Where to Stay in São Paulo, Brazil - A Local's Neighborhood Guide
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São Paulo is a beast of a city, home to over 12 million people. It's also geographically vast with a land area of 570 sq. miles - almost double that of New York City. One of the largest urban areas outside of Asia, this is not the type of place where you can just randomly pick a hotel and wing it.
Because of its sheer size, choosing where to stay when visiting is a much more important question here than in most places.
To help you find the right base, I’ve provided detailed descriptions of 5 neighborhoods that I think make sense for most visitors. As a São Paulo native and lifelong resident, I've tried to share my honest opinions on the appeals and drawbacks of each area.
Vamos dar uma olhada - let's take a look!
Table of Contents
Overview of São Paulo's layout
Because São Paulo is so massive I can't begin to tell you where to stay without first giving you a sort of “orientation tour” to the city's layout.
So, the map above has two different geographic boundaries: the black/grey area shows São Paulo's city limits whereas the yellow area is what I've defined as the “expanded center"; essentially the parts of the city that most tourists are likely to visit.
To better understand São Paulo's layout, know that locals divide the city into 6 zones:
Centro historico
The historic center. This area begins north of Avenida Paulista and then encompasses a fairly small circle of neighborhoods (like Sé, Republica, Luz, and Bixiga). This is where you'll find the majority of our typical tourist sights and a huge collection of museums and cultural centers.
Centro & centro expandido
The expanded center. This isn't a real geographic zone, but rather what we colloquially refer to as the central areas of the city. This area includes the historic center and then the "new” neighborhoods like Jardins, Pinheiros, Itaim Bibi, etc. that sprang up around it as the city expanded in the 20th and 21st centuries.
This is the most central and wealthiest part of the city, and it includes all the areas that a visitor is remotely likely to visit.
Zona Norte
The north zone. This area comprises all the neighborhoods that lie to the north of the Tiete river. Although there are some pockets of wealth here, it's a mostly working class area that few visitors (and few non-resident locals) visit.
Zone Leste
The east zone. This is that big “arm” that sticks out in the east of the city. It basically encompasses the entire area east of the Tamanduateí River and Avenida do Estado/Rod. Chico Xavier highway.
It includes the Brás neighborhood, which is a center of textile production and a major clothing shopping area. Also here are the neighborhoods of Mooca (a traditional Italian area that's home of the Museum of Immigration) and Tatuape (a wealthy area that functions as a hub for the east zone). Outside these and a few other neighborhoods, most of the area is working class and fairly poor.
Zona Oeste
The west zone. This area comprises most of the city lying west of the city center and north of the Brooklin neighborhood. The area crosses the Rio Pinheiros and runs out to the city's western limits. It's a kind of useless distinction, because the neighborhoods that lie between the city center and the Pinheiros River (like Perdizes, Pinheiros, Vila Madalena, and Itaim Bibi) are all very wealthy areas that are typically just regarded as being part of the new, expanded center. Most people in Itaim Bibi don't associate their area with belonging to the Zona Oeste.
When I think of the west zone, I really think of the part of the city that's west of the Pinheiros River. That may not be administratively accurate, but it's how I think of it.
West of the rive is a pretty vast area that includes neighborhoods like Morumbi, Panamby, and Cidade Jardim, some of the richest in the city. Most of the area is middle to working class, and it includes Paraisopolis, one of the city's largest favelas. The neighborhood of Butantã is the home of Sao Paulo's (and Brazil's) most prestigious university, the public (!!) Universidade de Sao Paulo.
Zona Sul
The Zona Sul is an enormous chunk of the city and by far the largest of all the zones. It stretches from south of the Itaim Bibi neighborhood all the way down to the Guarapiranga and Bilings resevoirs.
It encompasses the entire gamut of socioeconomic zones: the new financial center of Berrini, rich "suburban” neighborhoods like Brooklin, Campo Belo, and Moema, middle and working class ones like Santo Amaro (home to our Formula 1 racetrack), and then sprawling favelas on the outskirts, including places like Jardim Angela, Capão Redondo, and Paralheiros.
Unless going shopping at one of the malls in Moema or Brooklin or heading to a specific restaurant or bar, there's not much reason that a tourist would find themselves in this area.
Summary of my 5 recommended neighborhoods
So, now that I've bored you with my dissertation on the city's various zones, let's talk about the actual neighborhoods that I think it makes sense for you to consider as potential bases.
I have personal opinions on which of these areas are best, but more important than my (expert - look at me!) opinion is what you're planning on doing while here. If you're going to be spending all your time in Pinheiros, then it doesn't really make sense to stay in Vila Mariana. Likewise, if your goal is to see the city center and enjoy cultural institutions, hunkering down in Itaim Bibi probably isn't the right call.
In general, for anyone doing fairly "standard” sightseeing in the city and spending 3 days or fewer here, my recommendation is always that you stay close to Avenida Paulista. That said, the neighborhoods to the north and south of Paulista have different vibes, so that's where some local advice comes in handy.
If you're coming for more time, then you should pay closer attention to the vibes of the different areas and pick which one best matches your travel style.
Also, you can dispense with any worries about staying somewhere too touristy. São Paulo is not a touristy place and there is not a single neighborhood in the city that caters to tourists or feels overwhelmingly touristy. You can forget about that issue.
1. Jardins & Paraiso (green on the map)
This is a fairly big area, and it technically comprises three wealthy neighborhoods all lying immediately south of Avenida Paulista: Cerqueira Cesar, Jardim Paulista, and Paraiso. I don't think differentiating between them is in any way important as they look identical, the atmosphere is essentially the same, and they're adjacent to each other. It's a nice, safe, centrally located and fairly generic looking area of high rises. It's where I recommend most first-time visitors stay.
2. Bela Vista & Consolação (yellow on the map)
These two neighborhoods lie immediately north of Avenida Paulista and separate it from the historic city center. I've listed them together because it makes sense to do so, but know that they are totally distinct from each other. Bela Vista is a bit quieter and more local while Consolação is louder, more commercial, and a hub of LGBTQ nightlife. They're nice for people who plan to spend a good bit of time in the city center and want to stay somewhere that feels less "rich and cloistered” than Jardins/Paraiso.
3. Pinheiros (red on the map)
Once a commercial area and then a bohemian enclave, Pinheiros is now just another wealthy neighborhood close to Paulista and the city center. That said, it's younger, leafier, more residential, and much trendier than the other neighborhoods I've mentioned. It has great bars and restaurants and is a good choice for visitors who want to stay somewhere hip and local and can accept the tradeoff of it being slightly less logistically convenient.
4. Itaim Bibi (purple on the map)
One of the city's wealthiest neighborhoods, Itaim Bibi is both residential and commercial. It's full of high-rise condos and office buildings and has a somewhat downtown feel to it. This is very much "new rich” São Paulo and it has everything that comes with that: great restaurants, a bumping bar scene, easy access to green spaces (Ibirapuera and Parque do Povo), good safety, and… a fair deal of pretension. It's great for business travelers, those who want a high end hotel, and people who want to stay somewhere that feels extra safe. Your major downside is no access to the metro, so you have to be ok using Uber to get around.
5. Vila Mariana (blue on the map)
This is my "sleeper pick" for those who want to stay somewhere really local. It's still an upper middle class area, but it's far enough removed from the financial and commercial centers of the city to have a fairly different character. It feels very local and you'll rarely see tourists or foreigners here. It's adjacent to Ibirapuera park and has a relaxed (but good) dining and bar scene and it's conveniently located on the blue metro line.
1. Jardins & Paraiso
Pros: Safe, centrally located, good restaurants, easy metro access, great hotel selection
Cons: Expensive, some parts are hilly, quiet at night time
A typical tree-lined street in Jardins
If it's your first time in São Paulo, staying somewhere in Jardins or Paraiso is generally a safe bet. These are wealthy, safe areas with plenty of dining options that are close to Avenida Paulista, the city center, and other neighborhoods you'll want to visit. They also provide convenient access to metro stops on the yellow, green, and blue lines.
If you look on my map above, you'll see that these two neighborhoods begin immediately south of Avenida Paulista and extend down towards Ibirapuera Park, ending at Avenida Brasil.
As São Paulo expanded beyond the city center and businesses and banks began to establish themselves on Paulista, wealthy residents followed, leading to the creation of these neighborhoods. As such, most of the area was built up in the mid 1900s. The buildings are large and nice, but you can tell that the construction is not super modern.
While there are lots of offices on Avenida Paulista itself (and a few scattered throughout the neighborhood), most of the buildings here are residential, and almost entirely high-rise condominiums. The streets are pretty pleasant - often lined with trees - and you have relatively light traffic as long as you stay off of the major north-south thoroughfares (Av. 9 de Julho , Av. Rebouças, and Av. Brigadeiro Luis Antonio).
There isn't a ton of street life in the area (rich people in Brazil don't tend to hang out on the street), but it's a nice area to walk around and you'll find a good number of restaurants, cafes, bakeries, pharmacies, and groceries, all around you. It's always pretty busy in the day time, but nights get quieter. This is more true for the Jardins side of the area than it is for Paraiso, which is more residential and distinctly quieter.
For shopping and high-end dining, Jardins is home to the famous Rua Oscar Freire, a busy shopping street lined with stores from both Brazilian and international brands as well as lots of eateries.
As you head south from Avenida Paulista the area becomes hilly (beginning about 4 blocks in). As such, if you choose a hotel here, I'd recommend opting for one that's close to the avenue, otherwise you'll find yourself frequently hoofing it uphill. If you're planning on biking while here, heading south to Ibirapuera and Itaim Bibi will be very pleasant, but returning to your hotel will not be!
For getting around, walking from Avenida Paulista into the city center takes about 30-40 minutes. A bike ride to Ibirapuera will be over practically before it begins - barely 5-10 minutes. Taxis and ubers are all around and most of the neighborhoods you'll want to visit are within a 20-minute car ride.
For public transport, buses run 24 hours a day up those same north-south thoroughfares and you have 2 yellow metro stops, 3 green line stops, and 2 blue line stops. They are almost all along Avenida Paulista though, so if you stay further south into the neighborhood, the metro will be a long walk (unless you stay right by the Oscar Freire stop).
I think staying here is a good option for most travelers, but it won't be perfect for everyone. To start with, it's a fairly posh area and that's reflected in the types of businesses you'll find and the people you'll come across. It also has very little in the way of nightlife and no major sights, other than Avenida Paulista. If you're young and looking to mingle and hit the town, you probably won't love it.
Where to stay
Jardins
Hotel Emiliano - The Fasano and the Rosewood are putting up a fight, but for me, the Emiliano is still the best hotel in the city. With 5-star luxury, iconic design, and impeccable service, it's the obvious choice if you've got money to burn. The location on chic Rua Oscar Freire means that Av. Paulista is a bit of a walk, but great dining and shopping is right outside your door. The hotel's breakfast/brunch is also legendary. $500+ USD.
Renaissance Hotel - A longstanding classic a block off Av. Paulista. The location puts you walking distance to many sights, the metro, great restaurants in Jardins, and shopping on Oscar Freire. The rooms are big, many offer great views, and the property, despite being 25+ years old, is routinely renovated and spruced up. $300-400 USD.
Intercontinental Sao Paulo - With a terrific location two blocks from MASP and right by the Trianon-MASP metro stop, this is a big, modern hotel that has all the standard Intercontinental amenities. Along with a nice pool, you also get an excellent gym. The hotel bar is good too. $300-400 USD.
Melia Paulista - Right on Avenida Paulista, the Melia is a pretty nice 3-4 star hotel. Accessibility is fantastic with lots of sights within a few blocks and the Consolação metro directly in front of the hotel. I believe that the rooms on floors 11 and up have been recently renovated and you want to be high anyways to avoid noise from the street below. $160-220 USD.
Estanplaza Paulista - Around the corner from the InterContinental (2 blocks off of Paulista), this is a solid 3-star hotel. It's a bit dated, but everything is well maintained and well looked after. The rooms are comfortable and very spacious, often with semi-separate seating areas. $100-140 USD.
Royal Boutique Paulista - Half a block away from the Estanplaza, the offering here is pretty similar, but more basic. It's simple, but immaculately clean. $80-100 USD.
Ibis Paulista - If you've ever stayed in an Ibis, then you know exactly what to expect. It's no-frills, but clean and comfortable. The location is directly on Avenida Paulista and a block from the Consolação metro stop. $75 USD.
Paraiso
Qoya Curio by Hilton - Very new and modern hotel with a somewhat boutique vibe. Great location (one block off Av. Paulista and two blocks from the Brigadeiro metro stop), the rooms are big, and it has a nice nice pool. $180-220 USD.
Radisson Paulista - Across the street from Qoya, the Radisson is more corporate and not as nice, but still very modern. It has nice commons areas and high floors have good views. $150 USD.
Laghetto Stilo - Just a couple blocks in from Paulista, this is a lovely hotel and really excellent value. It's pleasant, surprisingly stylish, and has nice amenities. There are lots of good restaurants around it (including a bunch of great Japanese places), the metro is nearby, and it's in a leafy and quiet part of the neighborhood. $120 USD.
Tryp by Wyndham - Modern, comfortable, and really good value, this is a very good budget-ish option. It's on the far eastern end of Av. Paulista, just two blocks from the Paraiso metro stop (which gives you access to both the green and blue lines). You're walking distance to Paulista, Jardins, and Bela Vista, and also to the Vila Mariana area. You could even walk to Liberdade. $60-100 USD.
Hotel Bella Paulista - Right next to the Wyndham, this hotel presents the same benefits regarding location and ease of transportation. It's a total no-frills option, but the maintenance, cleanliness, and service are all good. It's a good choice if you're on a tight budget and just regard a hotel as a place to crash for the night. $60 USD.
2. Bela Vista & Consolação
Pros: Extremely central, great access to the city center, lots of dining and nightlife options
Cons: Consolação is a major nightlife center, so it can be loud and a little bit seedy in some parts. No real downsides to Bela Vista, although it's maybe a bit less safe than Jardins
Pretty Rua Avanhandava in Bela Vista
A section of Rua Augusta in Consolação
These two neighborhoods begin immediately north of Avenida Paulista and extend up to the historic center. I've put them together because they are adjacent to each other, but they actually have quite different atmospheres, so it's important to distinguish between them. The dividing line between them is Av. 9 de Julho.
Consolação is a pretty modern neighborhood that has seen a construction boom over the last couple decades. Home to one of São Paulo's most (in)famous streets - Rua Augusta - this area used to be one of the city's principal red light districts, but has changed drastically over the last 30 years.
Consolação and "Baixo Augusta”, as the area around Rua Augusta is called, is now a major nightlife district, particularly for the LGBTQ community. In general, it's a rather "democratic” scene, with people from all over the city and all walks of life coming here to party. Bars range from downright grimy and seedy to quite nice.
There aren't any tourist sights here, but it's full of bars, international restaurants, and coffee shops. There's also a really nice new park - Parque Augusta (sometimes called Parque Bruno Covas) that provides some much needed green space. Praça Roosevelt - one of São Paulo's most famous squares - sits at the far northern end of the neighborhood and is ringed with bars. It's popular with skateboarders during the day and with young partiers by night.
The streets off of Rua Augusta are mostly pretty quiet, with the exception of a few intersections with bars on them. During the week, mornings are busy with employees and office workers out and about, but on weekends it's pretty dead until around lunch time (though you'll often see people still at bars as late as 8:00 or 9:00 am).
Bela Vista is a very different atmosphere. It's much more residential, less youthful, far less commercial, and the nightlife that you do have is more tame and laid back. Whereas people from all over the city come to hang out in Consolação, the people you'll come across in Bela Vista mostly live there. I much prefer it over Consolação, but I'm old, so take my recommendation with a grain of salt.
In the part closest to Avenida Paulista, Bela Vista feels somewhat similar to Jardins; you'll find high-rise condos, some offices, and fairly nondescript architecture. It's clearly a bit less wealthy though and more economically diverse.
As you move north towards the city center (going downhill), you'll notice a big shift in the architecture and atmosphere. This is the area known as "Bixiga". Although entirely part of Bela Vista, Bixiga is a former Italian neighborhood that has its own distinct identity. Here, you have no high-rises and the buildings are low and colorful. Italian flags and streamers are strung between buildings and flutter overhead. There are lots of traditional (although not entirely authentic) Italian restaurants and it feels very small and local.
This section is more middle and working class than the part of Bela Vista close to Paulista, but it's still pretty safe and pleasant. Even so, it's not somewhere you should wander carelessly at night.
In the way of restaurants, Bela Vista has plenty of good ones, but most are not fancy. There are also lots of fine, but uninteresting options serving simple, every day Brazilian food. In general, this is an area where you need to do some research to know where to eat. You also have less a bit less in the way of grocery stores, pharmacies, and that sort of thing than in Jardins.
For nightlife, Bela Vista has lots of cool bars, but it doesn't have any particularly dense concentrations of them. You have rock bars, goth bars, a bar with board games, samba bars, gay bars, etc. It's a cool scene. Many are overtly politically leftwing (Sol y Sombra and Restaurante Al Janiah immediately come to mind), so that's something you may want to consider if you're planning a night out in the area.
In terms of green space, the entire area has no real parks.
And a quick note - if you look at my map, you'll notice that I cut the neighborhood at Rua Treze de Maio, which is incorrect - it actually extends east all the way to Avenida 23 de Maio. I haven't highlighted that part of the neighborhood because it's less safe. It's adjacent to a few not very nice areas and isn't a place that first-time visitors should walk around in.
The same metro lines (and the same stops) that serve Jardins and Paraiso also serve Bela Vista and Consolação, with Consolação also having access to the "Higienopolis-Mackenzie” stop on the yellow line.
As I mentioned with Jardins, if you choose to stay in Belavista, I recommend selecting a hotel that's within 2-3 blocks of Avenida Paulista and ideally close to the Brigadeiro metro stop.
So, here's my final 2 cents: Consoloção may be a good choice for young people, especially those looking to party and who are part of the LGBTQ community. I think it's a bad choice for families with children, most visitors over the age of 35, and people who will be made uncomfortable by partying, less conventional lifestyles, and a bit of seediness.
Bela Vista I consider a good option for most people, but not ideal for families with children. If you're an anxious traveler and/or very concerned about safety, I'd also skip it.
Where to stay
Bela Vista
Rosewood - Opened in 2022, the 5-star Rosewood is a massive complex of a hotel a few blocks north of Av. Paulista. Built on the 9 acre grounds of a renovated former hospital, the vibe is all "chic tropical jungle” with lush gardens and plants everywhere, complimented by seriously cool design choices. It’s an architectural marvel in its own right. With various restaurants and bars, and the best pool area in the city, it's also practically a resort. $500+ USD.
L'Hotel PortoBay - I can't quite describe how, but this hotel always feels distinctly "São Paulo” to me. The atmosphere is elegant and boutique-ish, with design choices that blend dark woods, polished stone, and sleek furniture. The location is great too - 3 blocks from MASP, 1 from the Trianon-MASP metro, and half a block off Av. Paulista. $200-400 USD.
Transamerica Executive Paulista - Big comfortable rooms, a rooftop pool, a decent gym, and a great location. It's a standard 3-star, business-oriented hotel, but it gets the job done well. $100 USD.
Mercure Paulista - A functional and pretty standard Mercure hotel. The rooms are spacious with big windows and comfortable beds. Nothing fancy, but everything works. It's a half a block from Av. Paulista and 1 block from the Brigadeiro metro stop. $80-100 USD
Consolação
3. Pinheiros
Pros: Pretty neighborhood, leafy, upscale but relaxed, great dining and nightlife
Cons: Very few hotels, farther from the city center, only ok metro access
A view over the Benedito Calixto flea market in Pinheiros
Pinheiros is really nice. It's safe, decently leafy, has lots of nice, new construction, and is packed with many of the city's best restaurants and bars. It also has a number of good cultural institutions and all the basic services and amenities you could need in a neighborhood. There's not really anything negative to say about it; it's just a nice area.
That said, I sometimes think it's become too international, which has ironically made it kind of generic. The two main dining and shopping streets of Rua Artur de Azevedo and Rua dos Pinheiros now look similar to streets in most western cities. There's a gelato spot on every corner, artisan chocolatiers, third wave coffee shops, fusion food restaurants, smash burgers, and lots of clothing stores with what I call “chic urban farmer” aesthetics and earthy tones. Basically, it looks kind of like Williamsburg in New York or Shoreditch in London.
This was once a commercial area where every couple of blocks were dedicated to the sale of different products/services. You had auto mechanics, furniture stores, bulk textiles vendors, etc. These have almost all been priced out as wealthy and trendy young professionals and families have moved in, totally altering the character of the neighborhood.
Once primarily an area of low-rise buildings, almost the entire neighborhood has been gobbled up by developers and you now have lots of the same high-rise condos and apartment towers that are ubiquitous in the rest of the city. Nonetheless, it's still quite leafy, calm, and pleasant to walk around. There are also pockets of "holdouts" where concentrations of pretty tree-lined streets with single family homes remain.
For nightlife, the entire neighborhood is excellent, but especially the area around Largo da Batata square where you have an incredible array of bars and restaurants. The Vila Madalena neighborhood and its countless bars and live music clubs are also within easy walking distance.
The only major tourist sight here is "Beco do Batman”, also known as Batman's Alley. This is an open air street art gallery that's lined with restaurants and bars. There's also much more great street art all around the neighborhood. For culture, you have the Instituto Tomie Ohtake which is housed in an iconic piece of architecture designed by its namesake architect. It hosts frequently changing exhibits.
On Saturdays, the Benedito Calixto flea market takes place and is a favorite with locals and tourists. For a sunset view, head up to Praça Por do Sol (Sunset Square) with all the other romantics. And to try some local classics, make your way to the Mercado Municipal de Pinheiros, a nice covered food market that has outposts from a number of famous local chefs.
As regards transportation, you are limited to the yellow line which has four stops in the neighborhood: Oscar Freire, Fradique Coutinho, Faria Lima, and Pinheiros. The yellow line is ok and will get you to Avenida Paulista, but you'll need to make a transfer to go most places. Realistically, if you stay here you'll need to user Uber/taxis at least a few times.
I think Pinheiros is a good choice for just about everyone. Its major downsides are that there aren't many hotels, it has no parks, and it's a bit far away from Avenida Paulista, the city center, Ibirapuera park, and many other places you'll want to visit.
If you're planning a relaxed trip that involves leisurely mornings with breakfast and brunch, time window shopping and people watching, and you want to have great dining and moderate-to-upscale nightlife options just outside your door, Pinheiros will be right up your alley. If, above all else, you value proximity to sights and access to transportation, it may not be your best option.
If you stay here, I recommend choosing a hotel near either the Fradique Coutinho or Oscar Freire metro stops.
Where to stay
Radisson Pinheiros - $170 USD
Golden Tower Pinheiros - $100 USD
Guest Urban Hotel - $75 USD
L’Opera Hotel - $70 USD
4. Itaim Bibi
Pros: Very safe, good dining & shopping, upscale, excellent access to green spaces, many hotels
Cons: Far from the sights, no metro access, feels soulless
High rise condos and office buildings in Itaim Bibi seen from inside Parque do Povo park
Itaim Bibi is one of the newer neighborhoods in the “expanded center” and it's an area that is both residential and corporate. Many banks and corporations have their headquarters here and you have fancy glass and steel office buildings all along Avenida Faria Lima and Avenida Berrini, as well as many more interspersed on side streets.
This is where you'll find the offices of international companies like Google, Facebook, and J.P. Morgan as well as major Brazilian companies like Itau Bank and Ambev.
If you look at my map, you'll see that Itaim looks pretty big. This is, in part, because I've taken some liberty here and included two other neighborhoods that are technically separate: Vila Olimpia and Vila Nova Conceição. All 3 look and feel the same, all 3 are very rich, and all 3 present identical pros and cons. For a casual visitor, there's no reason to differentiate between them.
Because this is essentially São Paulo's new business downtown, it's also one of its most expensive neighborhoods. It's different than most downtowns though in that apartment buildings and offices are almost entirely intermixed. For example, directly behind Google's offices are a series of condos and then you hit Facebook's office, and then more condos. It's kind of odd, but also kind of nice - it makes it feel a bit less corporate.
The entire area is extremely safe, totally flat, and the streets are mostly aligned in an easy-to-navigate grid. While it's fine to walk around in, it's very generic looking and has nothing particular to note. The extremely luxurious apartment towers are interesting to look at for a few minutes, but overall it's pretty soulless.
For green space, you have two excellent parks within walking distance of everywhere in the neighborhood; Parque do Povo on the western edge and Ibirapuera Park on the eastern one.
As you would expect with a business area, the daytime is always bustling, but at nighttime it can feel fairly deserted. Traffic in the mornings and evenings is also terrible, which can be a problem when you're heading out to sightsee and heading home at the end of the day.
Largely at the demand of wealthy residents, you have no metro stops in the area so your only option for getting around is to use the bus or call taxis/Ubers. Protected bike lanes on Avenida Faria Lima, Avenida Berrini, and Avenida Helio Pellegrino do make cycling a rather viable option, however.
For dining, there are tons of great restaurants, and, due to the presence of so many office workers, the price ranges for them are surprisingly good, at least at lunch time. However, for that same reason, lots of places shut down after the lunch rush, leaving mostly mid to high-end options for dinner.
Nightlife is mostly confined to glitzy clubs and fancy "see and be seen” type bars. It's quite common to see Lamborghinis and Ferraris parked outside restaurants and bars, so take that for what you will.
High-end shoppers will be very happy with their options here as you have two malls right in the neighborhood and two more within a quick cab ride. In the neighborhood you have Shopping JK Iguatemi which is mostly luxury shops and Shopping Vila Olimpia which is more mid-range. Within a couple minutes by car you have Shopping Cidade Jardim (also very high end) and Shopping Iguatemi (ever so slightly less high end). All 4 malls have a nice mix of restaurants inside them, many of quite good quality.
Itaim Bibi isn't where I personally would choose to stay, but I understand its appeals. It's a great option for business travelers (you'll probably be working here or nearby anyways) and for anyone concerned about safety and access to green space. There are also loads of large, modern hotels and prices are fairly reasonable. If you're traveling with children, it's a good area to consider.
I think that it's a bad choice for young and more bohemian travelers and people who typically like to pack their days full of sightseeing. For these people, the somewhat snobby vibe, corporate atmosphere, and combination of removed location and lack of public transport may make staying here a frustrating experience.
Where to stay
Fasano Itaim - $650+ USD
Hotel Unique - $450-550 USD
Grand Mercure Itaim Bibi - $200 USD
Pullman Vila Olimpia - $150-200 USD
Radisson Blu Sao Paulo - $150-200 USD
Innside by Melia - $150 USD
5. Vila Mariana
Pros: Local vibe, good metro access, close to the city center
Cons: No sights in the neighborhood, hilly, few hotels
Vila Mariana is a pleasant middle to upper-middle class residential neighborhood just southeast of Paraiso and Avenida Paulista. It's separated from Itaim Bibi by Ibirapuera Park.
Served by three metro stops (Paraiso, Ana Rosa, and Vila Mariana) and close to Jardins, Liberdade, the city center, and Ibirapuera park, it's quite convenient for getting around and for sightseeing. You won't be walking distance to any sights, but the metro will get you to almost everything in just a few stops.
There's nothing particular to see in the neighborhood (aside from the MAC museum - basically in Ibirapuera park), but it's nice. Because few tourists come here, the shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, and everything else cater to locals. This means that the quality is typically pretty good and prices quite reasonable.
There are also a couple of universities here, so you have lots of young people around and it always feels lively and youthful.
The streets are fairly leafy and it's a nice mix of high-rises and lower, older buildings. Safety here is good, but you'd be wise to pay attention along Rua Vergueiro when going to or coming from the metro.
For dining and nightlife, you have a good selection of restaurants and bars on/around Rua Joaquim Tavora and more on Rua Vergueiro near the Ana Rosa metro stop. Bar Veloso is a neighborhood standout, famous all over the city for their coxinhas (a snack food) and caipirinhas. You won't find raucous nightlife, but it's very good for a casual night out, potentially with some live music.
For downsides, the main one is that when walking from Rua Vergueiro and the metro stops towards Ibirapuera park (i.e. into the neighborhood), you immediately start going downhill. So if you stay more than a few blocks in from the metro, you'll find yourself constantly having to walk uphill. There also aren't very many hotels in the area, so you're mostly limited to airbnb and apartment rentals. And lastly, if you're planning on spending a lot of time in Pinheiros and Vila Madalena (or anywhere else in the west of the city), the location is rather inconvenient.
I think Vila Mariana is an interesting option for people with more than just 1 or 2 days in the city. It's ideal if you want to stay somewhere that feels very local, very calm, and is reasonably priced. However, you do have to be willing to accept the trade off of needing to use the metro (or taxi/uber) to come and go from the neighborhood.
Young people in general will probably be a bit bored here as will those who want to have nightlife and tons going on right outside their door.
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