24 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.

OhKinha stands out with the "Special Combo," featuring a varied selection of salmon, white fish, and tuna sushi and sashimi, perfect for sampling different flavors in one meal. To accompany your meal, try the Sakerinha, a caipirinha made with sake instead of cachaça.

This restaurant's name comes from one of the most traditional Italian neighborhoods in São Paulo, and no one argues that Bráz doesn't have the right. Each of the nearly 20 varieties of pies is delicious, from the traditional margherita to the house specialty, pizza Bráz, with tomato sauce, zucchini, and mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.

During and after the Saturday crafts and antiques fair in Praça Benedito Calixto, it may take an hour to get a table at this homey restaurant. Among the shareable, traditional mineiro (from Minas Gerais State) dishes are the mandioca com carne de sol (cassava with salted meat) appetizer and the tutu (pork loin with beans, pasta, cabbage, and rice) entrée. These are shared dishes, which serve 2 to 3 people.

With world-class chef-proprietor Helena Rizzo at the helm, Maní has made its way to the top of the restaurant charts in São Paulo. A sophisticated take on Brazilian country cuisine meshed with modern cooking techniques, dishes like chicken and rice with okra might not sound like much, but one bite will be enough to explain why local and visiting foodies beat a path to Maní's door.

São Paulo's latest foray in Korean barbecue, Migá has grills built into its tables and waitstaff well-versed in how to use them, in case it's your first time. Try the popular bulgogi: beef marinated in soy sauce and spices served with a variety of sides.

An animated, gay-friendly crowd chatters at this restaurant with Italian, Brazilian, French, and mixed cuisine, as contemporary pop music plays in the background. Although Ritz serves some of the best hamburgers in the city, another popular dish is bife à milanesa (breaded beef cutlet) with creamed spinach and French fries or salad.

Owner Roberto Loscalzo transformed a 1903 mansion into a remarkable dining space; expansive yet intimate, grandiose yet welcoming. At one end of the room chefs pull Napoli-style pizzas from the three mouths of a two-story brick oven that looms over diners like a cathedral organ.

Part of a chain of Lebanese semifast-food outlets, Almanara is perfect for a quick lunch of hummus, tabbouleh, grilled chicken, and rice. A full-blown restaurant also on the premises offers up Lebanese specialties rodízio style, meaning you're served continuously until you can ingest no more.

Bar da Dona Onça, located in the iconic Copan Building in São Paulo, offers an authentic gastronomic experience with dishes that celebrate Brazilian cuisine. The cozy atmosphere, charming decor, and attentive service make this bar a must-visit spot in the city. You should definitely try the Arroz de Rabada, a rich and flavorful oxtail rice dish. Pair it with their signature Caipirinha de Jabuticaba.

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.

TV host, author, and chef Carla Pernambuco introduces Brazilian elements to a multicultural array of recipes at her popular restaurant. The restaurant has a seasonal menu, which may vary according to the time of year.

A Casa do Porco reached the seventh position in the World's 50 Best Restaurants ranking in 2022, becoming the highest-ranked Brazilian restaurant on the list at the time. This achievement solidified its reputation as one of the top global dining destinations. The restaurant offers a relaxed and modern atmosphere. Its menu is a celebration of pork; the porco sanzé, a crispy and succulent pork belly crackling (called torresmo or pururuca) is a must-try dish that goes really well with a crisp, cold beer.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.