Gostei muito!!! I ordered the ravioli which I thought was really good. Came with a big group and my family who have come here before. The squid ink risotto with calamari was good as well but I really like the povilho crackers in the center of the table. The milk ice cream was a little sour but the waiter let us change to a different flavor. Good service Beautiful ambiance- we were in the corner table which was very nice. read more

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Loved the experience in Mani. Delicious choices. The tasting menu is a fun choice! This experience can also start with cassava chips and bread. Delicious! Loved the unique take on some of the dishes. For example, feijoada in spheres. They integrated many uniquely Brazilian ingredients and flavors. There was a good variety of dishes and ingredients. My favorite was the poqueca. This had such flavors! This is a nice rustic feel. You have a wooden interior and a unique design. I loved it! Felipe (SP?) was such a kind waiter. He helped with sharing the portugués and English versions of the dishes. Was very great at his job. Everything came at good timing. read more

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The ambiance is great, a calming, earthy, and "instagrammable" interior. We got there with a reservation for R$100 at 12pm, right when they open. We were the first ones to walk in and got a long table for our party of 7. The server came by and provided the complimentary chips (tasted like polvilho) and bread with 2 sets of butter/cheese/cream cheese spreads. During the weekdays they have a special menu called "COMMERCIAL" where you also get a salad within the set price. The salad consists of thinly sliced vegetables (carrots, cucumber, radish, beets, etc.) and some leafy greens. Overall, food was good and pricing is around average compared to regular restaurants here in California. However, service could be better for a one Michelin star restaurant. Our server wasn't as attentive as expected and there was poor communication. For example, food was removed from our table without asking. Would still come back here though...as there are other dishes I am eager to try :) My one suggestion: you must try is their dessert - O Ovo!!! read more

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There are meals that are not meals, but deep memories, experiences engrained into our souls, that stay with us through life and perhaps, even continue to live on after our physical selves disappear from the planet. A meal at Mani is, unquestionably, one of them. With Helena Rizzo in charge of this establishment driving an ambition to fuse Brazilian ingredients and dishes with European techniques of cooking, the results are well beyond comprehension. Trying out 6 courses total was more than an adventure, it was an extremely tasty one as every bite was better and better. It is very tough to pick a favorite. Calamari with jamon dashi, black garlic, snow peas was delicate and loaded with umami flavor. Perch wrapped in Banana leaf with manioc flour, coconut, plantain and tacupi sauce is spectacular. Wild cherry chocolate dessert and Mud to Chaos are amazing. Atlantic Forest greens, mango, peach palm heart, passion fruit and charcoal infused oil redefines what a salad can be. A highlight of it all was also the Atlantic triple tail moqueca traditional style. The waiter did provide a warning that since this is the best moqueqa he's ever had himself, for a visitor trying the classic dish first time, all other experiences of moqueca will be hard not to compare. Hopefully, by this point in the review, there no need to say much more. Bottom line is: when in São Paulo, not experiencing Mani is not experiencing São Paulo. read more

What a delightful meal! I had a 1pm reservation and the restaurant was pretty crowded about 15-20 min before with a bunch of locals waiting for it to open. I was promptly seated when the restaurant open, and was greeted warmly by two English speaking servers. I went with the tasting menu and it was amazing. The portions were all a tad small, but I felt pretty full by the end. If I were to visit again, i'd probably go with the ala carte menu since the portions were much bigger. That said, all the dishes here were exquisite. My absolute favorite was the reconstructed roe dish and the broccoli seaweed bite. Would definitely love to return again! read more

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I enjoyed myself at Mani. I was a walk in at 1230 and was immediately seated. I ordered off the executive menu which has roughly 8 different options for prices 90-130 BRL. I didn't overly attempt to interact with the staff but was able to do just fine with the English menu and Google translate. They did begin to play music rather loudly which I could have done without but it's not worth taking away a star. It got super busy by the time I left (maybe 115) so I recommend coming early if you don't have a reservation. read more

Maní - 'Outside' covered area - Brazilian Near Me - São Paulo, SP

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This meal made me so happy I could weep. One of the best dining experiences I've ever had to date I first heard of Maní and Chef @helenarizzo while watching The Final Table and I was lucky enough to get a reservation on this trip to São Paulo. Maní serves up elevated Brazilian cuisine with ingredients and plenty of dishes native to Brazil and the Amazon. Everything was so unique and delicious, but my MUST order agains are the Couvert (the fresh bread with spread selection), Squid Ramen, Fresh Fish Moqueca, the Octopus with Chorizo Rice, and the Black Forest for dessert. read more

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Que bom! Really enjoyed the food and overall service at Maní. We ordered the tasting menu and each dish was brought out in the perfect cadence. The wait staff was friendly and explained every dish in great detail, and really went above and beyond. And the food was exceptional. I tasted flavors and ingrediants i'd never experienced before. My mouth was truly confused - which is a good thing! read more

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Exceptional food with simple yet unique flavors Service and staff were attentive Simple classy ambiance Our server Felipe as lovely and kind read more

Although Helena Rizzo studied architecture in college her career took an unexpected turn in 1997, a cook position yielding internships with names such as Troisgros and the Roca brothers that finally led to her opening Maní in 2006. Now a Michelin 1* recipient, Chef Rizzo having gone on to open a casual Restaurant inside a bookstore at Iguatemi Shopping plus two Bakeries, it is at Rua Joaquim Antunes 210 that the flagship remains, a 13h00 arrival on Sunday finding the entry hall filled as diners attempted to escape pouring rain outside. Built rustic, a bustling kitchen visible through slotted windows up front and tree-lined courtyard behind, it was in the latter's corner that a table for one was offered, the complete lack of spoken English surprising for such a highly acclaimed space and service clearly focused on regulars including a showy middle-aged couple who sat at room's center just short of fondling one another in public. Trying not to hold patrons or language barriers against Chef Rizzo, though the fact that waiters could not describe her Tasting Menu negated any attempt to order it, lunch at Maní began with a bag of Bread for which guests are charged 24 Real, the Corn Baguette from Padoca do Mani easily trumping their Brioche tasted earlier while Tapioca Starch Chips crackled like Chicharrón with added flavor from two types of cheesy Spread. Opting for a blend of Green Grapes and Coconut Water to compliment Lunch, the inclusion of a substantial amount of Mint not announced and unappreciated, it was sticking with Water that savories started with Maní's Foie Gras Bonbons, the cost a bit steep for what amounts to six half-bites of Liver mostly overwhelmed by Port Wine Gel and Guava Paste. Best thought of as modernist-Brazilian Cuisine, Rizzo's accolades as both Latin America and the World's Best Female Chef in 2014 by San Pellegrino based on a collection of plates that remain largely unchanged today, it was not long after Bonbons were gone that seven tiny "Gnocchi" arrived, the use of two local Roots generating yielding pillows bathed in Manioc Juice while a follow-up "Pasta" featured shaved Palm Hearts as Noodles amidst creamy Tulha Cheese and the shaved center of Caryocar brasiliense. Fully packed with locals by 13h30, the Restaurant thus humid with noise level reaching a dull roar, it was thankfully not long before Dessert arrived, "A Roça" using Corn less successfully than Tanit to create a textural landscape while "From Mud to Chaos" touched on a wide range of tastes and textures with balanced sweetness and a slightly savory finish. read more

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Coming to Brazil for a friends wedding and finding out that it has a Michelin guide made me that much more excited to lay over in São Paulo. Had a wonderful time at Mani, we chose it for the home like vibe featured on the website and it did not disappoint... definitely a converted house/ gave that unpretentious but still very upscale vibe. I love fine dining in other countries because it always pushes me out of my comfort zone/ introduces us to new flavors. Mani did all of these things and more. The uni with oxtail glee was particularly amazing but really enjoyed 99% of what we received and that which we did not was more a matter of taste than anything else. Dessert course was really special. Only critiques are that only 1 server spoke English, so we felt bad that she was running table to table to explain the dishes/ that at least 1/2 the restaurant was English speaking. The second was that although I loved the sommelier (who did speak English/ I bonded with) the heavy emphasis toward white wines was a little much just for me personally. At around $250 per person (including wine pairing) it is one of those meals where you can afford to be picky, especially when you account for the exchange rate. Regardless mani will hold a special place in my heart. Worth a stop without a doubt. read more

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In terms of pure unadulterated taste, Maní was the #1 restaurant we experienced (out of about 30 or so) when we were in São Paulo. And the race wasn't even really that close (with the exception of D.O.M.- details in that review)... I'd describe the ambiance as "eclectic" and interesting. But it worked considering the food. Service was top notch- I mishandled one gentle item and it was wordlessly replaced without so much as a look from me, immediately. Perfect... But you want to hear about the food, right... The four of us had the tasting menu, except that myself and my boss opted to do a non-seafood version. Now if you know me you know I hate when sea food dishes are replaced by vegetable dishes (like that somehow makes it equal)... But luckily Maní was having none of that. In fact, I'd venture to say that our non-seafood version was a bit more elevated vs. the standard fare (I think our companions who didn't opt-out would probably agree). I won't ruin the whole surprise, but I will point out the not-to-be-missed dishes: the foie "bon-bon", the pasta made with heart of palm (the #1 dish we had in our entire Brazil visit), and the duck, should all be experienced at an absolute minimum. But really I can't imagine this kitchen putting out any dish that wasn't at least very tasty. Why they don't have 12 michelin stars is beyond me. Not to be missed... read more

I had been wanting to come to Maní for a while and was happy to be able to snag a reservation on my most recent trip to São Paulo. When you enter, the interior is unassuming and features a long, narrow hallway that ends in a dining room chopped into a few sections, along with a semi-outdoor patio area, which is where my colleague and I sat. First, our friendly was very friendly and made great recommendations, and she was also happy to switch into English when speaking with my colleague. The wine menu is fairly extensive and has options from a variety of geographies, which is nice. I had a Bourgogne Pinot Noir (I thin 2015, but don't quote me on that) that was very pleasant. Medium mouthfeel with just a bit of pepper on the palate. We started with the batata chips, which were a simple but flavorful appetizer, and mandioca com carne, which isn't exactly an appetizer but was so rich and enjoyable! I moved to the magret de pato, a perfectly cooked duck breast dish with local accoutrements. It was almost eyes-rolling-in-the-back-of-your-head good, which isn't an exaggeration. My colleague had the capellini with mushrooms (capellini com cogumelos), which she thoroughly enjoyed. We were having such an enjoyable evening that time had snuck up on us, as we were supposed to be going to meet colleagues afterwards. Time flies when you're dining well! read more

I was looking forward in coming to this restaurant after being recommended by many friends. In short, was a bit disappointed with food. Here is a short breakdown: MENU We ordered the "covert" which is like the small bread service that they do (yes they do charge for those in Brazil, and it is common). We ordered some dishes and I ended up ordering the leitoa. The dish was a bit dry and it was missing that flavor that I was looking for. SERVICE The waiters were very professional and attentive. Also very friendly so happy that we got that. DECOR/ AMBIANCE Definitely a very classy restaurant to enjoy a nice meal with the family. Very comfortable and of good taste. OVERALL Definitely it is a $$$$ restaurant. Enjoyed the service and the ambiance but the food was just missing that wow flavor and factor that would invite me back. read more

A different Michelin Star Experience! At Mani is all about the food and its story! Had some of the most interesting dishes ever, especially the ceviche of caju and the langoustine with the jabuticava! Great price quality ratio read more

We decided against one of the longer tasting menus, especially as they won't tell you anything about what's on it in advance (fine for me, not fine for Henry), and it's really expensive - with wine, 730 reais per person, or $194!) and went with a more straightforward three course menu (choice of any appetizer, main course, and dessert) at 210 reais apiece, $56, plus wine/water extra. Let's see how I can do with describing these.... First up, we both got the Ceviche de Caju, as a little starter extra course. Underneath is basically diced cashew apple, the fruit attached to the nut (see midway down this post from Iquitos) with a little red onion and cilantro, topped by a scoop of shaved ice flavored with cachaça (essentially Brazilian rum) and cajuina (a local soft drink made from cashew apples). It was refreshing, but not much of a ceviche... it needed more acidity, salt, and spice - it was more of a sweet tartare than anything else. And normally, they charge 46 reais for that dish on its own! Henry started with the Ovo do Maní, a sous vide egg in a foam of pupunha, the fruit of the peach palm. It was surprisingly better than he expected, the fruit foam tasting a bit like some sort of cheese. I had the Lámen de lulas, or baby calamari ramen. What it turned out to be was noodles made from the calamari, thinly sliced, in a roasted ham broth, with pea and rice crisps, and some black garlic. It was quite good, and, also in a good way not at all what I expected. Main course, Henry went with the Magret de pato, breast of duck, perfectly cooked, sliced, and served with a reduced jús, some roasted squash, and a little salad of radicchio and persimmon in a loquat vinaigrette. Again, he'd been worried the whole dish would be too sweet and fruity, but it turned out not to be, and he ate it all! I ordered the Polvo na brasa, grilled octopus, which turned out to be two somewhat small tentacles, grilled nicely, over a very mild rocoto chili paste, and served with roasted baby corn, okra, red onions, and peanuts, with a leaf wrapped packet of black rice on the side. Totally delicious, but a bit skimpy, I thought. Henry left the choice of dessert in our charming waitress' hands, and she brought him the Motel California, which, probably not for the first time, engendered some jokes about diving in and not coming out. Basically a sort of floating island, a merengue, with strawberries, vanilla cream, custard, and bitter chocolate. Perfect choice for him. I, not surprisingly, went with the weirdest sounding dessert on the menu - the Da Lama ao Caos, literally, "from mud to chaos". It was described on the menu as "sweet of smoked eggplant, dry curd, lemon peel, orange flower gelatin, caramelized pistachios, crispy "kneff" pastry (I think that's what they call kadaif, the middle eastern shredded pastry), and black sesame sorbet". And, that's pretty much what it was, though mostly it was the shredded pastry and the sorbet, the other things were more or less little dots and bits underneath. Good, and quite unusual, though I think I'd have liked more of the dots and bits to add more punch to the dish. A nice bottle of a local syrah rosé, from Guasparí. Some water. Tip. 701 reais, $186. Was it worth it? Yes, kind of. I would say that I didn't find it to be quite the level of what I'd expected, though, that's my expectations. On the other hand, Henry found it better than he was bracing himself for - he doesn't generally like places like this, and he enjoyed himself thoroughly, other than the cashew ceviche at the beginning, which he tasted and then pushed across the table to me. We basically liked everything. Service was fantastic - both the sommelier and our waitress were gems. The space is very comfortable. So yes, on that basis, yes. On the other hand, the 210 peso price tag for the prix fixe option... let's see, if Henry had ordered his three courses, they would have added up to 180 reais - yes, the 46 reais for the ceviche would make it 226, but he wouldn't have ordered it, and didn't really want it. My three courses would have added up to 200 reais, and while I liked the ceviche and was happy to have tried it, I didn't find it worth an extra $12, and also wouldn't have ordered it. So, if I were to return, and I would if I were spending more time in SP, I'd probably just order three courses on their own (if I didn't do the tasting menu), rather than go the route of the prix fixe. read more

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Unbelievable combination of presentation, ingredient compelation and delivery. All in the context of a "chill", non pretentious vibe. In my mind top 3 restaurants in Sao Paolo. read more

Maní was excellent. I was with a group of friends and we all tried and enjoyed the tasting menu for a late lunch. Highly recommend as an upscale dining option when visiting São Paulo. read more

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This place was good I don't know what it was and I really wanted to like it but nothing blew me away. It all was well prepared and good but the taste profile was just off from great. The Kobe beef course and lobster from the tasting menu were both great and the food was very conceptual. If you're here in a trip I'd give this place a try. Just wasn't my personal favorite. read more

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Excellent food and service! Love every bite of this Brazilian gourmet restaurant! I can't wait to come back next time in Sao Paulo read more

I've heard a lot of great things about Mani, so I added it to the list of places I was going to visit while I was visiting SP. reservations are a must, usually a few weeks in advance. I got lucky and was able to get a table the following day. I guess someone canceled. Their tasting menu was fantastic. every dish had an element of surprise for me. few of the dishes were stuff I never had tasted before. Highly recommended for the adventurous. read more

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One of the best restaurants in Sao Paulo. Pricey but great and was founded by an awarded chef. I have not gone there in a while, and should return soon. read more

I'm so happy to have come here to experience this amazing food. The items that stood out to me included the egg custard and the octopus. The wait staff here is super friendly and happy to help make suggestions. Overall one of the more memorable experiences of my time in SP. read more

Excellent food with amazing flavors. The chef really knows how to make some unique and truly delightful combinations. A special thank you to Felipe the sommelier for his wonderful and perfect recommendations. The wine list is very nice with a very good variety of choices from Brazil and the entire world. I especially loved the Tokaji with my dessert. All of the servers were excellent and well organized. We will definitely be returning soon. Thank you for making our Valentines dinner so special. read more

Service was excellent. Though I don't speak Portuguese the waitress spoke enough English to explain each course. We did the tasting menu with wine. Pairings were good but the flavors of the food were outstanding. We will return. read more

I was in town about a month ago when I chanced upon this restaurant. I ended up taking my parents out and had a meal here. The service was excellent and we only spoke English and they did a really good job communicating with us. Everyone was friendly and I feel that the quality of the service was worthy of a one star michelin restaurant. So why the three stars? The three stars is due to the discrepancy between the prices of the tasting menu and ordering off of the menu directly for three people. The tasting menu is roughly 150+ USD per person. We had asked originally how many courses and they told us 14 by mistake, but it was more 12 courses. 9 course and three dessert. Every course was smaller than what you would get if you ordered off the menu and you lose creative control over the food. That is the nature of the tasting menu, however it's a bit frustrating that after I ordered the tasting menu, I did the math and I could have ordered just as many variety of bigger dishes off the normal menu and paid about half of what I ended up paying, but with more creative control and tailored it to each of our tastes. In fact, if you ordered 5 dishes per person, you would get bigger dishes and more variety for less money if you shared . The other part is that the desserts were very derivative. It was basically three very similar dessert with different flavor ice cream. Yes, all three had ice cream, there was definitely a lack of creativity there. Some of the food was very good, but I recommend to stay far away from the tasting menu. It is not a good deal relative to the rest of the menu. read more

Great place for lunch and cocktails. The couvert was pretty good. It comes with a few soft buns and a super big crunchy Polvilho bread. They came with 3 dips: sour yogurt, goat cheese and butter. For cocktails we got the Ravenna, Beat and the Woodford mule. The Ravenna was our favorite, followed by the Beat. The Woodford mule mixed with their powdered milk ice cream was pretty good. Lunch plates had a tasty combination of purees crunchy farofa and the main attraction (we got the fish of the day and the mignon) Ice cream with the executive lunch was ok, but the main desserts are probably much better. read more

The only thing I enjoy more than good food is good food paired with excellent wine. Given this, when I came to Mani and decided to go with the ten course tasting menu, and I naturally chose to include the wine pairing. The food for the tasting at Mani is presented very cleverly, and some of their dishes are quite exceptional; I particularly enjoyed both the ceviche, and the dessert with cucumber and kiwi. Overall, I was quite pleased with the food portion of the meal. That said, the big disappointment was the wine. All of the wines included with the tasting menu are very cheap; a few of them are truly terrible. That's not something I expected to encounter at a quality restaurant with prices like these. By way of an illustration, at one point the paired wine was a Verdicchio (a white wine from central Italy). I'm quite familiar with this wine from my travels in Europe; it's available at most supermarkets for just a couple of euros... Coupled with the cheap, poor quality wine, the service is subpar as well :-( On the plus side, I really liked the décor, and Mani has a great location. Bottom line: The prices are WAY too high for the total experience; the food is worth trying, but pretty much everything else needs significant improvement. read more

Maní is always an absolute must for us when visiting São Paulo. The atmosphere is incredible - beautiful indoor/outdoor space. The food is some of the best you are going to have. Really incredible and inventive dishes. The cashew fruit ceviche left me mind blown. I'm still thinking about it two weeks after having it! I strongly suggest going with a chef's tasting menu. The first time we came, we went with 12 plates. It was an unforgettable experience, but it is a lot of food. Prepare accordingly! This past trip we had 5 plates, and it was a perfect amount. The sommeliers know their stuff! We brought some pretty good wines along with us, and he mentioned, "You know you're drinking the wine of the century...." The staff is always really pleasant and professional, and there are really no complaints that I have. The only complaint is that I'm not there right now. Definitely make yourself an RSVP beforehand! read more

One of the best restaurants I've been to, an obligatory stop for any food lover that finds itself in Sao Paulo. The setting is very charming and the price very reasonable for a restaurant of that quality (around 160-170 reais for a three course meal with a glas of wine). As for the food, really amazing, I had the beef on chips with a bit of mustard for an appetizer, lamb with veggies and farofa for main course and blueberry icecream, presentation - great! Yum yum yum.., read more

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At least the first time one comes to this restaurant one should DEFINITELY give the tasting menu a try. It was pretty inexpensive (especially with the real to dollar exchange rate) and absolutely spectacular. It's molecular gastronomy at its best, with one major standout: the feijoada. It's NOTHING like the feijoada we are all used to, but rather something extraordinarily different in texture that still manages to carry the same taste. I don't want to ruin the experience by describing too much, so I highly recommend that you try it for yourself. The desserts were also some of the best I ever had. Just spectacular. It is quite a bit of food at the end, and you will feel full. The only negative of this place is that it is a bit too casual, children are allowed, people don't have to get a tasting menu or even necessarily make reservations ahead of time (they can place their name on a waiting list, though I HIGHLY recommend reservations). One would think everyone who is there appreciates haute cuisine, but that is not really necessarily the case. And to me, mixing different kinds of people, some which clearly should not be there if they don't get what they are there for, somewhat ruins the experience. It's also a bit noisy. And the service can be spotty, depends on your luck. There is an excellent special service personnel, a maitre d if you will, that comes when you decide to try the tasting menu. That guy knows his stuff and is on an entirely different level than the other servers. Overall it is a must try in Sao Paulo, along with DOM. Dishes like feijoada are actually better at Mani and the desserts at Mani have DOM beat. But DOM is still more of a Michelin experience, especially ambiance wise. read more

Mani is now ranked #35 in the world according to theworlds50best.com read more

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When I found out that Mani is top 50 restaurants of the world, I couldn't be there fast enough. We tried for weeks to get a reservation and it was impossible esp during World Cup time when we were visiting Sao Paolo. We decided to take our chances and showed up at 3:30 pm on a Sunday (they close at 4 to turn around for dinner service). They not only sat us within 5 minutes but not once rushed us out...we were there till almost 5:30/6. Had a marvelous brunch, pleasant professional service and impeccable food. The ambiance is light and airy and you just know you are in another world. Worth every penny. I wish this existed in the U.S. Sheer perfection, bravo Mani! read more

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This place is exceptional! Hands down one of the most amazing experiences I 've ever had at a restaurant. The food was so delicious and the service was top notch. I highly recommend!! read more

Grabbed a late lunch here. The food was really good. Got something with crayfish and a nice appetizer. Great service too read more

Maní - Ambience. Cat in the tree - Brazilian Near Me - São Paulo, SP

The chef did a gluten free & vegan tasting menu for us! It was delicious! Very nice guy & the staff very on top of their game!

Really disappointed with taste. I would expect for the price and Michelin rating the food would be delicious. Instead u get a hollowed veneer. Everything looks nice, but food tastes plane. I ordered the guava margarita which I did not drink... Awful. I Ordered a regular margarita and it didn't taste right either...I didn't drink. Ordered for gras bon bons... Nothing to write home about. Lamb leg was plane to. Wife had roast beef, plane again. For appetizer she had the egg appetizer, this was the only thing delicious. We decided to skip dessert because we were already disappointed. Skip this place. read more

Delicious lunch where we tried a number of fine dishes including the "perfect" egg and crusted fish in banana foam. Service impeccable and overall atmosphere understated for the world class quality this represents read more

Maní - Fish of the day - Brazilian Near Me - São Paulo, SP

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Great restaurant ! Food was delicious but waited too long for it. Price is OK for the quality. I would definitely recommend a visit.

Food was great, mostly Brazilian taste combined with world cuisine. Staff was also kind however If you dont know any Portuguese or spanish you might have tough time to understand each other and some food. My fav dish was grilled octopus which reminded mine Mediterranean years. read more