Restaurants in São Paulo, Brazil

Nino Cucina, located in one of the busiest areas of Jardins in São Paulo, is a charming Italian restaurant with a cozy and sophisticated decor. The menu, inspired by traditional Italian cuisine, features dishes like gnocchi alla bolognese and burrata with prosciutto, with all pasta made in-house to ensure top quality. Don’t miss the panna cotta al caramello salato, a creamy and delicate dessert served with a layer of salted caramel that perfectly balances sweet and savory flavors.

This traditional cantina catches the eye with a decoration full of knickknacks that give the place its charm. An abundance of wonderful wines to choose from, along with a menu of mouth-watering options, including homemade artisanal pastas, is on offer. The tagliatelle with filet mignon and four-cheese sauce is absolutely divine and one of the house specialties.

Wine casks and bottles adorn the walls at this typical Bixiga cantina, located on a street so charmingly human-scaled you'll hardly believe you're still in São Paulo. You won't be alone if you order the ever-popular fusilli—either ao sugo (with tomato sauce) or ao frutos do mar (with seafood)—or the traditional baby goat's leg with potatoes and tomatoes.

Humble-looking Degas owes its more than 50 years in existence to word of mouth among the residents of São Paulo's western neighborhoods. Its famed filet mignon Parmigiana has gained near-legendary status, attracting foodies from across the city.

Good and simple Italian food is what you'll find at this traditional spot. Choose from a great variety of pastas, salads, and meat dishes. Try the Gorgonzola bruschetta.

A family-owned Northern Italian classic tucked away behind the elegantly modern lobby of the hotel of the same name, this restaurant is as famous for its superior cuisine as for its exorbitant prices. In the kitchen, a 20-strong brigade of chefs, butchers, and bakers commanded by Luca Gozzani sends out exquisite, sinfully rich dishes like agnollottis of Angola chicken on heart-of-mozzarella cream.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.