Among the best perks of my job is the opportunity to indulge my passion for perusing foreign…read moregrocery stores. I love combing the aisles for snacks, soaps, salts and other lovely non-liquid items that I can consume immediately or take back in my carry-on luggage. Quitanda is São Paulo's to Whole Foods. I was a fan before even stepping inside having sampled their fresh-pressed juices (especially the abacaxi com hortelã!) at a friend's place. Pay attention to the exotic (if you're not from Brazil) fruit selection at Quitanda - I found two of the biggest passion fruits I've ever seen there (and I used one to make maracujá #infusedwater - so good!) I was also impressed with the array of soap and picked up a local honey scented one to take home. This Pinheiros grocery store is definitely worth a nosey if you're curious what healthy Paulistas feast on.

My favorite place to buy groceries, Quitanda has bucked the trend of filling the center of the…read moresupermarket with crap and hiding the fresh food on the sides. Going there you can't help but leave with bags full of fresh produce which is beautifully displayed front and center in the store. At lunch they serve a healthy buffet which is a bit over priced, but I can overlook that, because I am the type who would rather buy one of their sushi to go plates and go eat it in the park. They have a great selection of frozen foods for celiacs and vegans in the back next to the organic foods. The bakery is pretty good, and the juices are awesome. It's the closest thing I've found to Trader Joe's in Brazil.

Great location, cool vibe. I loved this place and will be back in my next trip to Sao Paulo, the…read more"Caipis de caju" so good!!

I had an acai bowl and tea. They had many options for healthy food and a great vibe. The place was…read morevery crowded on a Saturday afternoon. Everything I saw other people eat also looked delicious. Especially the salmon bowl.

Amüse is an interesting but slightly underwhelming corner establishment for food and drinks in Vila…read moreMadalena. I stopped by for a late afternoon drink and a bite to eat. The drink menu was quite limited and, like a lot of places these days, they seem to be geared toward gin-based drinks. Maybe it's a marketing push by Tanqueray. Meanwhile, the food was average, but maybe it's just a matter of luck to pick the right dish from the menu. There was a late afternoon/early evening party with a DJ playing some interesting stuff, but unfortunately I didn't have time to stick around. I guess I'll have to give it another try some other time.

A wonderfully curated selection of Brazilian cheeses and knowledgable staff on hand to help put…read moretogether the perfect cheese plate. A nice selection of gifts for the cheese lover in your like. Particularly enjoyable when the Los Menditos wine truck is parked out the front.

Gourmet and frozen food are rarely in the same sentence. But Donnabella has pulled it off. I know,…read moreI couldn't believe it either. But then I tried their Carrot Ginger Soup. Now it's something I crave. Do your freezer a favor - Go to Donnabella and pick up a bunch of their gourmet frozen foods and stock your fridge. Then when you're home late from work and still want to eat well, you'll have a gourmet meal waiting for you. They also have a cute area to enjoy a pastry that is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the mouth.