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.

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.

3 words for ya: Lima do Persa…read more A Razzmatazz house specialty cocktail made with Persian lime and Cachaça, it's simply an amazing caipirinha type drink I never knew existed before coming here. This is a cool place in the Villa Madalena area. Comes with a DJ and nice street patio. I had a very tasty sandwich here and remembered that the service was good. Definitely worth a stop over if you're up in this neck of the Pines.

Gostei muito do ambiente, da decoração, do atendimento vamos por partes como jack dizia: chegando…read moreno local já é como entrar em uma garagem onde bandas de rock ensaiam, com vinil e posteres colados nas paredes e tambores como mesas com tampo de madeira rustica, tem também uns sofás bem confortáveis pra você sentar e curtir sua cerveja e o som que ta rolando. O atendimento foi muito legal o garçom não deixou faltar cerveja e foi muito prestativo perguntando se estava tudo ok ou se queríamos mais alguma coisa. A COMIDA muito gostosa as porções eu comi as coxinhas e os pasteis mistos (queijo cremoso, camarão e carne) o pastel tem um nome diferente e a coxinha também mas vale a pena provar! muito bem feito, bem temperado, e os molhinhos também são ótimos combinam super bem com o pratos realmente harmonizam com o sabor. Bem com certeza vou voltar lá e levarei mais gente pra conhecer o lugar a minha unica ressalva que foi o motivo de eu não ter dado 5 (stars) é a questão do chopp do happy hour ter acabado no começo da noite antes de terminar o horário e não colocarem outro barril pra servir, mas fora isso foi tudo perfeito. AMEI!

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.

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.

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!

We made a reservation for Tan Tan for 7:30pm with a credit card. Since it was a on the 50 best bar…read morelist, decided to give a try. Initially started off as a huge disappointment since we arrived and were told we were not within the "5 minute" grace period so they gave up our table. I am confused at how an establishment can require credit card reservation and give up seats so easily. Truthfully, I believe this place has no respect for Americans visiting. Upon being forced to wait outside, I saw several Brasilian customers arrive and able to be seated without a wait. I would think at such a famous bar, customer service would be a priority but it is not. While outside waiting we decided to go ahead and order hello suckers drink and elegance. The hello sucker was supposed to be less on the sweet side with a combo of tequila blanco, vodka pimenta, dry vermouth. The drinks arrived and honestly was bad. It taste like very bad chicken broth. Finally, we were able to be seated inside. The ambiance is very simple and seating is jam packed with you right next to your neighbor. I told the waitress about the first drink I had, she suggested the Kiss of Life drink which has seco, Johnnie Walker and said this would be better. I gave it a try but it what slightly better than my previous drink. We ordered some food such as gyoza de porco, wonton de camaro and aka teba (fried chicken). The entire meal was probably the worst meal I've had in São Paulo so far. I'm not sure how this place became number 24 on top 50 Bar list but it is a scam. And if you are visiting São Paulo, it is not worth the stress of visiting. There are plenty of restaurants with better food and better drinks.

Food is good but nothing crazy to write about. The drinks are inventive and unique, a great place…read moreto go with friends so you can try a lot of different cocktails

On one of my last night in Sao Paulo, I stopped by SubAstor for some late night drinks. Not to be…read moreconfused with Astor, SubAstor is located within Astor. You walk straight through the restaurant and then make a left to go down the stairs to bring you to this speakeasy. I've always been a fan of speakeasies. There's something special about the dim lighting, the craft cocktails made with care, the elegance, and the nod to Prohibition times. SubAstor delivered. We sat at a small table in the middle of the bar and the service we received was great. I tried two cocktails, one of which was gin-based, and they were both 5/5. If you're looking for a romantic bar with some great ambiance, SubAstor is a great place to check out. It was one of my favorite bars I visited during my trip to Brazil.

Located a floor under Astor, veiled in thick velvet curtains is one of São Paulo's most stylish…read morebars - SubAstor. The bar is very well decorated with hints of speakeasy inspirations, a beautifully lit bar balcony and comfortable seating arrangements. With decent ambience music and perfectly lit settings, the bar as all the makings of a winner but however when it comes to the drinks, it falls a tad bit short, especially if you have been drinking at some of the fantastic bars in São Paulo like Boca de Ouro & Frank. Recently the winner of the best drinks menu and under the supervision of an italian bartender, Fabio LaPietra, SubAstor is focussed to serving a stylish, albeit "lighter' & a more tropical version of drinks. They have a cube with around 24 drinks, all drinks on the cube priced at R$ 29 (as of 19/11/2015) most of which are house versions of the famous classics. I tried 2 drinks from the cube - Kentucky-Tivo (Bourbon based drink) and Ceará Vs. 007 (house version of Vesper) - the Kentucky-Tivo was beautiful to look at but a bit boring to drink with bourbon almost missing, the Ceará Vs. 007 was much better and definitely made up for the Kentucky-Tivo dullness. Just to try, I ordered a Manhattan with Woodford Reserve (they charge R$ 40 for this) and it was good, not excellent but it was good. SubAstir is a cool bar, a bar where you can hang out with friends who aren't so familiar with cocktails, you can bring a date here (get in early, if you want to sit) - however the popularity of the place leads it to getting overcrowded especially Thu-Fri-Sat and the due to overcrowding service tends to get a bit slow. Fabio is a great bartender but he is faced with a full house almost every evening and it gets difficult for him to make/supervise the bar 100%. I would recommend SubAstor to newbies, for dates, for a 'lighter' bar experience.

Fomos hoje no Quintal do Espeto Vila Madalena para ver Brasil X Coreia. O processo usado para…read morepagamento, comanda, entrada e consumação é muito confuso e ineficiente. No pacote "tudo incluso", cada vez que pegar um espeto ou porção, você tem que usar o cartão para dar baixa no "tudo incluso". Muitas vezes quase compramos espetos oferecidos na mesa, que não fazia parte do pacote "tudo incluso" (pago a parte). Isso porque eles ofereciam mais produtos não inclusos no pacote, do que os que são inclusos. Tínhamos que sempre pedir para receber alimentos e bebidas inclusas no pacote, pois nem sempre eles eram oferecidos. Não fomos bem informado que todos do grupo devem fazer parte do mesmo pacote para ficarmos juntos (pois as pessoas que optam não comprar o pacote, não ficam no mesmo espaço daqueles que optaram comprar). Eu que já tinha vindo de um almoço em família, tive que comprar o pacote pra poder sentar com meus amigos que optaram comprar. Quando liguei para fazer a reserva, esperei por 45 min para falar com alguém.. foram muito gentis, mas demorou. Muito obrigado.

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!