Home › Travel Guides › South America Travel Guide › Brazil › Sao Paulo › Sao Paulo Nightlife
Image gallery

Sao Paulo skyline , Brazil

© 123rf.com

-200
Sao Paulo Local time

Weather in Sao Paulo
Occ Light Rain
3
1
°C
Brazil

Sao Paulo Nightlife

Eschewing sleep, Paulistanos’ love to put the day behind them and enjoy São Paulo’s cornucopia of nocturnal offerings. There are neighbourhood bars all over the city, while nightclubs come and go in a dynamically ephemeral scene. Bohemian Vila Madalena’s bars draw youthful crowds while the Baixo side of Rua Augusta is shedding a seedy reputation and forging a happening identity. For live music, São Paulo looks towards northeast Brazilian forró rather than samba. São Paulo also rules the classic roost with world-class operatic performances, dance companies, and orchestral arrangements.

Leading newspaper Folha de São Paulo produces a weekly Friday listings called Folha Guia while Time Out magazine has recently launched a monthly version for São Paulo in English.

Bars in Sao Paulo

Alberta#3

Breathing new life into downtown Centro, this cool yet hot new bar is very vogue. Indy and rock bias yet without the grunge interior as plush leather seating areas and fancy cocktails adorn the low-lit bars above the basement dance floor. The bar’s name is an appropriate wordplay on a Bob Dylan track because Alberta#3’s fun-loving owner, Ivan Finotti, bears a passing resemblance to the great singer-songwriter.

Avenida São Luís 272, São Paulo
Tel: (11) 3151 5299.
www.alberta3.com.br

Pirajá

Despite intercity rivalry, this lively bar pays homage to all things carioca (from Rio). A post-work Pinheiros crowd fills an interior packed with carioca mementos. As the night wears on patrons spill outside onto pavement tables enjoying draught chopp (beer) and Brazilian snacks such as feijão and carne seca.

Avenida Brig. Faria Lima 64, São Paulo
Tel: (11) 3815 6881.
www.piraja.com.br

Skye Bar

Drop dead cool ambience and cocktails’ expensive enough to fall into splurge category. This trendy restaurant-bar is arranged around a pool on the rooftop of the boutique Hotel Unique and is frequented by São Paulo’s smart set. Background DJ sets but USP is dazzling views over the city’s illuminated nighttime skyline.

Avenida Brigadeiro Luís Antônio 4700, São Paulo
Tel: (11) 3055 4710.
www.hotelunique.com.br

Clubs in Sao Paulo

D-Edge

Pulsating LED displays create an ambient lightshow that breathe to the heartbeat of the DJ’s mixes. This doyen of edgy techno and house dance music is an A-lister regularly voted by magazines as one of the best dance venues in the world. Different themes for different nights include Freak chic and Mothership.

Alameda Olga 170, São Paulo
Tel: (11) 3667 8334.
www.d-edge.com.br

The Week

Muscled male go-go dancers provide an extrovert intro to one of South America’s leading gay dance clubs. Sexual orientation, however, is no bar as the club is GLS and one of the best nights out in town. Two laser-lit dance floors, visiting international DJs, and a swimming pool, are the focus of this large venue capable of hosting 2000 revellers. It opens just Saturday at midnight and summer Sundays for pool parties.

Rua Guaicurus 324, São Paulo
Tel: (11) 3868 9944.
www.theweek.com.br

Vegas

With an interior themed like a casino being viewed through a kaleidoscope, the two dance-floors of this well-established Baixo Augusta venue blend techno and house with hip hop and funk. Live acts perform and partying doesn’t kick off until after 2300.

Rua Augusta 765, São Paulo
Tel: (11) 3231 3705.
www.vegasclub.com.br

Live Music in Sao Paulo

BarB

Rooted in downtown, this groovy slightly Bohemian venue puts the ‘A’ in avant-garde. Nice atmosphere of long time lounge lizards and jazz newcomers enjoying regular live acts varying from ‘trad’ to experimental. Open Tuesday to Sunday, with a small cover charge.

Rua General Jardim 43, São Paulo
Tel: (11) 3129 9155.
www.barbsp.com.br

Canto de Ema

Sweat-drenched intimacy and fancy footwork herald the best place in town to enjoy forró. For those less confident over their moves, dance classes are available before it opens around 2230. Regular live acts belt out the rhythms of forró and xote to enthusiastic crowds who bop until they drop.

Avenida Brig. Faria Lima 364, São Paulo
Tel: (11) 3813 4708.
www.cantodaema.com.br

Ó do Borogogó

Whatever Rio can do. Party time begins around 2100 at Ó do Borogogó - São Paulo’s premier samba joint. Afro-Brazilian rhythms electrify dancing crowds who routinely pack this large spacious venue in Pinheiros.

Rua Horácio Lane 21, São Paulo
Tel: (11) 3814 4087.

Classical Music in Sao Paulo

Teatro Municipal

Grand old dame of classic performances that is as memorable for its majestic presence as performances. The sumptuous auditorium dates from the early 20th century and offers opera, dance from the resident Ballet da Cidade, theatre, and classical concerts. Guided tours are available for those simply wanting to gawp at the grandeur.

Praça Ramos de Azevedo, São Paulo
Tel: (11) 3397 0300.
www.teatromunicipal.sp.gov.br

Opera in Sao Paulo

Sala São Paulo

Recognized as the numero uno concert space in all South America, the Sala possesses acoustics to leave one purring with pleasure. It hosts regular operatic performances of opera and recitals from the resident São Paulo Symphony Orchestra (OSESP).

Praça Júlio Prestes, São Paulo
Tel: (11) 3367 9500.
www.salasaopaulo.art.br

Travel Deals

Recommended Sites:

Protect yourself from malaria
Before you travel, find out if your holiday destination is in a malaria zone.
(An educational initiative organised and funded by GlaxoSmithKline Travel Health. UK/MARK/0173/10 September 2010)
Africa, the way it should be seen
We´re cutting the cost of Africa overland trips by up to a whopping 40%. 25% off many trips departing by 30/6/12.
Travel insurance
For residents of over 150 countries. High levels of medical, evacuation, emergency & most adventure activities covered.