I'm not afraid to say that this is the best cocktail bar of São Paulo. The job Spencer Jr. and his…read morecrew do is remarkable. They seem to take care of every single detail to prepare the perfect cocktail. From the ice craving, the glasses to the quality of the liquors, everything is perfect. Had different cocktails here, so I won't tell details about every single one. But be sure that you will have a great time The environment is classic, with a piano on the outside, and dark and cozy environment inside. The bar is located on the Maksoud's Plaza lobby. The price is a lit bit expensive, but it[s something you can afford every once in a while. The service is very good, and be prepared to wait depending on the time you arrive.

An incredible cocktail bar, one that evokes an age where classic cocktails were king: an intimate…read morebar, the red banquettes, and the piano with a light jazz accompaniment in the background, setting the stage for a perfect night-cap. We decided to sit at the bar so we could watch the masters at work, bartenders who are obviously very proud of their craft. For me, it was a Boulevardier - think Negroni, but subtract the gin and add bourbon in its place. The drink was beautiful, with a hand-shaved ice cube that looked like a glimmering gem surrounded by what was easily the best cocktail I've had in years. (For those of you who follow me, you know that's high praise!) One of my friends opted for the Gin Cocktail, what the drink menu calls a "high-strength stirred drink": Umburana gin, Grand Marnier, ginger, and Rangpur lime bitters. I took a sip and can vouch for this being a high-octane drink, a quite delicious one at that. For many of the drinks, the original source of the recipe is cited. The Gin Cocktail comes from "Cooling Cups and Dainty Drinks", published in 1869 - a nice touch of history that takes one back in time while enjoying their cocktail, right down to the quintessentially British instruction to the bartender: "The recipe of Terrington demands a table spoon of bitters". How imperial! The bartenders were great, answering all of our questions about the array of items displayed on the bar, from the little misters used to give a finishing touch to cocktails to the array of botanicals and garnishes in the Mason jars on the bar. Frank Bar should be on everyone's list when they visit São Paulo, whether it's for a pre-dinner cocktail or for a nice way to end an evening out with friends. Muito obrigado ao bartênderes!

We had no idea what we were in for, but a bunch of our new Brazilian pals suggested we rendezvous…read moreat Igrejinha for an early one. In a city where the usual going out time is, oh I dunno, like 12am, I was really pleased when I heard we'd be meeting around 8/9pm. So, note to those of you looking for a cool spot before you hit the discotheques, Igrejinha is perfect to get the mood (and cocktails) going. First thought was: super cool ambiance. Igrejinha literally translates in "little church" and while I didn't quite feel like I was in a little church, I certainly felt like I was at a friend's really cool house party and I loved the layout -- the small bar in the main room, the little hallway that leads to a few steps that leads to a cozy dancefloor, and then behind that, a mini terrace where all the smokers congregated. This made it really easy to mix and mingle and meet people (of which we met many). The many people we met were varied. Lots of gay people (mostly men) and lots of alternative folks. This isn't a cheesy, techno thumping gay bar, so the gay guys here didn't walk around with glitter covered chests. Just the opposite, these were more the kinds of dudes I'd almost always welcome being around. The cocktails were fantastic and when my friend recommended I get the best drink ever... and that the best drink ever is a long island iced tea... I got scared. Very, very concerned that I was heading quickly in the direction of a night I'd likely never forget. But instead, I tried her long island iced tea, and it tasted more like a fancy Brazilian version. Somehow, and I didn't know this was even possible, Igrejinha makes a mean, classed-up long island. The other drinks were great too and the bartender was super cool. After drinking and chatting and watching other people smoke, I hit the dancefloor. It felt something like partying in the 90s -- kinda grungy, but definitely respectable. Will I be back? Yeah, totally.

My boyfriend andd I visiting SP and truly enjoyed the bar. Friendly staff, great music, perfect…read moreatmosphere and non cruisy. Cocktails were delish and the bars decor was true to church feeling.

Near the office in São Paulo, stopped in after work for some food and drinks with the team. Loved…read morethe place! I wish I could tell you everything I ate but I can't read Portuguese or can remember what everything was called. Service was amazing, our waiters were attentive and entertaining. The food was sooo good! The space was very relaxing and the architecture inside reminded me of a 1930's hotel. I would come back!!

This place is Marcelo's jam! Back in the day before my husband moved to California and married…read moresome girl, he used to come to this bar A LOT. So much that he actually had his own bottle of booze! From the first time he brought me to Astor, I was in love. It is a great bar with a lot of life and action, amazing drinks and food. What more could you ask for? I love drinking the "friendly caju", and I will eat bolinho de bacalhau and pastel all day long. It's just perfect bar food. It definitely gets BUSY here! Expect to wait, but once you get your seat, you can stay eating and drinking as long as your belly wants.

Welcome to my favorite cocktail bar in São Paulo. This Jardins watering hole is tops for specialty…read moreand craft cocktails and offers a nice blend of swank and cool. The place is pretty intimate and always plays music that'll have you opening up your Shazam app. Every time I've gone, there's a decent crowd but the nice thing is everyone's filed away into tables; so none of that bumping elbows to make your way to the bar. The cocktail menu features a mean list of gin and tonic preparations and the Camden Town comes served with a tea bag (this is my friend's favorite). As for me, I tend to stick to the classics and opt for the Vesper (perfectly balanced and prepared) or a Negroni (similarly fantastic). I even ordered off the menu when I asked for a Penicillin. Despite not knowing the ingredients, the bartender pulled it up on his phone and mixed away. It ended up being one of the better versions I've had! There's also a great food menu to ward off evil hunger pangs and the items I've tried have all been great (I love the potatoes with the egg on top). Overall, Barê is great for before/after-dinner drinks. It's a great refuge whether you're dressed to the nines or sporting jeans and a t-shirt.

Guilhotina Bar means guillotine bar. Not the most appetizing of names for a bar but I decided to…read morerisk decapitation and check it out and I was glad I did. It was our first night in Sao Paulo. After dinner, Guilhotina Bar was recommended in my guidebook and it was close to the restaurant so we decided to check it out. Upon entering, I was initially impressed with the vibe of this trendy bar. It reminded me of the type of spots that I like to frequent back home. The crowd was young and the bar was full. To the point that we hung out at the bar for a bit before we found some seats. Guilhotina Bar is known for their craft cocktails and they didn't disappoint. We're talking the type of cocktails where artistry is part of the equation. And they looked just as good as they tasted. The bartender and several members of the staff went above and beyond in making us feel welcome. A+ customer service. If I lived in Sao Paulo, this would be one of my go-to spots!

I came here with a friend one night and had a great time! From the outside, Guilhotina is pretty…read moreunassuming, and it blends in well with the other businesses and homes on the street. Inside, however, it is a wonderland with creative libations, amiable staff, and a diverse crowd. I won't go into loads of detail on the drinks because the menu changes regularly, particularly the top section, which changes based on which guest bartenders are invited on a particular night. Such a cool model, featuring bartenders from around the world! I will say that each cocktail is inventive in w everything from name to ingredients to unusual combinations of flavors and cool combos that cross borders and please palates. Here are some deets on the drinks: -São Paulo-Milano: whatever blend of cachaças they used was the bomb! It also had a pineapple flavor and some rum and mezcal, along with some spices that I'm still trying to identify. -The second custom drink: I know there was elderflower in it, but aside from that, it was a symphony of flavors that was delicious, even though I'm unsure of all the ingredients. Sooo good. The owner, Marcio, is AWESOME, the bartenders are ridiculously friendly, the crowd is chill but not in that "we're trying to be relaxed" type of way. I absolutely loved it here and sort of hope no one ever reads these great reviews so that Guilhotina doesn't get more packed!

Guarita Bar - the new kid on the block with some solid names at the helm - Jean Ponce ex-bartender…read morefrom the only 2-Michelin star restaurant in Brazil, D.O.M. controls the bar and Gregor Caisley, from Twelve Bistro, manages the kitchen - these 2 names anywhere raise expectations ! I went to Guarita the first time while it was in soft opening, the kitchen was not in operation but the bar was fully operational. Jean Ponce, besides being the great bartender, is one of the most welcoming hosts - he really makes you feel at home and all of a sudden you are part of the family. The first time around I tried his signature 'Rabo de Galo' and the classic Negroni - both drinks are well prepared, with good ingredients and hand-crafted crystal clear huge ice cubes. One interesting thing that Jean told me is that he will used different types of glassware to serve the same drink - keeping it casual but at the same time the quality of the cocktail served should be consistent with their standards. The second time around, Guarita was fully operational and I decided to give the food menu a try. I orders the pork belly sandwich and trust me when I say this - it was one of the best sandwiches I have ever tasted - spiced pork belly with thin slices of cucumber and some coriander make it a gem in the menu. Since greed has no limits, I shared a pizza with my friend and once again the kitchen deserves full points - the food at Guarita is really spectacular. I tried a 3 lime lemon caipirinha with some good 'ol cachaça and Jean's caipirinha fame is well deserved. So if I had such a good time, why do I give Gurita 4 stars - the drinks are good but Boca de Ouro and Negroni (2 similar priced bars) are better..and there Guarita drops a star. I love the laid back ambience, the quick service and Jean Ponce is one of the best hosts - definitely a place to return !

Tasty drinks and food. Nice atmosphere. Packed. Hard to find a spot to seat down. Would return but…read moreprobably not on a Saturday evening.

Negroni - the name says it all - this is one of my favourite drinks and when a bar with Negroni on…read moreits door opens, I was all game to get to know it. A two floored bricked building with low lights and tasteful decor - Negroni immediately won my admiration. I glanced at the menu, with almost all drinks priced at R$ 27,00 and slew of Negronis & variations, I could not wait to try them all (or atleast most of them). Besides the Negroni Di Casa which is a slightly less bitter version of the classic - I tried the Frescolino, the classic Negroni and my personal favourite the Kingston, a blended rum based version of the Negroni - the drinks are really well balanced, prepared with a great deal of care and frankly, well served. Besides the Negroni based menu, they aso have other classics like Martinis, Manhattans and for non-cocktail drinkers they have a decent wine list with different sized bottles. Did I tell you that they serve some real kickass pizza - this is what a great place is - serves great Negronis and some really delicious individual sized pizzas - they have around 8 different types. I have tried the Dávola & the Parma and boy, I really want more !! Besides the great bar and delicious pizza, the service is quite attentive with one of the owners always around, supervising and keeping things on track. The place is a bit small so huge groups can have problems, although they do accept reservations now. Negroni really fulfils what it sets out to do - a well-priced cocktail bar that delves deeper into Negroni & its variations and offer some really good pizza. Along with good service, Negroni is place that I will visit several more times and highly recommend.

Rabo di Galo in Sao Paulo is your reason to stop by the Rosewood Hotel. Located just beside the…read morerestaurant Le Jardin (which earned a 4/5 star rating and wholehearted recommendation from us previously), this bar has a vibrant and lively vibe while still giving you the warmth and intimacy of a world-class speakeasy. Upon entering, you'll feel like you've been invited to a private performance, where the guest list includes only a select handful of Sao Paulo's elite. The decor and limited seating reminded us of the roaring 20s with a modern twist. We've been fortunate enough to get a table here twice - both times having the great fortune of hearing Aline perform. If you see Aline on the lineup here, it's worth going out of your way as her charisma and talent light up the room. The drinks were expertly made and only enhanced the experience. Alongside your traditional cocktails, we tried the Aloa - a non-alcoholic offering. It was sweet and refreshing and the perfect sipping companion to the evening. For deserts, we had the Parfait and the Mil-Folhas which were middle-of-the-road and nothing to write home about. But to be honest, that's not what you're there for. What Rabo di Galo promises, it delivers in spades; a wonderfully unique and intimate setting, world-class talent, attentive staff, and drinks to wrap the whole experience together. Upon leaving, you'll wish you could stay til sunrise. Rabo di Galo was a surprising find for us and will be coming back soon. We rate this bar a 5/5 and give it a personal recommendation.

Cute coffee shop with a surprising amount of vegan options! I came here during Carnaval so it was…read morereally crowded, but the staff was still attentive and everything we ordered was really good. I appreciate the way the menu is labeled, especially the tags for special diets. I also really enjoyed the vegan yogurt made from yams! I'd definitely come back to try more things. Café bonitinho com opções veganas. Passei por aqui no Carnaval então estava bem cheio, mas mesmo assim conseguimos sentar logo. Gostei muito do iogurte vegano de inhame.

This is a lovely coffee shop. The lighting is dim but welcoming with interesting decor on the…read morewalls. There are upstairs and downstairs seating depending on your liking. Perfect environment to get some work done or meet up with friends to chat over a cup of coffee. The menu is a large page front and back with a variety of food and drinks to choose from. I struggled a little because they only had menus in Portuguese (at least I think). I forgot the name of the sandwich I ordered but I believe any food on the menu is a safe choice. The servers were really nice and patient when taking our order especially since we didn't speak Portuguese. Food and drinks came in a timely manner.

This place is the real deal, started by 5 guys who know the trade. If you want inspiration, read…read moretheir creed on top of the menu. Obviously inspired by bars that serve excellent food in the US, these guys do it better. The food is top-notch. I tried the jalapeño poppers, arancini, bruschetta, and ceviche. All were well prepared, honest food. They have a full bar and know how to make a good cocktail. The atmosphere is hip without trying too hard. Nicely laid out. Although it is s big place, it feels intimate. The service is on point. From initial greeting to the end. One thing that might be new for those visiting from the US is that they give you a card with a number at the beginning which acts as your tab. At the end of the night you pay and he gives you another card to give at the door as you leave. This system is accurate, works well, and allows you to move around from lounging at a table or couch to the bar. My only complaints is that it's not close to my home in Boston. Bravo!