São Paulo, Brazil (Museums and Food)

I can go on and on about how much I love this city. São Paulo has so much to offer; it goes beyond what's just known from touristy spots. I might be biased when I say this, as I was raised in this chaotic city, but it is one of a kind. In this entry, I want to differ slightly from my previous ones and cover São Paulo beyond tourist spots. I'll uncover the city as a local to foreigners, tailoring to any traveling style one might want.

Many people might want to skip SP when visiting Brazil, maybe because Rio catches the eye more of the standard Brazilian experience, or simply because Brazil is usually associated with beaches and tropical weather, and São Paulo has none of that to offer. Still, I can assure you that it is the country's epicenter of culture and entertainment. In this city, the 5th biggest city in the world, population-wise, you'll find all about music, art, architecture, food, nature (surprisingly), and even luxury for those who enjoy it. As I have so much to discuss, I will limit myself to only Museums and Food today. As I wrote this, I realized I couldn't sum the city to just a few words, so there you go, some of my favorite things in this fantastic city.

Museums!!!!! (My favs)

The art scene is the first thing that catches the eye for those visiting the city. Historically, SP was not known for creating much art, but in an external lens, as the bossa nova scene in Rio, or MPB in Salvador, catches the eye of foreigners. But São Paulo, since the 20s, has been one of the leading centers of the evolution of Modern Art in Brazil. The city has many museums, including the most famous and popular ones.

If visiting MASP, recommended in the primary means of media, you'll enjoy yourself getting to see a wide variety of Brazilian artists, including indigenous, Afro-descendant, as well as Monet and Renoir, and a bunch of other low-tier selections of pieces from white European artists. Don't get me wrong, I love MASP, it was one of the first museums to democratize and make art accessible to the lower class, and it is worth a visit! However, other museums and exhibitions are just as good, in which one can appreciate true Brazilian art rather than European art, which can be seen in the Louvre.

One of my favorite museums ever is MIS. The museum focuses more on visual representation and immersive experiences, so consider photography exhibitions or immersive ones. They always have exciting stuff, so it is worth checking out their website. I remember one of their exhibitions, which was immersing oneself in horror movies, such as Chuck and Annabelle. It was terrifying but also super interesting. They also often have ones related to Brazilian artists. I remember one time I went to see Rita Lee, a Brazilian rock artist, who talked about her struggles with publishing music during the dictatorship.

Another super interesting museum is Museu Afro Brasil, it is a museum that shares the story of the afro-brazilians as well as showcasing and promoting Brazilian African heritage patrimony, it is soooo worth it, as this part of history was wiped out from our past. Much of the evidence we have from the African descent population has been erased, and the well-preserved items and artworks there show all the elements of our history that have been attempted to be forgotten. 

Last but not least, Pinacoteca is a museum in the heart of the city center, which is a museum for visual arts, including paintings and sculptures. It is the oldest art museum in the city, and they have many buildings, each with different exhibitions tailored to different likes and dislikes. I love their contemporary art building; they have many interactive workshops and cool exhibitions. It is also a nice hanging out spot; there is a cool piece of preserved rainforest and nice cafés. There are many more museums in the city, but if I tell you which are the must-visit ones, these four above would be mandatory!

Food (no better place to be)

Those who know me know me as a foodie, so of course, in my hometown, I'll be able to name you the best restaurants around! In São Paulo, there's a wide variety of restaurants and cuisines, too many to count, maybe because we have had a lot of immigration from all over the world, or simply because it is a big city, but honestly, I love eating there. 

If you are craving some Italian food, my favorite spots are Più or Tappo. Those are super good restaurants, and the food is so tasty, you will always see me ordering the carbonara at Più and the Amatriciana at Tappo, no mistakes. If craving some Asian food, I'll go with sushi from Su or Maza, two excellent Japanese restaurants. We had lots of Jaanese immigration, that's why we had good sushi, on the other hand, I have struggled to find good Chinese food in SP, when my Chinese friend visited we went on a hunt to a good authentic spot but couldn't find any, if anyone ever finds one hit me up and let me know.

I'll go with Mana Poke, the best poke with various fillings and sides for a poke bowl. If I crave a salad, the best spot is Olga Ri. For burgers, I can go on with a massive list of burger spots, Z Deli, Patties, and Matilda Lanches stand out for me. Now, for the Brazilian food discussion, I will extend myself a little. This is my first entry in Brazil, and if you are coming to Brazil and not trying Brazilian food, you are doing it wrong. In São Paulo, there's not a lot of local food so you can find a lot of fusion from other states. 
One good example is the restaurant Baianeira, located right beneath MASP on Paulista Avenue, which has such tasty food. Another great restaurant is called Conceição Discos. This one is a very local spot. It's a vinyl shop with local Brazilian food, and they don't have many tables, so expect to be outside eating entrés for a little while before getting seated.