11 Best Restaurants in São Paulo, Brazil

For almost 20 years Arábia has served traditional Lebanese cuisine at this beautiful high-ceilinged restaurant. Simple dishes such as hummus and stuffed grape leaves are executed with aplomb, and the lamb melts in your mouth.

With the look of an old-style saloon, Bar do Juarez has won awards for its draft beers and buffet of petiscos (small tapas-like dishes), but picanha (rump cap of beef) is this gastropub's calling card. Served raw on a minigrill, the platter is perfect for small groups and gives individuals direct control over how their meat is done.

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.

Mineiro dishes are the specialties at this modest eatery with plain wooden tables. The classic cuisine is served as a buffet only: more than 50 stone pots hold dishes like feijão tropeiro (beans with manioc flour) and frango com quiabo (chicken with okra).

The beautiful people hang out in the bar of this highly regarded churrascaria. The thinly sliced picanha (rump steak) is excellent; it goes well with a house salad (hearts of palm and shredded, fried potatoes), onion rings, and creamed spinach.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.