São Paulo

Ariel learned to cut hair in prison and developed the most famous hair-cut in Brazil: “Blindado”. The most resistant cut, able to resist even a motorcycle passing-by. Today he travels the world to spread the essence of Brazilian favelas cuts, a styled called "chavosos".

OG favela gear from south side of São Paulo. Worn by the real ones, from artists to rappers. They also have a community bar and football team.

A Brazilian Indigenous Afro brand led by Isaac Silva. Genderless democratic fashion for all kinds of bodies. Haute couture is also present in its DNA, all handmade by the stylist Isaac Silva himself.

Led by Cameroonian Melanito Biyouha, this stylish African eatery uses spices to make their food with love. The environment welcomes everyone as a family. Each employee who passes through the kitchen ends up recreating the dishes of their land (the extensive menu has more than 40 options with different kind of flavours from Africa).

Working as a fashion designer for more than 10 years, Luiz Cláudio, is filled with the desire to build an amazing and intricate fashion label, characterised by the use of manual techniques and precious fabrics worthy of a couture atelier.

Lu Safro is an incredible hair designer who creates true masterpieces and owns a saloon in the heart of downtown, near the iconic Galeria Rock. She usually does hair styling for the most important fashion shows in São Paulo Fashion Week, always alongside her daughter, Mika Safro, the most relevant young beauty artist in the emerging fashion scene.

Amazing vegan cuisine created by Congolese refugee Pitchou Luambo, with the help of his daughter Marie Luambo. "The basis of African gastronomy is vegetables, which we need to demystify that there is meat in our kitchen, a habit that was practically acquired only in Brazil when our ancestors arrived here".

Cacau Brito doesn’t do nails, she does art. Much demanded by the most relevant artists in the rap scene, and using several techniques combined to reach its perfection in composing unique and memorable nails. Nail Queen? definitely.

Bar do Biu is an absolute classic and is the headquarters of Corinthians soccer team fans in the west of São Paulo. That typical Brazilian-style bar, serving the best Northeastern dishes & traditional feijoada every day.

Jardin do Centro is a plant shop and cafeteria in Downtown. They occupy 2 floors of a building hosting a film room, a co-working space and promotes black artists thought events and exhibitions.

Black-Owned Businesses in São Paulo

Paulo Saul 

First things first, my chosen family and I are a walking party. If we are training for the balls or just voguing in the middle of the streets, we for sure bring life to the party. You can find us at the coolest places and at your closest function snatching all the grand prizes.

MARSHA! is a festival that celebrates and empowers trans lives. With its latest online version, it gathered many artists with an extensive line-up of talks about issues and demands of the trans community and many shows and performances by various forms of art.

Way more than just a party: it’s a platform for young black queer artists and a one-of-a-kind experience in São Paulo’s nightlife. If at the end of the night - probably morning already - and you’re not exhausted from dancing, it was not Batekoo.

“Queer music by queer people” - an online radio party featuring the best of Brazilian queer talents in the music scene. Not limited by music genre but open to all forms of expression.

Away from the center of the city, in the middle of the southern outskirts of town, Crash Party is an independent party organized by young queer people living in Capão Redondo. The idea is to showcase new local talents and have fun.

From the east side to the world, Helipa LGBT brings you the best of funk music and Brazilian culture.

Amazing visuals and experimental sounds, Vorlat is a party to discover the new and what is yet to be defined (or not).

A reunion of many different versions of queerness with lots of fashion, beauty and personality. Chernobyl is where the outcasts get together to listen to great underground music and have a great time.

It’s a bar, a restaurant and a tiny dance club. The perfect place to meet your friends, have some amazing drinks and vibe to cool music.

One of the biggest and most popular electronic music events in São Paulo. From the sound to the performances (known to be mesmerising) everything from Mamba represents the essence of São Paulo.

Queer Spaces in São Paulo

Ana Clara Watanabe

Pinacoteca de São Paulo is a museum dedicated to Brazilian Visual Art. With an emphasis on Brazilian production from the nineteenth century to the present day, the place also dialogue with the cultures of the world by collecting, studying, preserving, exhibiting and communicating its collections to promote the public’s experience with art, stimulate creativity and the construction of knowledge. Founded in 1905 by the São Paulo State Government, it is the city’s oldest art museum.

SESC is a non-profit Brazilian private institution that makes available Education, Health, Culture and Recreational programs and events and well as provides Social Assistance to workers and their dependents. Since its foundation, Sesc has contributed to socioeconomic and cultural development in Brazil through social and educational actions and a wide variety of services that encourage the exercise of citizenship.

At SESC you can do anything for a really affordable price. You can have a good meal, visit a nice exhibition or even watch a special concert for a R$10. Some SESC's in São Paulo have pools, gyms and a few activities for you and your family/friends.

Casa do Povo means “house of people” and that’s literally what they are. It’s a place that provides many cultural activities for those who can afford. You can find there sewing classes, social activities like Empreendedoras Sin Fronteras, choral, dance lessons, meetings and a really comfortable place to spend the afternoon learning, listening and meeting nice people.

The old building of the "Sorocabana Railroad" is now "Sala São Paulo", home of the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra and one of the most important concert and event venues in the country.

Designed by Christiano Stockler das Neves in 1925 ―a period when the city, stimulated by coffee and the railway, was growing at a fast pace― the building, marked by the sobriety of the ornaments and details of the Louis XVI style, would only be completed in 1938, when the urbanization of São Paulo was already characterized by the presence of automobiles, minimizing the use of trams and trains.

One of my dearest friends once told me about this place where a couple of Korean immigrants serves their traditional family recipes. They don’t speak Portuguese very well, but the place, their energy and the food makes you feel like home.

Good price and one of the best Korean foods that I ever tried. Really worth it to visit and it’s also located near to the best fabrics and trims stores! They don’t have a website, but you can get more infos at their Instagram page.

José Paulino is a famous fashion street where you can find clothes and accessories from several different brands and designers. It’s a street where you can visit a fancy shop, a shop that has another 10 shops inside of it, buy clothes on the streets... It’s really worth it the visit ‘cause you can find anything there, meet brands that you may never heard about but with well-made pieces, clothes for a popular price, things that are trending right now…

This part of the town has already suffered a lot of “bad judgments” ‘cause a lot of immigrants work in this part of town in bad conditions, so be careful and ask from where and how that piece was made.

If you’re looking for a good meal in a good and beautiful restaurant, here’s your place. Darê is one of the best Korean cuisines that I ever tried, and they have two options: the first one, where you serve yourself at a table with cold and hot Korean food; and the second and “fancy” one, where you can check their menu with more different options.

The Chef Paulo Shin revisited the mix between the traditional and the modern Korean Cuisine. “We privilege the cozy and casual experience, with the commitment to bring a meal with the care of the production taught by Dona Myung (Paulo’s mom), the flavor that refers to the Korean roots and the experiences of different refinements.

Ana's Guide to Bom Retiro

Adrian Santana

Very delicious food that is located in a very interesting and beautiful part of the city, Santa Teresa

A place that can be very romantic and a lot of hidden secrets around the temple.

When passing Barra da Tijuca there is a reserve by the beach. You have to go by car and when good swell picks up it produces very strong and clean waves in the early morning

A very good place to see the sunset throughout the year, but especially during Summer.

Very good waves to surf, but tough when crowded.

This place is filled with amazing locals, who are friendly and are stoked on life. It has a large beach to do whatever you want and the waves are one of the best in Rio de Janeiro.

In a tricky location so best to follow directions online.

Best sandwiches and acai. They have several locations.

Rio with Adrian Santana

Peroli

Starting as a ghost kitchen for deliveries only, Notorious Fish has become the cosiest restaurant in the Pinheiros district. It's a home for those who like good quality seafood an affordable price. If you never had oysters before, this is the place to go! But I would stick with a good old shrimp roll to start. 

A place where stationery lovers can find everything from cookbooks to the most genius pens. I love to check the Asian Vogue—Livraria Sol is the only place I know in town that stocks it.

A convenient spot for contemporary art lovers; this cultural centre is sprawled out on one floor, divided into three rooms that exhibit completely different works. The gift shop offers a large range of independent Brazilian brands.

Regô is a place for people who like to taste drinks and know exactly what they're getting. Each option on the menu is well thought-out, giving consumers a very unique experience. 

An iconic building right in the middle of the city, Renata is a hotel that offers furnished apartments—similar to Airbnb but much more luxurious. Even if you're not staying at the hotel, the swimming pool and restaurant is open to the public. 

From Shrimp Rolls to Stationery Stops: Peroli’s Guide to São Paulo

Fernando Rosa

Great sound quality and a diverse artistic programming.

A nice option that always brings to the stage great names of music.

Located in the center of São Paulo. The programming presents new names from the jazz scene of the city.

Besides having a beautiful green area, it has a wonderful cultural programming.


A great place to walk around. Car circulation is closed there during the Sundays. A variety of street artists present there, along with fairs and outdoors expositions.

Restaurant with excellent food. For those who enjoy vegan food without giving up on flavor.

Sao Paulo's Best Venues for Live Music with Fernando Rosa

Komah is my go-to Korean spot. Every dish there is amazing, but you have to try the rib rice and the kimchi dumplings – they’re something else.

Koya88 is where you wanna be if you’re looking for some fancy drinks with super intricate flavours. I’d recommend getting the edamame, the pork cheek sandwich and definitely the Miss Geisha and Wasabi Sour cocktails.

WAFU Izakaya is an awesome sushi bar! It’s got this cosy vibe, delicious drinks and special sushi made with the freshest fish you can find. I always head there for special celebrations.

Mapu Baos serves Taiwanese bites that really hit different! The place is usually packed, but it’s worth the wait. I’m obsessed with the pork belly bao and the miso eggplant bites. Their drinks are super refreshing too.

Cervejaria Central is the spot for craft beer lovers! They’re always switching up their menu with innovative and top-notch beers. You’ve gotta try the Estopim draft beer – it’s a classic. Oh, and the sausage bolovo is fire!

Kraut Bar has a special place in my heart since I worked there for years before my DJ career took off. It’s a chill bar with German-inspired sandwiches and great drinks at super good prices. Try the pumpkin schnitzel sandwich and the Gurke drink.

Preto is a high-end Nagô cuisine restaurant led by a chef from Bahia, blending Brazilian, Portuguese and African influences. It’s all about celebrating our Black culture with a fresh, decolonial twist – just like the restaurant’s name suggests.

Matiz Bar is São Paulo’s newest listening bar, with insane acoustics and amazing DJ sets – plus, a killer view of the city. I’m a big fan of their drinks too.

Mamãe Bar is the new LGBTQIAP+ spot in São Paulo. It’s super simple, but the beer is always ice cold, and the Cariri with honey shots are on point. It’s a cosy place, and if you’re out for a wild night, you’ll probably end up at Mamãe ‘cause it stays open late.

The Roda de Samba on Mondays at Funilaria are a must. It’s a classic hangout, and we always take our out-of-town friends there. If you want a cold beer and dance, some classic love songs of Pagode and Samba on a Monday, this is the spot. Nothing brings people together like a good Brazilian music!

São Paulo’s Top 10 Bars and Restaurants, Chosen by Kontronatura

Kevin David

Bar da Bete is the best place to warm up before heading to your favorite party.


If you are in the centre, you must go for a beer with a group of 20 friends.

If you are an LGBTQIAP+ person you have an obligation to live in the zig. a gay nightclub in the basement with pop music, darkroom and gay cruising.

Imagine a funk party in Brazil? now imagine an LGBTQIA+ funk party in brazil, where the G, the T and the L dominate everything. That's it, just living to see.


If you are looking for a more cozy place, where you can spend the afternoon with friends and still listen to some music, then lote sp is the place.

As a fan and lover of Hip-Hop culture, I find everything here, ribbed tank tops, jewellery, sneakers, t-shirt prints - the rock gallery is a good option for those who want to spend their evening lookinging and don't have time to adventure so much, as there are several floors with wonderful curatorship. 

I cut my hair for 15 years in the same place with your rodriguez. If you're looking for a ruler cut, this is the place.

My favorite food in São Paulo is here: a dish made of pot roast and carrot cake dessert is what I eat the most.
