Brasil a Gosto
Jardim Paulista

"If you're in São Paulo, among all that concrete-way-of-being, yearning for some Brazilian food but afraid of an unknown place, then try Brasil a Gosto, a restaurant owned by young chef Ana Luiza Trajano," says local TV producer Guta Nascimento."Hidden on a tiny street of a Jardins hipster neighborhood, it serves regional food from all over Brazil's giant territory. Fancy but not pretentious, simple but not obvious, this little spot is the best place to learn more about Brazilian cuisine."

Jardim Paulista 
70 Rua Professor Azevedo do Amaral
Jardim Paulista
São Paolo
Brazil
+55 11 3086 3565

"A gem!," is the first word that our local tipster Marcela Drigo uses to describe this indoor/outdoor eatery, which has a cool, tropical-chic decor. "Capim Santo serves wonderful Brazilian food to a lively crowd of business people, musicians and artists," says Marcela. Tip: Try to book a table on the outdoor terrace dotted with palm trees and other verdant foliage.

Capim Santo 
471 Alameda Ministro Rocha Azevedo
Jardins
São Paolo
Brazil
+55 11 3068 8486

Glamorous, delicious and priced accordingly, Restaurante Fasano is the culinary jewel in the crown of the stylish and upscale Fasano hotel and restaurant empire. Although in Brazil for more than a century, the Fasano family is very proud of its Italian heritage, and to honor that, they've hired Sardinian chef Salvatore Loi to oversee all of their restaurants, but Fasano is his baby. The menu features authentic cuisine from several regions of Italy, including traditional seafood dishes and his very popular risotto, as well as original, Brazilian-influenced recipes that are Fasano family faves. Fasano has one of the best wine lists in town.

Fasano 
88 Rua Vittorio Fasano
Jardins
São Paolo
Brazil
+55 11 3896 4000

"SKYE bar and restaurant at Hote Unique has one of the most beautiful views of the city at night," says Monica Sweet, a very social local who dines out frequently. "You can see the park and the skyline of São Paulo." Unique is a self-consciously hip Design Hotel, and SKYE's contemporary decor is mostly white, but is brightened up by a trendy crowd dining on the Brazilian and international fare, and accompanied by DJ-spun tunes. Even if you don't eat there, stop by after dinner for tropical cocktails (and those views!) on the rooftop bar's outdoor terrace—quite a scene.

SKYE at Hotel Unique 
4700 Avenida Brigadeiro Luis Antonio
Jardim Paulista
São Paolo
Brazil
+55 11 3055 4710

For meat lovers, no visit to São Paolo is complete without gorging on steak at a churrascaria. "Rodeio is great for lunch," says our local expert Monica Sweet. "Try the Brazilian barbecue and the baked palm heart called pupunha." In business since 1958, it's now a classic, but Monica concedes that, "although the place is not charming, it's very traditional in SP." The restaurant recently added an impressive acclimatized wine cellar with more than 200 labels.

Churrascaria Rodeio 
1498 Rua Haddock Lobo
Cerqueria Cesar
São Paolo
Brazil
+55 11 3474 1333

Chopsticks down, Jun Sakamoto is São Paolo's sushi temple—and that's saying a lot considering the city's large population descended from Japanese immigrants. If you love your raw fish, do not miss this spot, where the delicate Japanese dishes are often jazzed up with culinary twists from Brazil, Portugual, France and Italy. And if you really love sushi, try to score one of the coveted seats at the bar where you'll get to watch Chef Leonardo Jun Sakamoto and team whip up an all-sushi tasting menu. Book in advance.

Jun Sakamoto 
55 Rua Lisboa
Pinheiros
São Paolo
Brazil
+55 11 3088 6019