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***Health Information as of January 25, 2018***

There is a Yellow fever outbreak in Rio and Sao Paulo and the whole population is getting vaccinated. See the CDC alert here:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/alert/yellow-fever-brazil


Curitiba

Trip Reports
Ya'alili - forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=2164.msg946415#msg946415
CGR in Rio, Iguazu (Brazil & Argentina), and Sao Paulo: https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=128303.msg2555280#msg2555280
ad120- https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=130711.0

Kosher Food Options
Contact Chabad Parana for updated information regarding any Kosher food there. Otherwise plenty of snacks and fruits.

Hotels with Points
Four Points by Sheraton, ten minute walk to Chabad.
Radisson, fifteen minute walk to Chabad.

Airport Transfer Options
Cab - Cab to/from Chabad area and hotels should be around R$60.
Executive Bus - Excellent and comfortable executive bus, every half hour to main places in Curitiba for R$12.
Public Bus - There are buses to downtown for R$3, from there you can connect almost anywhere in the city.

Major Activities

Florianopolis

Trip Reports
ChikkyMonkey - forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=2164.msg860807#msg860807
MendyP - forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=2164.msg680690#msg680690
Ya'alili - forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=2164.msg936627#msg936627

Kosher Food Options
Contact Chabad Parana for updated information regarding any Kosher food there. Otherwise plenty of snacks and fruits.

Hotels with Points
None.

Airport Transfer Options
Cab - They are metered from FLN to where you are going. We stayed in Barra Lagoa and it was R$55.
Executive Bus - Yellow buses go between major destinations to the airport and bus terminal - R$6.
Public Bus - Not from the airport. But from the bus station it's tricky but doable - R$3.

Major Activities
Water-sports and relaxing. During peak-season (Dec-Jan) there is plenty to do, such as scuba diving, gliding, boat tours and more. We were there during winter break (Jul) and the waves were great for surfing, and the dunes at Joaquina were great for sandboarding.

There are beautiful beaches all over the island of Florianopolis. During the winter the north beaches tend to be the warmest as the wind doesn't attack it directly. Center/east beaches are really nice, the best for surfing, but can get cold. Mole and Joaquina are the most popular from those. Didn't trek down south on my trip there, but the beaches are supposedly great as well, though very calm and sleepy kind of towns next to them and people going fishing there.

A small town on the west side of the island, has a boardwalk and bicycle path along the water, nice place to go for sunset. Old historic architecture there, many buildings there hundreds of years old. It's about 10-15 minutes north of downtown FLN.

Iguacu Falls

Trip Reports
ChikkyMonkey - forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=2164.msg860807#msg860807
Dan - forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=3052.msg27332#msg27332
Jaywhy - forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=44601.msg937926#msg937926
Ya'alili - forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=38231.msg735169#msg735169
Yehoshua - forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=34693.msg641453#msg641453
ad120- https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=130711.0

Kosher Food Options
There are no kosher food options other than some snacks and fruits. Over the border some stores sell Beigel's and there are a few Freddo Helado locations.

Hotels with Points
Sheraton Iguazu in the Argentina side of the park.
Park Hyatt Iguacu Falls coming soon!

Airport Transfer Options
Cab - The airport is between downtown and the park. Taxi to either of those place shouldn't be more than R$15.
Executive Bus - There are no executive buses on the Brazilian side. Other side there are buses to any place for 40 pesos.
Public Bus - The park and hostels/hotels are connected by public bus with the airport. Not very frequent schedule, cab is better - R$3.

Major Activities

Manaus

Trip Reports
Fan of Dan - Part 1 forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=2164.msg404773#msg404773
Fan of Dan - Part 2 forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=2164.msg406102#msg406102
Fan of Dan - Part 3 forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=2164.msg488834#msg488834
Ya'alili - Coming soon!

Kosher Food Options
Chabad Manaus offers excellent take-out at great prices. More info here - www.chabadmanaus.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/1244281/jewish/Kosher.htm.

Hotels with Points
Holiday Inn by IHG - 1hr15m walk to Chabad.
Park Suites by Radisson. - About a 3h walk to Chabad..

Airport Transfer Options
Cab - Flat rate on leaving the airport to anywhere in Manaus - R$65.
Executive Bus - There are EB in Manaus itself (means it comes with AC here) though non to the airport.
Public Bus - One bus makes the trip once an hour between the airport and downtown, during regular operating hours - R$3.

Major Activities

Porto Alegre

Trip Reports
Ya'alili - Coming soon!

Kosher Food Options
Lechaim Delicatessen - Maybe call before to see if they are open, we went during hours and they were closed.
Rua Fernandes Vieira, 518, Porto Alegre ~ (51) 3311-2323.

Hotels with Points
Sheraton Porto Alegre Hotel - 25 minute walk to Chabad.
Radisson Porto Alegre - 25 minute walk to Chabad.
Holiday Inn Porto Alegre - 40 minute walk to Chabad.

Airport Transfer Options
Cab - Depending on where you are headed, average about R$25-45.
Metro - People mover connects the airport to the nearby metro station, cost R$3 to get to town.
Public Bus - One bus (T5) makes the trip every 20 minutes, cost R$3 to get to town.

Major Activities

Rio de Janeiro

Trip Reports
ChikkyMonkey - forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=2164.msg860807#msg860807
Jaywhy - forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=44601.msg916299#msg916299
MendyP - forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=2164.msg680690#msg680690
Ya'alili - forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=38231.msg773283#msg773283
Yehoshua - forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=34693.msg641453#msg641453

Restaurants
Barilan (Copacabana) - Sunday only meat lunch place inside a school. There is a large buffet and you pay by the weight of your plate.
Rua Pompeu Loureiro, 48, Rio de Janeiro ~ (21) 2235-3110.

Deleite (Copacabana) - Dairy pizza shop and cafe.
Rua Anita Garibaldi, 83, Rio de Janeiro ~ (21) 3507-1973.

Shelanu (Copacabana) - Meat restaurant located inside the Israeli club.
Rua Barata Ribiero, 489, Rio de Janeiro ~ (21) 3042-1483.

Pizzaria Braz (Jardim Botanico) - Excellent pizza chain in BR. This one location becomes kosher once a month by Beit Lubavitch Rio. Usually a Tuesday.
Rua Maria Angélica, 129, Rio de Janeiro ~ (21) 2535-0687.

Hotels with Points near a Shul (Walking Minutes)
Barra da Tijuca - Grand Hyatt (Opening 2015), Radisson - (30 minutes).
Copacabana - JW Marriott (15 minutes).
Leblon - Sheraton Leblon about a 20 minute walk from the excellent Chabad Leblon.

Airport Transfer Options
Cab - Depending from where you are coming SDU should be about R$40 and GIG about R$60.
Executive Bus - service from both GIG and SDU to any place in Rio for R$13.
Public Bus - To get to downtown from both airports is very easy with PB, though if you need to get further EB is a lot better and more reliable.

Major Activities

São Paulo

Trip Reports
ChikkyMonkey - forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=2164.msg860807#msg860807
Jaywhy Part 1 - forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=44601.msg902728#msg902728
Jaywhy Part 2 - forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=44601.msg916299#msg916299
MendyP - forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=2164.msg680690#msg680690
Ya'alili - forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=2164.msg937054#msg937054

Restaurants

Buffet Hebraico (Pinheiros) is located inside the JCC of São Paulo. Best bet would be to go there on a Sunday when they usually have a rodizio there.
Rua Hungria, 1000, São Paulo ~ (11) 3818-8800.

Cantina de Bero (Higienopolis)
Bero Pizza
 the first restaurant and the only one to stay open - Upscale full service dairy restaurant pizza pasta and sushi, they have rodizio of sushi every tuesday and thursday.
delivery to any hotel, great service
Rua sergipe , 220, São Paulo ~ (11) 3064-9022.

Cantina Parma (Higienopolis) - another mediocre pizza shop in SP.
Rua Rosa e Silva, 222, São Paulo ~ (11) 3825-2579.
closed

Celadon (Higienopolis) - a new dairy place that opened this year, Dan was there.
Praça Vilaboim, 73, São Paulo ~ (11) 2738-1500.

 closed

Matok (Higienopolis) - Pizza is decent and their ice cream is good. They cater for most airlines from GRU.
Alameda Barros, 921, São Paulo ~ (11) 3661-2111.

Metsuyan (Perdizes) - Chinese style take-out place with great food, inside the large kosher supermarket SuperK.
Rua Traipu, 66, São Paulo ~ (11) 3663-3030.

Nur (Higienopolis) - They are not cheap, but very good food and great service. They make a rodizio once in a while too. Top eatery in SP.
Rua Tupi, 792, São Paulo ~ (11) 3666-4992.

Pinati (Higienopolis) - Is an Israeli eatery, their food is not that good, and neither are prices. Still probably the only place to get shawarma and falafel in SP.
Alameda Barros, 782, Sao Paulo ~ (11) 3668-5424.

Sushi Papaya (Higienopolis - kosher location) - is a phonomenal sushi restaurant. Again prices are high, but the sushi is amazing, in the ranks of Yakimono.
Praça Vilaboim, 31, São Paulo ~ (11) 3824-0400.

Via Babush (Higienopolis) - Is probably the best pizza place in town. They have excellent sushi rodizios every week also, and all you can eat buffets.
Rua Barão de Tatuí, 115, São Paulo ~ (11) 3494-0000.

Pizza Braz (Higienopolis) - is a popular pizza chain in BR. About once in a month it goes completely kosher and CY. Expensive but probably the best pizza in SP.
Rua Sergipe, 406, São Paulo ~ (11) 3214-3337.

Bakeries, Groceries & Ice Cream
All Kosher (Higienopolis) - Grocery and supermarket, they are on FB.
Alameda Barros, 391, São Paulo ~ (11) 3825-1131.


Goody (Bom Retiro) - A large bakery selection. Don't miss the brigadeiros if they have them.
Rua Correia de Melo, 119, São Paulo ~ (11) 3331-1288.

Menorah (Bom Retiro) - Small supermarket in BR, not everything is Mehadrin Kosher there, be careful.
Rua Guarani, 114, São Paulo ~ (11) 3228-6105.

Pardes (Higienopolis) - They are on FB, supermarket with small bakery section too.
Rua Padre João Manuel, 732, São Paulo ~ (11) 3068-9093.

Sorveteria Sottozero (Perdizes) - Very popular ice cream store that got certified kosher recently.
Av. Sumaré, 840, São Paulo.

Super K (Perdizes) - The largest kosher supermarket in SP, has everything there, prices are high.
Rua Traipu, 66, São Paulo ~ (11) 3663-3030.

Shuls
Bayit (Higienopolis) - Really nice Chabad House, R' Michaan was the Rabbi. main jewish area
Beit Chabad Brooklin - far away from jewish comunity but nice for shabbos, but they are close to many of the main SP points hotels.
Beit Chabad Central (Jardins) - The main Chabad house serving SP, Building is a replica of 770 in NY. Lively Kiddush every Shabbos after Shachris.
Beit Chabad Itaim (Itaim - Jardins Europa) - Beautiful Chabad house in a very upscale part of SP. Best Kiddush Friday night after Maariv.
Beit Chabad Morumbi - Very residential and upscale area of SP.
Beit Chabad Perdizes - Nice Shul, right next to main jewish area, and hotels options nearby.
Beit Chabad Pinheiros - Extremely warm Shul community members, and great Kiddush every Shabbos afternoon.
Beit Yaakov Sephardi (Higienopolis) - Fancy Shul for the ones who can afford it. Will be very hard to enter if you not a member.
Makor Chaim Sephardi (Higienopolis) - On the same note as Beit Yaakov, both of them beautiful and rich Shul's.
Mishcan Menachem Chabad (Jardins Paulista) - Shul with some programs throughout the week.
Talmud Torah Chabad (Bom Retiro) - Basic Shul in a very undesirable section of SP.
Tiferes Chabad (Higienopolis) - Simple Shul, nothing major stands out, better place elsewhere.
Tzeirei Agudas Chabad (Jardins) - A Shtiebel as opposed to a Chabad House, Heimishe Minyan. zayants shul

Hotels with Points near a Shul (Walking Minutes)
Brookin - Grand Hyatt (25 minutes), Hilton (20 minutes), Park Inn by Radisson (35 minutes), Radisson Villa Olympia (20 minutes), Sheraton (15 minutes).
Itaim - Marriott EA (20 minutes), Radisson Faria Lima (5 minutes), Staybridge Suites (10 minutes).
Jardins - Intercontinental (25 minutes), Renaissance (15 minutes).
Perdizes - Holiday Inn Express (15 minutes).

Airport Transfer Options
Cab - Fixed prices from the airport to different parts of SP. To Jardins will set you back about R$120.
Executive Bus - From the airport to various areas of SP, a little more than R$40.
Public Bus - Number 257 goes from GRU to the metro station Tataupe for R$5. From there you can continue on the metro throughout SP.

Major Activities
« Last edited by mendi n on May 01, 2023, 03:39:17 PM »

Author Topic: Brazil Master Thread  (Read 268888 times)

Offline E

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Brazil Master Thread
« on: May 05, 2010, 03:58:13 PM »
I really want to visit south America whats the best mileage to use I have continental, AA ,Delta , BA, and united available, I want to see as much of the continent as possible whats the best way to go about this. I want to do this in a 2 week time span.
« Last Edit: July 25, 2010, 10:23:54 PM by Dan »

Offline Dan

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Re: South America Trip
« Reply #1 on: May 05, 2010, 05:38:40 PM »
Amazing continent, stuff is incredibly cheap, and there's very little anti-semitism.  It can be dangerous though, lots of crime.

Definitely should try to hit up Argentina and Brazil.  Maybe even Peru depending on how thoroughly you want to cover Argentina and Brazil.

In Brazil don't miss:
-Rio de Janeiro (GIG/SDU)
-Sao Paulo (GRU/CGH)
-Iguacu Falls (IGU) on both the Brazilian and Argentinean sides.
-Florionopolis (FLN)
You'll need a couple days in each of those places.

I have a good friend who just went on shlichus to Manaus (MAO) in the Amazon rain forest if you want a real adventure.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline randomness123

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Re: South America Trip
« Reply #2 on: May 05, 2010, 06:21:16 PM »
I've been dying to do a South America trip. one day...

Offline Smirk

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Re: South America Trip
« Reply #3 on: May 05, 2010, 06:23:03 PM »
My partner traveled  the whole South America, over 5 years straight, he doesn't know anything about miles and he's not jewish so no info regarding that, but if you have any questions regarding things to do/see pm me

Offline SuperFlyer

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Re: South America Trip
« Reply #4 on: May 06, 2010, 01:24:53 AM »
To make things easier, take venezuela of your list as there have been lots of anti-semitism there lately.

Also paraguay is known to be unstable.   

Offline Dan

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Re: South America Trip
« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2010, 11:30:14 AM »
LAN only charges 48,000 kilometers from NYC to Brazil, that's less than 20,000 Starpoints.
They also have very cheap awards for within South America.

In Brazil GOL has some great specials, but only on the Portuguese version of their site.  They often run crazy specials at weird hours of the night that people wait up for to grab!  AZUL is quite literally the JetBlue of Brazil.  Let me know of you need help with the translation.
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Offline E

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Re: South America Trip
« Reply #6 on: May 06, 2010, 12:02:16 PM »
thanks My *woods account is dry otherwise Id'e be doing all Lan but I have at least some mileage on may airlines so something should work out.

Offline Dan

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Re: South America Trip
« Reply #7 on: May 06, 2010, 01:32:18 PM »
thanks My *woods account is dry otherwise Id'e be doing all Lan but I have at least some mileage on may airlines so something should work out.
Do you have AMEX?
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Re: South America Trip
« Reply #8 on: May 06, 2010, 01:48:22 PM »
no I have AA, CO, United, Delta.

Offline damaxer91

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South America Master Thread
« Reply #9 on: June 22, 2010, 05:09:47 AM »
I'm thinking of going to South America in late July for about a week with my wife and 18 month old daughter. Any advice?

Offline Dan

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Re: South America Master Thread
« Reply #10 on: June 22, 2010, 11:21:09 AM »
I've done Brazil, which is an amazing overlooked country.  Without knowing the activities that you like to do with 1 week I would recommend:

-2 days in Rio de Janeiro.  One of the most stunning urban cities with lush mountains (Sugarloaf) and beautiful beaches blending in with high-rises.
-2 days in Igassu Falls to see both Brazilian and Argentinian sides.  You've NEVER seen a waterfall until you've seen this one.  Or as Eleanor Roosevelt put it, "Poor Niagara!"
-A weekend in Sao Paulo, home to 20 million people and 18 chabad houses, one more vibrant and lively than the next.  Don't miss the amazing Sunday "brunches"
If you have more time do some research on and consider:
-Fernando de Noronha
-Florianopolis
-Manaus, a developing city and great base deep in the Amazon rain forest, now with a Chabad presence.
« Last Edit: June 22, 2010, 11:23:42 AM by Dan »
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Re: South America Master Thread
« Reply #11 on: June 22, 2010, 12:24:46 PM »
I've done Brazil, which is an amazing overlooked country.  Without knowing the activities that you like to do with 1 week I would recommend:

-2 days in Rio de Janeiro.  One of the most stunning urban cities with lush mountains (Sugarloaf) and beautiful beaches blending in with high-rises.
-2 days in Igassu Falls to see both Brazilian and Argentinian sides.  You've NEVER seen a waterfall until you've seen this one.  Or as Eleanor Roosevelt put it, "Poor Niagara!"
-A weekend in Sao Paulo, home to 20 million people and 18 chabad houses, one more vibrant and lively than the next.  Don't miss the amazing Sunday "brunches"
If you have more time do some research on and consider:
-Fernando de Noronha
-Florianopolis
-Manaus, a developing city and great base deep in the Amazon rain forest, now with a Chabad presence.

Thanks for that! I was thinking of doing something like:

2-3 days in Argentina
2 days in Igassu Falls
2-3 days in either Sao Paulo or Rio.

I heard that Rio is very dangerous these days. Any truth to that?

Also, what would you do in terms of food at Igassu Falls? I'm guessing that there's no Chabad House

Offline Dan

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Re: South America Master Thread
« Reply #12 on: June 22, 2010, 03:34:35 PM »
If you have extra time then spend 2-3 days in Buenos Aires, 2 days in S. Paulo, 2 days in Rio, and 2 days in Iguassu Falls.

There's nothing in the way of kosher food at Iguassu so bring it with you from any of the other cities.

As with all of Latin America, there are dangerous parts to all of these cities.  Don't go out at night alone, stay away from the slums, and try to blend in with the locals.

I've never been to Argentina, but the Chabad Houses in Brazil are just awesome with tons of great food and local specialties!!!
« Last Edit: June 22, 2010, 03:37:43 PM by Dan »
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Re: South America Master Thread
« Reply #13 on: June 23, 2010, 05:34:28 AM »
Which hotels and restaurants do you recommend in Sao Paulo and Rio? The SPG's there look less than stellar. I am obviously going to stay at the Park Hyatt in Buenos Aires and the Sheraton in Igassu Falls

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Re: South America Master Thread
« Reply #14 on: June 23, 2010, 05:29:07 PM »
what is there to do in Sao Paulo? I thought its just a big city w/o any real tourist things to do from what I read , was never there
Depends.  What do you do in LA?
There are lots of great+unique kosher restaurants, great shopping, and great shuls with a vibrant jewish community in Sao Paulo.  But you're right, it's not a big tourist city.
Rio and Iguassu are much more for the tourists.

Damaxer I haven't forgotten about you, it will just take me a little bit to type up some notes on the cities.
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Re: South America Master Thread
« Reply #15 on: June 23, 2010, 06:02:22 PM »
Depends.  What do you do in LA?
There are lots of great+unique kosher restaurants, great shopping, and great shuls with a vibrant jewish community in Sao Paulo.  But you're right, it's not a big tourist city.
Rio and Iguassu are much more for the tourists.

Damaxer I haven't forgotten about you, it will just take me a little bit to type up some notes on the cities.
Depends.  What do you do in LA?
There are lots of great+unique kosher restaurants, great shopping, and great shuls with a vibrant jewish community in Sao Paulo.  But you're right, it's not a big tourist city.
Rio and Iguassu are much more for the tourists.

Damaxer I haven't forgotten about you, it will just take me a little bit to type up some notes on the cities.

 it might be hard to believe but as often as I fly out to LA , Im in LA usually Only over Shabbos.Getting in right before and heading out MS. i spend my time everywhere else, although LA does have alot to offer a tourist.

 I thought SP was like Frankfurt or Milano basically a financial center, or Melbourne. Im not into checking out Jewish communitys perse and look for the touristy things. Rio is well Rio BA is suppose to be a very nice city with things to do. Santiago,Chile was nice and did a day excursion. Quito was very nice and so was Cartegana,Co if a person is into Colonial citys and Old citys

 Bogata,Co is suppose to have a very nice Jewish community but not much to do if not on Biz so I never made it there yet.

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its never too late...
« Reply #16 on: June 23, 2010, 08:16:46 PM »
 I just saw that U want to go this July

I would suggest that You dont since its not summer down there it will get dark early and not leave much in the way of daylight to do things.Id say our winter time is a better time as it gets dark way late at night since its their summer time

 this is for most of Southern SA

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Re: South America Master Thread
« Reply #17 on: June 23, 2010, 11:08:58 PM »
Can't speak for the rest of SA, but Rio is at it's best in the winter.
Beautiful weather, much more pleasant than the summer, and it's low season so much less crowded everywhere.

Iguassu and Sao Paulo are fine in the winter as well.  

Summertime in Brazil can be extremely hot and all the schools are off and places are crowded.
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Re: South America Master Thread
« Reply #18 on: July 02, 2010, 12:20:09 AM »
Disclaimer: I've never stayed in any hotels in Sao Paulo and haven't really spent any time there in 5 years so things probably have changed.  Also the Real (Pronounced: Hay-ow) is now at 1.8 to the dollar as opposed to 3 to the dollar when I was there...

Sao Paulo Restaurants (This may be unfortunately, completely inaccurate):
Brazilians eat their biggest meal at lunch and a late light dinner.
-Mehadrin (Jardins): A good fleishig restaurant that has a Rodizio every Sunday.  If you've been to Papagaio this is what they try to imitate but they do it better here for far less money.  Only open for lunch.
-Matok (Higienopolis): Decent pizza shop.  OK pizza, but amazing soft ice cream and hard ice cream bars in every flavor under the sun. 
-Pizza Bero (Jardins): Excellent pizza with all kinds of awesome toppings.  Once a week they run a Rodizio of Pizza where they keep on bringing all kinds of pizza with different toppings for a very reasonable price.  Only open for dinner.
-Naguila (Higienopolis): The fanciest fleishig restaurant with great brazilian alchoholic drinks and good desserts.  They also have rodizos a few nights a week.
-Goody (Bom Retiro): Excellent milchig Italian restaurant with a great buffet on select sundays.
-Kosher Center (Bom Retiro): This place was down the block from where I was a shliach for a year.  Schnitzel, fries, and a can of Guarana for $3...how can you top that?  Oh ya, there awesome chocolate danishes fresh out of the oven every morning at 9:30am!!!
-Albert Einstein Hospital cafeteria: Very good Brazilian-style food in buffet form for very cheap.
Also every month Brás, a famous non-kosher pizza shop has a pizza night which is great, and on occasion there is kosher McDonalds night which supposedly is much better then the Argentinian kosher McDonalds.


Here are some other pretty random thoughts on the city:

-The metro system is highly subsidized and easy to navigate.
Taxis are also very affordable, but they do rip you off for airport drop-offs and pick-ups.

-The nicest and safest Sao Paulo area would be Jardins.
A huge percentage of the jewish community is located here.
The main streets of Jardins, Oscar Freire and Lorena, are dotted with fun stores to browse.

-Most professionals, including the vast majority of the jewish community, speak English.  A good number of shluchim are American, including the head shliach, Shabsi Alpern and the charismatic Yosef Schildkraut, shliach in the lively Itaim Chabad House.

-Chabad Central (pronounced Chabad Cent-Row in Portuguese) is on Melo Alves in the Jardins neighborhood.  They have a full kiddush every Shabbos afternoon.

-Hotel Emiliano, part of AMEX's luxury hotels program, is on Oscar Freire, as are other cheaper hotels.  There is a Renaissance in the Paulista banking district which is walkable to Jardins.

-The Sephardishe community is located in Higienopolis where you can find the Safra's beautiful shul and the very nice "Shopping Higienopolis" mall.

-There's a great flea market every day at vinte cinco de março by the Sao Bento metro stop.
Lots of other great flea markets.  At the Paulista flea market on Sunday I got my mother a huge beautiful amethyst rock (the type that would sell for thousands of dollars in a mall) for $75.  Tons of bargains abound.

OK, that was a totally random look at Sao Paulo...sorry for the ramblings!
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Re: South America Master Thread
« Reply #19 on: July 02, 2010, 05:51:59 AM »
Disclaimer: I've never stayed in any hotels in Sao Paulo and haven't really spent any time there in 5 years so things probably have changed.  Also the Real (Pronounced: Hay-ow) is now at 1.8 to the dollar as opposed to 3 to the dollar when I was there...

Sao Paulo Restaurants (This may be unfortunately, completely inaccurate):
Brazilians eat their biggest meal at lunch and a late light dinner.
-Mehadrin (Jardins): A good fleishig restaurant that has a Rodizio every Sunday.  If you've been to Papagaio this is what they try to imitate but they do it better here for far less money.  Only open for lunch.
-Matok (Higienopolis): Decent pizza shop.  OK pizza, but amazing soft ice cream and hard ice cream bars in every flavor under the sun. 
-Pizza Bero (Jardins): Excellent pizza with all kinds of awesome toppings.  Once a week they run a Rodizio of Pizza where they keep on bringing all kinds of pizza with different toppings for a very reasonable price.  Only open for dinner.
-Naguila (Higienopolis): The fanciest fleishig restaurant with great brazilian alchoholic drinks and good desserts.  They also have rodizos a few nights a week.
-Goody (Bom Retiro): Excellent milchig Italian restaurant with a great buffet on select sundays.
-Kosher Center (Bom Retiro): This place was down the block from where I was a shliach for a year.  Schnitzel, fries, and a can of Guarana for $3...how can you top that?  Oh ya, there awesome chocolate danishes fresh out of the oven every morning at 9:30am!!!
-Albert Einstein Hospital cafeteria: Very good Brazilian-style food in buffet form for very cheap.
Also every month Brás, a famous non-kosher pizza shop has a pizza night which is great, and on occasion there is kosher McDonalds night which supposedly is much better then the Argentinian kosher McDonalds.


Here are some other pretty random thoughts on the city:

-The metro system is highly subsidized and easy to navigate.
Taxis are also very affordable, but they do rip you off for airport drop-offs and pick-ups.

-The nicest and safest Sao Paulo area would be Jardins.
A huge percentage of the jewish community is located here.
The main streets of Jardins, Oscar Freire and Lorena, are dotted with fun stores to browse.

-Most professionals, including the vast majority of the jewish community, speak English.  A good number of shluchim are American, including the head shliach, Shabsi Alpern and the charismatic Yosef Schildkraut, shliach in the lively Itaim Chabad House.

-Chabad Central (pronounced Chabad Cent-Row in Portuguese) is on Melo Alves in the Jardins neighborhood.  They have a full kiddush every Shabbos afternoon.

-Hotel Emiliano, part of AMEX's luxury hotels program, is on Oscar Freire, as are other cheaper hotels.  There is a Renaissance in the Paulista banking district which is walkable to Jardins.

-The Sephardishe community is located in Higienopolis where you can find the Safra's beautiful shul and the very nice "Shopping Higienopolis" mall.

-There's a great flea market every day at vinte cinco de março by the Sao Bento metro stop.
Lots of other great flea markets.  At the Paulista flea market on Sunday I got my mother a huge beautiful amethyst rock (the type that would sell for thousands of dollars in a mall) for $75.  Tons of bargains abound.

OK, that was a totally random look at Sao Paulo...sorry for the ramblings!


Awesome! Thanks a lot!

Would you suggest staying in SP longer than just Shabbos? Is there anything there worth seeing in doing?