Anyone looking for proof that São Paulo is now seriously competing with Buenos Aires for the title of Latin America’s hottest city needs to know this: On the 29th of this month the Brazilian metropolis will open the doors of its own Mokaï club. Yes, that’s the oh-so-glamorous VIP Miami Beach club now transplanted in the southern hemisphere but with the same exclusive ambiance. It will be found close to Rua Oscar Freire, São Paulo’s famous shopping street, and will include a space called Hell’s Kitchen for an even more private get-together.

If you’re in the city any time soon, also head to the MAM (São Paulo’s modern art museum) for a recently-unveiled exhibition about Brazilian design. Named “Brazilian Design Today: Frontiers,” it presents about 100 pieces of industrial design, graphic arts, architecture, and fashion made in Brazil, and will be on display until June 28.

Another recent opening was Dalva e Dito, a restaurant bringing rustic traditions to the sophisticated urban crowds. It is named after an imaginary couple and serves innovative homestyle cooking by Alex Atala (one of Brazil’s top chefs who is behind the city’s renowned D.O.M. restaurant) in a contemporary space.

Also new in town is Zena Caffé, an informal space not just serving lunch and dinner, but open for business throughout the day. Most of the menu is Italian, as are most of the over 60 labels on the wine list. Located in the hip Jardins neighborhood and owned by someone who has other popular eateries in town, this one is sure to become one more success story.

Not too long ago Jardins also welcomed another restaurant to the neighborhood, this time an Irish restaurant with a pub atmosphere. It’s called Mulligan, and it’s not just another typical Irish pub, this is a place for some serious Irish food, with creative interpretations of traditional recipes brought from Dublin. Yes, of course there is plenty of Guinness too, and the dessert to try is the Baileys cheesecake. When weather permits, you can enjoy it all at a table outside.

Where to stay in the city to enjoy all of this? In Jardins, of course! The recent opening of Tivoli São Paulo Mofarrej brought yet another 5-star service to the neighborhood. If you can’t get a room at Fasano or Emiliano, this hotel is a good alternative, offering tastefully-decorated rooms and a luxurious spa, not to mention one of Latin America’s largest presidential suites overlooking the city.

-See the complete São Paulo city guide.
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