São Paulo
Brazil’s economic powerhouse is also the country’s cultural capital and a gastronomic delight. The country’s largest companies, banks and most international firms are located in São Paulo, concentrated around the Jardins area with its exclusive apartments, boutiques and restaurants. Metropolitan São Paulo, a city of 17 million, suffers terrible traffic jams so visitors are advised to leave plenty of time – at least 30 minutes – between meetings.
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To Get There
Guarulhos International Airport serves the city of São Paulo and is located 25 miles from the city center. A taxi ride takes about 45-60 minutes, but in heavy traffic or bad weather can take more than an hour, and should cost about $30-$35.
Congonhas Airport, São Paulo’s domestic airport, is a 20-minute drive from the Jardins and Avenida Paulista. A taxi ride should cost about $15.
All US citizens need a visa to enter Brazil. For information on business visas, visit www.brasilemb.org. Visitors must pay a $36 departure tax when leaving Brazil.
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To Stay
The
Grand Hyatt São Paulo
(Avenida das Nações Unidas 13301, tel: 5511- 6838 -1234) is 20 minutes from São Paulo’s business and financial district. Room rates range from $135-$2,500 plus 5% tax. Visit www.saopaulo.grand.hyatt.com or e-mail: info@hyatt.com.br.
The Renaissance São Paulo Hotel
(Alameda Santos 2233, tel: 5511-3069-2233) is centrally located in the Jardins and one block from Avenida Paulista. Rooms range from $240-$5,340 plus 5% tax. Go to www.marriott.com or e-mail: saopaulo@renaissance.com.br.
The visually stunning Unique
(Avenida Brigadeiro Luis Antonio, 4700 Jardim Paulista, tel: 5511-3055-4710) has a superb rooftop terrace overlooking Ibirapuera, the city’s equivalent of Central Park. Its swimming pool is illuminated with red lights and fitted with an underwater sound system. Unique is a 20-minute taxi ride from the business district. Room rates range from $250-$2,500 plus 5% tax. See www.hotelunique.com.br or send an e-mail to: reservas@unique.com.br.
We also like InterContinental Hotels São Paulo
(Alameda Santos 1123, tel: 5511-3179 2600). Conveniently located close to the Avenida Paulista business district, all rooms have high-speed Internet access. Room rates range from $205-$2,000 plus 5% tax. Visit www.intercontinental.com or e-mail: saoha-rsvn@interconti.com.
Another good choice is the new
Fasano Hotel
with its distinctive 1930s-style décor (Rua Vittorio Fasano 88, Jardins, tel: 5511-3896-4000). The Fasano is located just 10 minutes from São Paulo’s business center. Room rates range from $255-$900 plus 5% tax. Visit www.hotelfasano.com.br or e-mail: reservations@hotelfasano.com.br.
To Eat
At
D.O.M. Restaurante
(Rua Barão de Capanema, 549 Jardins, tel: 3088-0761) chef and proprietor Alex Atala has created one of São Paulo’s finest restaurants. Modern renditions of classic dishes are served in a luxurious setting that features leather seating, silver cutlery and crystal glasses.
Fasano
(Rua Vittorio Fasano 88, Jardins, tel: 3062-4000), owned by the eponymous family that also operates the new Fasano Hotel, this is one of São Paulo’s most popular restaurants with its impeccable service and outstanding Milanese cuisine.
Gero
(Rua Haddock Lobo, 1629 Cerqueira César, tel: 3064-0005) another Fasano eatery, serves good Italian food in an unpretentious bistro style
and attracts a hip crowd.
A Figueira Rubaiyat
(Rua
Haddock Lobo, tel: 3063-3888) is built around a massive fig tree. Its filet mignon and
feijoada, the traditional Brazilian black bean stew, are legendary.
O Leopolldo
(R. Joaquim Macedo, 135, tel: 3816-1363), located in the suburb of Morumbi, offers a French-Italian menu with a Mediterranean touch. It is lavishly decorated and includes a library, private rooms, a nightclub, bar and wine cellar. Another excellent choice is
Spot
(Alameda Ministro Rocha Azevedo, 72 Jardim Paulista, tel: 283-0946) which serves light meals in a modern interior.
To Drink
The bohemian style of the 1950s
Astor
(Rua Delfina, 163, tel: 3815-1364) attracts
businessmen in need of a relaxing atmosphere.
Baretto
(Rua Vittorio Fasano 88,
Jardins, tel: 3896-4000) is a popular piano
bar, and the
SKYE Bar
on the penthouse
level of the Unique hotel, offers a fabulous
view of the city through its panoramic windows
and glass roof. For a more mellow
atmosphere, try
Posto 6
(Rua Aspicuelta 644, Vila Madalena, tel: 3812-7831).
Melt
(47 Rua Rita Ludolf, Leblon, tel:
3686-6465) is a restaurant and bar decorated
with plush sofas and cushions that
is popular with singles. The lounge bar
serves cocktails – its caipiroskas (caipirinhas
made with vodka) are top notch – and
a range of Belgian beers. The open-plan
dining area has a sophisticated menu.
To Unwind
Visitors can take in the
São Paulo Museum
of Art
in a couple of hours. Located
on Avenida Paulista, the signature red
building on stilts houses a fine collection
of works by Renoir, Van Gogh,
Rembrandt and Degas. For a colorful
and energetic immersion in 19th and
20th century Brazilian art visit the
Pinacoteca
do Estado
(Praça da Luz 2, tel:
229-9844). The collection features artists
such as Georgina de Albuquerque, João
Batista Pagini and Oscar Ferreira da
Silva among others.
Only two hours away from São Paulo the
winter resort of Campos de Jordão
(Grande Hotel
Campos do Jordão, Av.
Frei Orestes Girardi 3549) offers great
weekend relaxation away from the city.
Many
Paulistanos
decamp during the long
summer months to the stunning beaches
of the Litoral Norte, a 2-3 hour drive from
the city.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio is both Brazil’s playground and a financial center. Important federal agencies
and state-owned corporations are
headquartered in Rio’s central district.
Galeão International Airport serves Rio
and is located 23 miles from the city
center. A taxi ride takes about 30 to 40
minutes, but can last up to an hour, and
costs between $20-$25. Santos Dumont,
the domestic airport, is a 15-minute drive
from the main financial center. Rio’s main
residential, hotel and entertainment districts
are located in Copacabana,
Ipanema and Leblon.
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To Stay
The
Copacabana Palace
(Avenida Atlântica
1702, tel: 5521-2548-7070) is a classic
luxury hotel built in 1923. It has a rooftop
tennis court and faces the world famous
beaches of Copacabana. It is a 20-30
minute taxi ride to Rio’s business district.
Rooms range from $320-$1,250 plus 5%
tax. Got to www.copacabanapalace.orientexpress.
com or send an e-mail to:
reservas@copacabanapalace.com.br.
Caesar Park Ipanema
(Avenida Vieira
Souto 460, tel: 5521-2525-2525) a 25-minute trip from the business district, is one
of Rio’s best hotels. It has an international
reputation for quality and service, and is
close to Rio’s hottest clubs and restaurants.
Room rates range from $283-$2,861 plus
5% tax. Visit the website at
www.caesarpark.com.br or send e-mail to:
hotel_rj@caesarpark.com.br.
Another good choice is the
InterContinental
Rio
(Av. Prefeito Mendes de Morais 222,
São Conrado, tel: 5521-3323-2200)
although it is a 30-40 minute drive to the
business district. Room rates range from
$230-$1,500 plus 5% tax. Go to www.interconti.com or send
e-mail to: reservas@inter-rio.com.br.
To Eat
The award-winning
Antiquarius
(Rua Aristides
Espínola 19, tel: 2294-1049) is Rio’s
best-known restaurant.
Cipriani
(Avenida
Atlântica 1702, tel: 2545-8747) in the Copacabana
Palace Hotel offers extravagant
but formal dining, with an elaborate menu
featuring traditional Italian cuisine, from
homemade tagliatelle to lobster with black
truffle risotto.
For a classic Brazilian experience, go to
Porcão
(Rua Barão da Torre 218, Ipanema,
tel: 522-0999) an excellent
rodízio
all-youcan-eat beef restaurant.
To Drink
Baronetti
(354 Rua Barão da Torre, tel:
2247-0351) is an expensive, upscale
restaurant, lounge and club in Ipanema.
The upstairs lounge and restaurant serves
sushi and fine cocktails, while the lower
level club plays house music.
To Unwind
The beach is great for walking, peoplewatching
and of course, sunbathing. Incredible
vistas of Rio can be seen from
the top of the Corcovado, where the
statue of Christ with open arms looks over
the bay. The
Sugar Loaf Mountain
is a
massive rock that guards the entrance to
Guanabara Bay. Take an inspiring cable
car ride to the mountaintop for one of the
most beautiful views of the city.
Brasília
Created in 1956 by urban planner Lúcio
Costa and architect Oscar Niemeyer,
Brasília is the national capital. Juscelino
Kubitschek International Airport is located
within the city limits. A taxi ride to downtown
Brasília only takes 15 minutes and
costs around $15.
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To Stay
Brasília’s top hotel is the new
Blue Tree
Park
(SHTN Trecho 1, Conjunto 1B, Lote
C, tel: 55-61-424-7000) situated on the
Paranoá Lake shore near the Palácio da
Alvorada, the president’s official residence.
This modern hotel is a five minute
drive from Congress and central
Brasília. Visit www.bluetree.com.br or
e-mail: reservas.park@bluetree.com.br.
We also recommend the
Meliá Brasília
(SHS Quadra 6- B1.D, tel. 5561-218-4700)
located in the Brasil XXI complex and just
five minutes of the city’s commercial and
financial districts, and government offices.
Room rates range from $68-$417. Visit
www.meliabrasilia.solmelia.com or e-mail:
reservas.park@meliaconfort.com.br.
To Eat
Piantella
(SCLS 202, bloco A, loja 34,
tel: 224-9408) is a traditional Brasília
eatery popular with politicians, journalists
and lobbyists, and ideal for a business
lunch.
Alice
(SHIN QI.11, conjunto 9, casa 17,
tel: 577 4333) is a small, intimate restaurant
run by Alice de Castro, who transformed
a private house into the city’s
best restaurant.
To Drink
Mormaii Surf Bar
(Pontão, Lago Sul, tel:
364-6025) and the
Bier Fass
(SHIS, QI5,
Lago Sul, tel: 248-3400) are both friendly
bars offering a wide variety of drinks.
To Unwind
Take a tour of the
Esplanada dos Ministérios,
where the most striking of Oscar
Niemeyer’s architectural works are to
be found. The region’s abundant gemstones
and crystals are on display at the
Museo Nacional das Gemas.
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To Buy
A fine
cachaça, the Brazilian firewater,
or a
caipirinha
kit make good gifts to
bring home from Brazil. Indian headwear
made with plumage of Amazonian
birds available at
Funai, the national
Indian foundation, are a more interesting
gift. Funai operates stores in all major
cities selling high-quality Indian
artifacts.
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2004 National Holidays |