The ultimate weekend itinerary in São Paulo
- Gustavo Galli
- 29 de jul.
- 7 min de leitura
São Paulo may not be the best tourist destination in Brazil, and to be honest, if you have limited time here, I don't think São Paulo necessarily needs to be on your itinerary. That being said, the city is surprising and welcoming. And if you give it a chance, it might just be one of the best parts of your trip. Many people pass through São Paulo for flight connections or for work, and with that in mind, I've put together this itinerary for you to enjoy an incredible weekend in the city.
Friday Evening
If you're working in São Paulo and staying for the weekend, what better way to start than on a Friday, right? After a week of work, there's nothing better than a cold beer or dinner at a great restaurant! Many people will tell you to go to Vila Madalena, which is the city's most bohemian neighborhood, but in my opinion, Pinheiros is cooler and has much more interesting things to see and do.
If you're looking to drink, I recommend Pitico, a super cool open-air bar with beach chairs in an informal setting. Besides cold beer and cocktails, they have an excellent falafel portion. If the bar is too crowded, Rua Guaicuí has many other great options.
Another option in Pinheiros is Santana Bar, which, in my opinion, is the best cocktail bar in São Paulo. The menu has over 80 options ordered by the creation date of the drink. For me, this is brilliant because you can learn a bit about the history of each one and try drinks from different eras. The bar is small but super cozy, and a cocktail costs around US$8.00.
If you want to eat well, there's a lot of great stuff in Pinheiros. One of the best value-for-money Japanese restaurants in São Paulo is Tanuki. The atmosphere is small, and the sushi and sashimi combos are wonderful. Like any good Japanese restaurant, I recommend sitting at the counter. Another Asian restaurant option is Hirá Ramen Izakaya, which is an authentic Japanese bar. Besides various small dishes that pair perfectly with a beer or sake, they also have excellent ramen for colder days. If you're not into Japanese food, there's a super cool restaurant called Bosco, which has excellent pasta and meat dishes with an incredible atmosphere and very reasonable prices.
Classic Saturday in SP
Antique fair and a classic Feijoada
The Praça Benedito Calixto Fair has been happening every Saturday for over 35 years and is one of the coolest outings for the start of the weekend. There are hundreds of small stalls selling antique watches, furniture, glasses, and other things that remind us of our grandmother's house. In addition, there are several craft shops and galleries around the square where you can easily spend a few hours.
After spending an hour or two at the fair, get ready for an unmissable gastronomic experience in Brazil: Feijoada! If you've already tried feijoada, you know what I'm talking about, right? If not, get ready! My recommendation is Bar do Biu, which is right next to Praça Benedito Calixto. Arrive early because the restaurant is not big, and after 1 PM, it's hard to find a table. Order a cold beer and a portion of calabresa acebolada (sausage w/ onions) to start, and choose the size of the feijoada. Every good feijoada is sized by the number of people at the table, but here I suggest you subtract one; that is, if there are three of you, order for two. This is because the portions are very generous.
After lunch in Avenida Paulista
After lunch, you have two options: go home and rest – this is the normal routine after a feijoada, haha :) – or stroll along Avenida Paulista, the largest and most famous avenue in Brazil. From Bar do Biu, you can walk or take a bus, but I recommend taking an Uber because you'll probably be very "heavy" after the feijoada. It shouldn't cost more than $4 to Paulista.
Avenida Paulista has everything, and you can just wander around for hours, but I'll list a few places for you to visit during the afternoon.
MASP: The São Paulo Museum of Art is Brazil's most famous art museum. Besides its unique architecture, with an open span of over 70 meters, it features works by Raphael, Ingres, Van Gogh, Cézanne, Renoir, Monet, and Picasso. Admission costs around $15.
Instituto Moreira Salles - Paulista: This space is part of a series of cultural investments by one of Brazil's wealthiest families. Here you'll find a series of art and photography exhibitions with excellent curation. The best part is that admission is free.
Japan House: This space, also present in London and Los Angeles, celebrates Japan through various free events and exhibitions in areas such as architecture, technology, gastronomy, fashion, and art. Most exhibitions are free.
Casa das Rosas: One of the few remaining mansions from the time of the coffee barons, Casa das Rosas today features a museum, garden, and a café that can be accessed for free.
If you still have energy after your stroll on Avenida Paulista, I recommend heading to Vila Madalena for the best sunset in the city at Praça do Por do Sol (Sunset Square). In addition to an incredible view, you can enjoy a cold beer sold by street vendors there.
If, after sunset, you're still not hungry, know that this is normal after Feijoada. Feijoada is a heavy dish, and often I don't even bother with dinner when I have it for lunch. But if you're in the mood to eat, my suggestion is a burger! São Paulo has wonderful burgers, and when I think of eating one, I only think of one place: Hobby Hamburguer in Perdizes. The restaurant has been open since 1969, serving the same burgers. My tip is the X-Salada, a portion of fries, and a Coca-Cola. You can't go wrong with it!
Sunday at the Park
Morning and breakfast at Ibirapuera Park
Wake up early to walk around Ibirapuera Park, the most beautiful and famous park in the city. Open for over 70 years, the park is a meeting point for the city's runners, and after its privatization in 2020, it has a packed schedule of events and shows all year round. My tip is to arrive before 9 AM to enjoy the morning sun and the less crowded park, especially on weekends.
There you can rent a bicycle, run, or just walk, but don't forget to have a coconut water from one of the vendors' stalls along the park. When you get hungry, have breakfast at Madureira, a snack bar right in the middle of the park. Although the food isn't outstanding, it's definitely worth it for the incredible atmosphere among the trees.
*The park is open daily from 5 AM to 11 PM, and admission is free.
After your walk in the park, my recommendation is to go up to Avenida Paulista to enjoy the country's largest avenue in a very different way: on foot. On Sundays, several streets in São Paulo are closed to cars and open to people to walk around. Avenida Paulista is full of live bands, a craft fair, and much more. I think an hour is more than enough for you to enjoy this walk.
Lunch at the center and visit Farol Santander
The center of São Paulo is one of the city's most surprising neighborhoods. Although it's a somewhat decadent and slightly dangerous area – I recommend being attentive and not walking around with your phone in hand – it's one of the city's most iconic places.
Since you'll have already walked a lot through Ibirapuera Park and Avenida Paulista, I believe you'll be hungry, right? I recommend taking an Uber to Bar da Dona Onça or Casa do Porco, which won't cost more than $6. The first restaurant offers Brazilian culinary classics with a more refined touch and is located beneath São Paulo's most iconic building, the Copan. The second one serves only pork dishes and has been among the "World's 50 Best" restaurants. I've been to both, and I believe they are excellent options for a Sunday lunch. My only tip is to try to arrive by 12:30 PM so you don't have to wait too long in line.
After lunch, walk 15 minutes to Farol Santander, one of São Paulo's oldest and tallest buildings. Built in 1947, the building has over 35 floors and is 160 meters high. It was the headquarters of Banco Banespa, which for many years was one of Brazil's most important banks and underwent a privatization process in 2000. The building now hosts various temporary exhibitions, and some of its floors tell the city's history. I personally find it very interesting, especially if it's your first time here. In addition, you can see the city from above, which is quite impressive.
Classic Sunday Dinner in São Paulo: Pizza!
You can't visit São Paulo and not eat a delicious pizza! The city has a strong Italian influence, as it received thousands of immigrants last century, and the food was obviously greatly influenced by this. São Paulo's pizza is considered the best in Brazil and is quite different from Italian pizza. I'd even say it's tastier, but don't tell any Italian, ok? The big difference is the larger quantity of cheese and toppings, which create dozens of different flavors. Without a doubt, the classic Sunday dinner in São Paulo is pizza, and if you're too tired to leave the house, you can order delivery like most families do every Sunday. These are some of my favorites: Bráz Quintal, Marguerita Pizzeria, and Pizzaria Speranza.
I hope you enjoy these tips and have a great weekend in São Paulo! :)
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