Located in the Rosewood Hotel, Mata Citta is a massive Italian restaurant specializing in classic Italian cuisines, including pizza, pastas, and grilled dishes. I was told the layout of this area is actually composed of a multitude of different restaurants. Each room has a unique Italian themed decor. We were seated in what appeared to be the library. We arrived here without reservations, and there was a wait to get in. There were multiple lines, and in Sao Paulo, there’s a law that they need to accommodate elderly sooner than later. We had my partner’s parent in the group, so we were able to get in within 10-15 minutes.

Famiglia Mancini is a well-known Italian restaurant near the center of Sao Paulo. It offers general portions, and it has won a number of Italian awards in the region. I learned recently that this is where the head chef at the Versace Mansion, Walter Mancini, started out. We were staying near this area, so my partner wanted to check this place out. It’s known for being a tourist landmark with traditional, comfort-style Italian food. We were able to walk in around 5:00 PM without any issues.

After landing in Sao Paulo, we had some errands to run around town. As the evening gets darker, we finished our errand and were hungry. This item was on my partner’s list for quite some time. This restaurant comes from a Brazilian MasterChef Professional winner, Dayse Paparoto. We were able to walk in at around 9:45 PM on a Thursday evening without any lines or wait whatsoever. We were seated in a 2-seater near the door.