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I often describe Jardins as the Beverly Hills or Upper East Side of São Paulo: high-end restaurants, boutique art galleries and an insight into Brazil’s rich and famous. The fact that the shiny towers and glitzy restaurants of Jardins exist only about 15 minutes from the chaos of São Paulo’s historic centre is just one of the many layers of complexity which make Brazil such a captivating destination.
One of the many reasons Jardins is one of the best areas to stay in São Paulo is safety. In short, Jardins is often considered the safest area to stay in São Paulo. With São Paulo’s best restaurants, upscale residences and Rua Oscar Freire (the Rodeo Drive of São Paulo), you can be assured that security is taken seriously here.
While São Paulo doesn’t often feature on a 2 week Brazil itinerary, if you do find yourself here I always recommend visiting Jardins for a dinner or drink.
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Top places to see in Jardins, São Paulo
In my opinion, the best cities in the world are those which are home to extremely diverse neighborhoods. There’s nothing I love more than exploring the ‘city in a city’. Jardins may not have any of São Paulo’s big ticket attractions, but it does offer a totally different experience.
Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP)
Technically a short walk away on Av Paulista, it would be remiss not to include MASP on any guide to Jardins. Alongside other great museums like the Pinacoteca, there’s no question that MASP is one of the cultural stars of São Paulo.
The art collection showcases the best of Western and Brazilian art. The collection boasts all the big names from Picasso to Van Gogh. Uniquely, the museum prides itself on its ‘hanging’ exhibits. You’ll understand better once you’re exploring the exhibitions.
Local tip: MASP is free to visit on Tuesdays, and every third Thursday of the month.
If art museums aren’t your thing, you’ll still want to take some time to appreciate the stilted building itself. It may not match the architecture of Belo Horizonte or Brasilia, but this is Brazilian brutalism at its best.
Rua Oscar Freire
The tree-lined Rua Oscar Freire is the Champs d’Elysees or Rodeo Drive of São Paulo. Home to the most expensive shopping in Brazil, this is the spot to see and be seen in São Paulo.
Here, you can find everything from luxury designer goods (Louis Vuitton, Armani), local Brazilian designers (Glória Coelho, Osklen) to the flagship Havaianas store (with 350+ designs). As you can expect, Rua Oscar Freire is also an excellent spot to go people watching – you are a long way from the favela!
Boutique art galleries
Jardins is famous for its boutique art galleries and exploring the streets here you will likely stumble across a few.
My personal favorite is the Art Lab Gallery, offering a huge space which design lovers will adore. Otherwise, Galatea, Bernice Arvani Gallery and Simões de Assis are all popular.
If you are visiting Brazil on a budget, you will be pleased to know many small art galleries are free to visit.
Paulista Avenue
While not exactly in Jardins, Paulista Avenue sits above Jardins and is likely to be in walking distance to your Jardins hotel. I’d say proximity to Paulista Avenue is one of the reasons why Jardins is the best area to stay in Sao Paulo.
Paulista Avenue is the commercial heart of São Paulo and you can easily fill a few hours here. Take some time to explore the architectural treasures of Paulista. Beyond architecture, you can use the below Paulista landmarks to orient your wanders:
| Mural of Oscar Niemeyer | Brazil’s most famous architect and designer of Brasilia and the Pampulha district of Belo Horizonte |
| Mequi 1000 | One of the most famous McDonald’s stores in the world |
| Instituto Moreira Salles | A first-class photography and culture center |
| Mirante SESC Paulista | One of the best free viewpoints in São Paulo |
| Instituto Itau Cultural | Cultural center with regularly changing exhibitions |
Travel tip: On Sundays, Av Paulista becomes pedestrian-only and is full of small markets, street performers and a little antique market under the MASP.
If you’re particularly attracted to the architecture of Paulista, I strongly recommend joining a bespoke São Paulo architecture tour (you won’t regret it).
Best restaurants in Jardins, São Paulo
Akin to Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro, Jardin’s vibrant dining scene is one of the reasons why Jardins is the best area to stay in São Paulo. Jardins is home to many of São Paulo’s most celebrated restaurants, including the world famous: D.O.M. With tasting menus and a minimum spend in the hundreds of dollars, I suspect D.O.M. is not on most people’s São Paulo itinerary.
For those of us on a more reasonable budget, here are some of my favorite places to eat in Jardins.
Botanikafe
Some cafes are designed for Instagram, others fit more seamlessly. Once you step inside Botanikafe, you will immediately want to take out your phone and start snapping this magical garden. With low-hanging plants, dim lights and brown leather lounge vibes, Botanikafe is one of the best places for brunch in Jardins.
My personal recommendation is actually to visit later in the day to enjoy their lunch and dinner menu (don’t worry, the brunch menu is available all day).
I am a big fan of Botanikafe’s fresh salmon and tuna tostadas – the homemade pico de gallo just makes them that extra bit special. If you are looking to splurge (on calories, that is), the burrata is a standout. Accompanied with fruit compote, radish and a parsley oil, this is easily a dinner for one.
Fame Osteria
One of the newer restaurants taking Jardins by storm, Fame Osteria offers some of São Paulo’s highest quality Italian meals. Fame offers a 12-course tasting menu, covering the best of Italian cuisine in the perfectly sized portions. Each dish is designed to bring you towards a different culinary sensation. In case it wasn’t yet clear, Fame is an experience and one of the reasons we love Jardins.
With only one dinner seating at 8 pm, you will want to make sure you reserve in advance.
Carlos Pizza
Many are surprised to know some of the best pizza in the world is in São Paulo. And Carlos has some of the best pizza in town.
I would self-identify as a pizza connoisseur and, in my opinion, Carlos wins for having some of the best crust in town. With a close relationship with a neighboring cheese shop, keep an eye open for their unique cheese of the month.
There is another branch of Carlos Pizza in Villa Madalina (my other favorite area to stay in São Paulo).
Bachir Ice Cream
For those following me for a while, you will know that I am a global ice cream expert. Buenos Aires may hold the crown for the best ice cream in Latin America, but don’t let that stop you hitting the ice cream cones in Brazil.
Bachir Ice Cream is a global franchise. However, this is no ordinary franchise, with only four stores worldwide. I first fell in love with Bachir Ice Cream in the flagship Beirut store, and soon followed them around the world. Staying true to their Lebanese roots, you can find classic Middle Eastern dessert flavors like ashta and rosewater.
Balcão
I distinctly recall the moment I fell in love with São Paulo. And it was here, at Balcão, one of my favorite bars in the world.
Balcão isn’t another São Paulo cocktail bar. Rather, Balcão is kind of like a Bohemian take on the traditional Brazilian bar. The caipirinhas are extremely strong, the sandwiches are hearty and the beer is very cold. Add in some soft jazz music and a giant winding table where guests sit communally and you’ll probably recreate the same magical moment I first had.
Like the colorful art piece on the wall? Well, you have good taste – that’s an original Roy Liechtenstein.
Best places to stay in Jardins, São Paulo
As both the fanciest and safest area to stay in Jardins, it is no surprise that Jardins has a wide array of hotels. I generally recommend staying as close to Rua Oscar Freire as possible.
Major international hotel brands
Many travelers prefer to stay loyal to their international brand names. After a chaotic day on the streets of São Paulo, there is something extremely comforting about returning to a familiar room.
If this sounds like you, I recommend the Radisson Oscar Freire, Renaissance São Paulo and the Mercure São Paulo Jardins. Each of these hotels is ideally situated in the heart of Jardins.
Budget hotels
Jardins doesn’t have too many hostels (Hostel More SP is an exception), but there are a number of smaller guesthouses and smaller hotels which cater to those who aren’t exactly on a 5 star budget. For the best deals, I usually stay at the H4 Hotel Opera Jardins or the H4 Fortune Residence.
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