São Paulo
São Paulo can be daunting until you learn its layout. Tip: If flying domestic, try to use Congonhas airport, not Guarulhos.
Sleeping
Hotel Unique. From its watermelon shape to its porthole windows and book-laden cocktail bar, the accent is on eye-catching design. Architects call it urban art; the beau monde call it their place to hang. www.hotelunique.com.br/home.htm
Emiliano. Small and intimate. And a prime location on São Paulo’s shopping street. Late for a meeting? Use the rooftop heliport. www.emiliano.com.br
Marriott’s Renaissance São Paulo. Six executive floors offer work areas and other amenities for business travelers. There’s a cybercafe and a funky Havana Club cigar bar. www.marriott.com
Relaxing
Fazenda Dona Carolina. This resort on a 19th century coffee fazenda is an hour from São Paulo. There’s a pool, lake, tennis, trekking and horseback riding. www.donacarolina.com.br
Eating
Fogo do Chao. Few churrascarias in São Paulo can rival this one. Excellent
cuts are matched by a fine salad bar. www.fogodechao.com.br
Tantra. Mongolian restaurant Tantra is as much about the scene as the food. Watch for snake charmers and belly dancers. www.tantrarestaurante.com.br
Nakombi. The name Nakombi (“in the kombi,” or van) hints at its selling point: Two Volkswagen vans reincarnated as sushi bars. www.nakombi.com.br
Capim Santo. The specialties are seafood, and scrumptious homemade pastas. www.capimsanto.com.br
Drinking
Popular with an alternative crowd, Drosophyla has other-world décor. www.drosophyla.com.br On the 30th floor of the Flat Transamerica, The View is São Paulo’s newest cool and cosmopolitan hangout. www.theviewbar.com.br
Rio de Janeiro
This is the city where hard work is rewarded with fun. Most of the action unfolds near the beaches.
Sleeping
Portinari. In Rio’s first design hotel, each floor is the work of a different designer. www.hotelportinari.com.br
Sheraton Rio Hotel and Towers. How about a dip in the ocean before breakfast? The Sheraton is the only hotel in Rio with direct access to the beach. www.sheraton-rio.com
Eating
Gero. If you only have the time (and money) to go to one restaurant in Rio then choose Gero. The décor is classy, the atmosphere is classy and the food is classy. www.faisano.com.br/gerorio
Aprazivel. Set on a hillside above the bohemian neighborhood of Santa Teresa, this is a great place to get away from the city’s hustle and bustle. Open Thursday to Sunday. www.aprazivel.com.br
Bar d’Hotel. On the second floor of the hotel where supermodel Gisele Bundchen and actor/governor Arnold Schwarzenegger stayed during carnival, the décor is ultra-hip and the food excellent. Av. Delfim Moreira 696, 2nd floor, Leblon; phone: 55-21-2172-1100.
Drinking
When the samba stops in Rio Scenarium, take your caipirinha and check out the crowd; www.rioscenarium.com.br. Brasileiro da Gavea is loud, not especially pretty and it’s hard to get a table after 10 p.m. But it was voted the best bar in Rio for flirting; www.braseirodagavea.com.br. Beautiful people converge on the dance floor at 00 (Zero Zero) at Rua Padre Leonel Franca, 240; phone: 55-21-2540-8041.
Shopping
Richards’ 10 stores in Rio and eight in São Paulo sell the lightest, most elegant shirts south of the equator. www.richards.com.br