The Design Lover’s Guide to São Paulo

When it comes to Brazil, sunny Rio de Janeiro tends to get all the attention, but there are plenty of reasons design lovers should plan a trip to São Paulo. With a population of more than 20 million living in the metro area, it’s the largest city in both the Southern and Western hemispheres, and has long been Brazil’s center of industry—but that doesn’t mean São Paulo is all business and no fun. Art and design lovers might want to plan a trip around the city’s major fairs, including SP-Arte, which takes place every April in the Oscar Niemeyer Bienal Pavilion, or DW! Design Weekend, which will return this August. Whether you’re going for business or pleasure, you’ll want to seek out these design-forward hotels, restaurants, bars, and museums.

Where to Stay

There are four luxury hotels that vie for the title of the best lodging in São Paulo. The newest addition to the city’s hotel scene is the 258-room Four Seasons Hotel São Paulo at Nações Unidas, designed by HKS Architects in partnership with Aflalo/Gasperini Arquitetos, who filled the space with contemporary art by local artists. Palácio Tangará—a member of Leading Hotels of the World—appeals to fans of classic design and is situated in Burle Marx Park. The Fasano São Paulo features a sleek design by Isay Weinfeld and Marcio Kogan that nods to midcentury modernism. But the true architectural masterpiece is Hotel Unique by legendary Brazilian architect Ruy Ohtake. A hotspot for Vogue Brasil editors, the sleek, modern structure resembles a boat, with its semicircular shape and round porthole-style windows that frequently appear on Instagram. Some rooms even have curved walls.

Where to Eat & Drink

There’s no shortage of great food in São Paulo, whether you want a quick bite or a tasting menu by one of the world’s best chefs. If you’re hoping to sample Alex Atala’s Amazonian-inspired delicacies at D.O.M.—currently ranked No. 16 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list—be sure to book a table a few weeks in advance. When in São Paulo, sampling Brazil’s pão de queijo (cheesy bread) is a must. Stop by Pão de Queijo Haddock Lobo—a little hole-in-the-wall bakery—for the best pão de queijo in the city, and be sure to eat it fresh out of the oven. Santo Grão is a casual café on Rua Oscar Freire (the city’s chicest shopping street) that’s perfect for a low-key lunch. Locals love to start the evening with a Caipirinha at Hotel Unique’s rooftop Skye Bar & Restaurant, which was recently renovated and features excellent views of the city and a pool that’s lit up red at night. The restaurant serves delicious Brazilian and international cuisine in a chic space. From there, hop in an Uber and go to Guilhotina Bar in Vila Madalena, considered one of the best bars in the world.

What to Do

Though you’ll find street art all over São Paulo, including murals by renowned Brazilian artists such as Eduardo Kobra and Os Gemeos, you’ll find the highest concentration of street art at the Beco do Batman (Batman’s Alley) in Vila Madalena. Lúcio Gueller, who leads art and design–themed tours of São Paulo, calls it “a must,” saying, “At Batman’s Alley it is possible to see all different kinds of art, including simple sketches, landscapes, flowers, animals, abstract, Impressionism, and everything you can imagine. Sometimes, if you are lucky, you might even see the artists painting on the walls.”

If you only visit one museum, make it the Museu de Arte de São Paulo, a masterpiece of midcentury architecture by Lina Bo Bardi, who came up with the ingenious idea to hang the paintings on crystal easels that seem to float in the middle of the gallery. As you walk through the space, you have the sensation of approaching the works of art—which include pieces by Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, and Gauguin—at eye level, as if you’re walking through a forest of paintings.

You’ll want to spend some time exploring Ibirapuera Park, which was developed by Oscar Niemeyer and Roberto Burle Marx in 1954. It contains several buildings by Niemeyer, including the Oca Ibirapuera and the Ibirapuera Auditorium, as well as the Contemporary Art Museum and several street art murals. Ai Weiwei’s “Bicycles Forever” installation was recently mounted at one of the entrances to the park.

Weekend Escape

If you can, plan a couple of extra days to head out into the countryside and enjoy a relaxing stay at the family-owned Unique Garden Hotel & Spa. The sister property to Unique Hotel, it was originally developed as an oasis where a blind family member could live life to the fullest, immersed in nature. Spread out over 300,000 square meters of forest, gardens, and grounds, the property has a handful of stand-alone chalets designed by Ruy Ohtake. Guests dine in one of the three restaurants, where nearly all the food is prepared using fresh fruit, vegetables, and herbs grown in the on-site gardens. Be sure to book a treatment at the spa, which offers an incredible variety of treatments, from traditional massages to sound therapy.