SÀO PAULO CITY

How do you put the third-largest city in the world in a nutshell? In the case of São Paulo, with two words: food and business. São Paulo is, first of all, a major business mecca. Just about everything that comes into or goes out of Brazil goes through São Paulo—and a huge portion of Brazil’s own product-base is manufactured, in whole or in part, in São Paulo. Communications, automobiles, coffee,
textiles . . . São Paulo stands in strong contrast to the Third-World images that most foreigners have of Brazil. Most foreigners (even Brazilians from other parts) are stunned by the efficiency and velocity of the São Paulo scene.
If you find yourself in this grand city, there’s an 85 percent chance that you’re here on some kind of business. Just keep in mind that the pleasure of doing business in São Paulo comes from all those incredible business lunches and dinners you’ll be enjoying. The city’s central area alone has more than 1,400 restaurants featuring more than 40 different types of foods. But if you’re in São Paulo to take in some sights, you won’t be disappointed. The city offers some charming neighborhoods (including several ethnic centers); museums focusing on Latin American art and culture; performance halls with internationally-renowned music groups; dance and theater groups; street fairs; shopping centers; and many parks and open spaces.