Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Paulo's most fashionable Ruy Ohtake-designed hotel looks
rather like an extraterrestrial cruise ship. It's so hip there's
no sign outside, nor any reception, and your cash gets you
plenty of extra perks, such as a red-lit swimming pool and
sliding hatches in rooms to watch a plasma TV from your
digitally controlled hydro-bath. For those who just want to
check the
place out, the rooftop bar is open to non-guests.
R$1476
Tryp Iguatemi
Rua Iguatemi 150, Itaim Bibi
T
11
3704 5100,
W
solmelia.com;
M
Cidade Jardim; map
pp.486-487.
Although a typically characterless example
of the Meliá chain - which is all over São Paulo - this hotel
has comfortable rooms, a fine buffet breakfast, a small
rooftop pool an
d pleas
ant staff who provide helpful and
e
cient service.
R$409
VILA MADALENA
Café Hostel
Rua Agissé 152, Vila Madalena
T
11 2649
7217,
W
cafehostel.com.br;
M
Vila Madalena; map
p.499.
One of a number of small, low-priced hostels
opening up in this neighbourhood and around town, it's
very friendly, if a bit squashed together, with minimal
breakfast, but it's handy for Vila Madalena's nightlife and
metrô
, and a
mong
the very
cheape
st places to stay in São
Paulo. Dorms
R$30
; doubles
R$90
ITAIM BIBI AND PINHEIROS
Radisson Faria Lima
Av. Cidade Jardim 625, Itaim Bibi
T
11 2133 5960,
W
radisson.com;
M
Cidade Jardim;
map pp.486-487.
The most luxurious hotel in the area.
The standard rooms are well equipped and have large TVs,
but on the Royal Floor you can also enjoy DVDs and
breakfast in be
d. Ther
e's also a sauna, fitness centre and
attractive pool.
R$729
EATING
Eating out
is a major pastime for wealthier
paulistanos
, who take great pride in the vast number of restaurants in the city. With
its array of immigrant communities, São Paulo offers an impressive variety of dining, be it Brazilian, ethnic, or fusion. Aside from
regional and modern Brazilian cooking, the city is also particularly good for Italian, Japanese, Arabic and Jewish cuisine.
8
sandwich bar, going since 1922, is where they invented
the traditional
baurú
sandwich (roast beef, tomato,
pickle and a mix of melted cheeses in a baguette;
R$20.80), and it's still the best place in town to try one.
Mon-Sat 8am-8pm.
Raful
Rua Abdo Schahin 118, Centro
T
11 3229 8406,
W
raful.com.br;
M
São Bento; map p.489.
This bright
Lebanese diner is a great spot for meze (Middle Eastern
hors d'oeuvres), or just a coffee, and in case you're hungrier
than that, it also offers an unlimited Arabic
rodizio
(R$59).
Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat 7am-4pm.
★
CENTRO
★
Jardim de Napoli
Rua Dr Martinico Prado 463,
Higienópolis 3666-3022,
W
jardimdenapoli.com.br;
M
Santa Cecilia or Marechal Deodoro; map pp.486-
487.
A simple
cantina
where some of São Paulo's best
Italian food is served at moderate prices. Justifiably famous
for its
polpettone
(giant meatballs; R$55), it also does
excellent pasta.
Mon noon-3pm & 7-11pm, Tues-Fri
noon-3pm & 7pm-midnight, Sat noon-4pm & 7pm-
midnight, Sun noon-4pm & 7-11pm.
Ponto Chic
Largo do Paissandu 27
T
11 3222 6528,
W
pontochic.com.br;
M
República; map p.489.
This
Rei do Filet
Praça Júlio Mesquita 175 (just off Av São
João)
T
11 3221 8066,
W
reidofilet.com;
M
República;
map p.489.
Serving customers since 1914, the house
speciality of this very simple and very traditional restaurant is
steak. To show how tender the meat is, the bowtie-wearing
waiters cut the steaks using soup-spoons. If a 130g (¼lb)
steak with two veg for R$33.10 won't do you, try a 490g (1lb)
chateaubriand for R$82. There's a second branch at Alameda
Santos 1105 in Jardins.
Downtown daily 11am-10pm;
Jardins Mon-Tues 11am-midnight, Wed & Thurs
11am-1am, Fri & Sat 11am-2am.
TOP 5 JEWISH AND ARAB
RESTAURANTS
Middle Eastern restaurants in São Paulo are
excellent value, typically serving
Lebanese
or
Syrian
food. The city's substantial
Jewish
population also runs a handful
of authentic and very good restaurants.
Arábia (Lebanese; Cerqueira
César)
see p.510
Shoshi Delishop (Jewish;
Bom Retiro)
see opposite
Z-Deli (Jewish; Cerqueira
César)
see p.511
Raful (Lebanese/Syrian;
Centro)
see below
Folha de Uva (meze buffet;
Cerqueira César)
see p.510
BOM RETIRO
Acrópoles
Rua da Graça 364, Bom Retiro
T
11 3223
4386;
M
Tiradentes; map pp.486-487.
Traditional Greek
food, including moussaka (R$32), is served in this long-
established, popular and moderately priced restaurant.
Daily 6.30am-9pm.
Seok Joung
Rua Correia de Melo 135, Bom Retiro
T
11
3338 0737,
W
seokjoung.wordpress.com;
M
Tiradentes;
