Flights
🛬 Friday April 3 — Arrival
- Lands: 6:45 AM at GRU
- Customs: ~45–60 min
- Uber to hotel: 1h20–1h40 (rush hour)
- Cost: ~R$110–160 (~$20–30 USD)
🛫 Monday April 6 — Departure
- Departs: 9:50 PM
- Leave hotel: 5:30 PM MAX
- Monday evening = heaviest traffic
- GRU is large — arrive 3h+ early
The Wedding
Chalé Quintal
A romantic fairy tale in the heart of São Paulo
Reception Hall
Crystal chandeliers, exclusive antique furniture
Ceremony Space
Where it all begins — April 4, 4 PM
The Details
Every inch designed with love
We'd love for you to be with us as we begin our forever.
Let's celebrate love, togetherness, and the joy of choosing each other every day.
On the day we officially join our lives, it would mean so much to have you with us —
in heart, in spirit, and if possible in person.
📍 What to Expect on the Day
- 📍 Av. Angélica, 2331 — Higienópolis · 0.8km from hotel · 3 min Uber
- Ceremony starts 4 PM sharp — arrive a few minutes early
- Dinner (~7–8 PM): No buffet — waiters bring dishes and appetizers to your table throughout the evening. Continuous flow, SP-style.
- Open bar all night: champagne / espumante, beer, cocktails
- DJ + dancing until ~1 AM
- Getting home: Uber back is 3 min, ~R$10 ($2). Always take Uber at night.
👔 Dress Code: Smart Elegant
No floral, boho, or garden-party looks. Think modern gala — elegant is the floor, style is yours. Indoors, no grass, so heels are safe. For full inspiration: lucasekailua.com.br
👩 For Shelby
Floor-length or midi gown. Bold colors — deep green, teal, burnt orange, navy, sage. Structured silhouettes. Sandals available at venue for later in the night.
👨 For Brooks
Tailored suit, linen suit, or blazer + trousers. Olive, cream, navy, beige, charcoal. Dress shoes or clean white sneakers as part of an elegant look are both welcome.
Getting Around
🚗 Uber — Your Best Friend
- Same app as home, works perfectly
- Safe, reliable, used by everyone
- Always Uber at night — even for short trips
- Avoid airport taxi touts — use Uber from the clearly marked zone
- Uber Comfort/Black for airport trips
- Within city: R$15–50 (~$3–10 USD)
🚇 Metro — For the Curious
- Clean, modern, and efficient
- Covers Paulista and key areas
- App: TOP SP — may require CPF (Brazilian tax ID) — might not work for tourists
- Nearest station requires a bit of a walk from hotel
- For this short trip, Uber is easier in every scenario
Your Neighborhood: Higienópolis
INNSiDE by Meliá
Chalé Quintal — 0.8km
Higienópolis — tree-lined streetsAn upscale, residential neighborhood where real São Paulo lives.
Higienópolis (say: ee-zhee-en-OH-poh-lees) is one of the most pleasant central neighborhoods in SP. Tree-lined streets, beautiful early 20th-century architecture, great cafés, and zero tourist traps. Safe, walkable, and the wedding venue is literally 0.8km away.
📍 Distances from Hotel — Rua Maranhão, 371
- 💍 Chalé Quintal (wedding): 0.8km — 3 min Uber · → Maps
- 🍽️ Carlota restaurant: ~0.5km — walkable! · → Maps
- 🇵🇪 AMA.ZO Peruano: ~0.8km — walkable! · → Maps
- 🛍️ Shopping Higienópolis: ~500m — walkable! · → Maps
- 🏛️ Avenida Paulista: ~1.5km — 5 min Uber · → Maps
- 🌳 Ibirapuera Park: ~5km — 10 min Uber · → Maps
- 🎨 Beco do Batman: ~5km — 15 min Uber · → Maps
- 🛍️ Mercadão: ~6km — 15 min Uber · → Maps
- ✈️ GRU Airport: ~35km — 1h–1h40 Uber (~$20–30)
A Note on Prices
São Paulo has something for every budget — but it's not "everything is cheap"
At R$5.32 = $1 USD, you'll find street food for R$20–50 ($4–10), casual lunch spots for R$40–80 ($8–15), and good neighborhood restaurants for R$80–150pp ($15–28). However, the top restaurants can rival US prices — a tasting menu at DOM, Maní, or Jun Sakamoto runs R$400–900pp ($75–170).
The sweet spot: mid-range restaurants here will blow away equivalent US spots in quality, usually for half the price. That's where São Paulo truly shines.
Food — The Main Event
This is a food lover's dream city.
Largest Japanese community outside Japan. Largest Italian diaspora in the world. Millions of Lebanese, Northeastern Brazilian, and Middle Eastern settlers. Every wave brought food — and São Paulo kept all of it. The result is one of the most exciting food cities on Earth, at prices that will make your jaw drop.
SP has over 1.5 million Japanese-Brazilians — the largest Japanese community outside Japan. The quality of Japanese food here is extraordinary and often rivals Tokyo. From the Liberdade neighborhood's casual spots to world-class Michelin-starred omakase, it's a genuine highlight.
🏘️ Liberdade — The Japanese Neighborhood
About 15 min Uber from your hotel. A real, living Japanese-Brazilian community — not a tourist recreation. Japanese supermarkets, ramen spots, izakayas, fresh gyoza stands, sushi bars. Great for an afternoon wander and inexpensive but excellent food.
Brazil is world-famous for its beef, and São Paulo's steakhouses are where you experience this at its absolute best. The traditional rodízio — all-you-can-eat, meat carved tableside — is a uniquely Brazilian ritual. Even if you've been to Brazilian steakhouses in the US, this is a different experience: better cuts, better technique, better value.
SP has the world's largest Italian diaspora — over 100 years of tradition developed a distinct São Paulo style: thicker, richer, more toppings, very high quality. The city is widely considered one of the world's great pizza destinations. A great suggestion for Sunday night — walkable from your hotel.
Bráz Pizzaria $$
Refined, high quality, award-winning. Named one of the best pizzerias in Latin America multiple times. ~0.8km from hotel — walkable. Individual pizzas ~R$70–100.
Veridiana $$
Classic SP pizzaria with decades of history. Consistently ranked among São Paulo's top pizzerias. ~1km — also walkable. Traditional style, no frills. Whole pies ~R$80–120.
You hit the jackpot on location. All walkable
Three legitimately excellent restaurants within walking distance of your hotel — a rarity in a megacity. Perfect for when you're tired and don't want to Uber anywhere.
- Carlota — 0.5km walk, neighbourhood gem, Brazilian bistro (~$40–70pp) → Maps
- AMA.ZO Peruano — 0.8km walk, Michelin Bib Gourmand (~$30–50pp) → Maps
- Maní — Open for lunch Tue–Sun. The special treat (~$70–130pp) → Maps
- Balaio IMS — 5 min Uber to Paulista, great outing lunch (~$25–40pp) → Maps
- Casaréia SP — 12 min Uber, all-day, stunning space (~$20–40pp) → Maps
- Botanikafé — 8 min Uber, healthy lunch + stay and work → Maps
Places to Explore
Avenida Paulista — The Spine of São Paulo
On Sundays the entire 3km avenue closes to cars and becomes a pedestrian boulevard. Expect street performers, skaters, cyclists, food stalls, live music, open-air art, and thousands of locals. This is the São Paulo experience — don't miss it.
Food & Coffee along Paulista: Caffè Ristoro (garden café), Balaio IMS (lunch), Riviera Bar (classic). Shopping: Havaianas flagship, bookstores, artisan stalls. Music: Live performers throughout on Sundays.
Suggested order on Sunday:
- 1. Caffè Ristoro — Start with coffee in the garden. Av. Paulista, 37. → Directions
- 2. MASP — The iconic floating museum. ~R$50. Recommended but not mandatory — the avenue itself is the experience. → Directions
- 3. Balaio IMS — Lunch inside IMS, Av. Paulista 2424. → Directions from MASP
- 4. SESC Paulista — Rooftop view. Best around sunset (5–6 PM). Free, no booking, bring passport. Closed Mondays. → Directions from Balaio
Beco do Batman
Famous alley and surrounding streets completely covered in murals. Artists constantly repaint — what you see today may be different next time. The bohemian neighborhood is full of bars, indie shops, and creative energy. Perfect Sunday afternoon + drinks.
📍 R. Gonçalo Afonso s/n — Vila Madalena · Open 24hrs · Free → Directions
Ibirapuera Park
The Central Park of São Paulo — designed by Oscar Niemeyer. 400 acres, free, open 5 AM–11 PM. Perfect for a Saturday morning walk before the wedding. Free concerts Sunday mornings.
📍 Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral s/n — Vila Mariana → Directions
Mercadão
Massive covered food market in historic downtown. Stained glass windows, hanging meats, exotic Brazilian fruits. Loud, chaotic, totally unique. Open Mon–Sat 6 AM–6 PM, Sun until 4 PM.
📍 R. da Cantareira, 306 — Centro → Directions
🎭 Theatro Municipal, Bar dos Arcos & Breakfast
A stunning 1911 European-style opera house in historic downtown. Three ways to experience it:
- Café do Theatro — Breakfast and brunch inside the historic building. Atmospheric and beautiful.
- Bar dos Arcos — Moody underground bar in the arches beneath the theater. Unique atmosphere, great drinks, very "old São Paulo." Expect a line on weekends — worth the wait, or arrive early.
- The theater — Check for shows during your visit. A performance in this space is memorable.
📍 Praça Ramos de Azevedo s/n — Centro · ~15 min Uber → Directions
Shopping
What to Buy
- Havaianas — Way more selection and much cheaper here. Get the real thing.
- Brazilian coffee — World's largest producer. Whole beans from a specialty shop.
- Brigadeiro — Box from a specialty shop. Dangerously addictive.
- Cachaça — Leblon or Ypióca Gold. Bring home to make caipirinhas.
- Guaraná Antarctica — A can or two. You'll want to remember the taste.
- Paçoca — Crumbly peanut candy. Uniquely Brazilian.
- Local fashion — Brazilian designers are excellent and affordable vs US.
Day-by-Day Plan
Work Spots: Friday & Monday
Easiest. Good WiFi. Work from your room or lobby.
Best work + coffee combo in the area. Specialty coffee, WiFi, laptop-friendly. Open from 8 AM. → Maps
Beautiful all-day café, open from 7 AM. Great for a longer work session with a proper breakfast or lunch. → Maps
Apps to Download Before You Fly
Safety: The Real Talk
A big, vibrant city — be present, not paranoid.
Millions of people live here safely every day. Higienópolis is one of the safest neighborhoods in SP. As a gringo (foreigner), you're more visible — just follow these rules.
🎒 Don't Look Like a Target
- Don't walk with your laptop bag visibly, especially at night.
- Phone in pocket while walking — don't stand on corners on your screen
- Bag on your lap at restaurants — not on the chair back
🌙 Always Uber at Night
- Wedding → Hotel is 0.8km. Uber anyway. R$10, 3 min — better safe.
- Wait for Uber inside the restaurant — not on the sidewalk
- Avoid isolated streets after midnight
Practical Info
💵 Money
- Currency: Brazilian Real (BRL)
- 💱 R$5.32 = $1 USD
- Cards + Apple/Google Pay everywhere
- Carry R$100–200 cash for markets
🍽️ Tipping
- Restaurants auto-add 10% serviço
- Say "com serviço" — customary to pay
- No pressure to add more. Uber: no tip.
🗣️ Language — What to Expect
- Portuguese — not Spanish. Brazilians appreciate the difference.
- At GRU airport: English signs everywhere, many staff speak English.
- At top restaurants in this guide (Maní, DOM, A Casa do Porco, etc.): English menus and English-speaking staff very likely.
- At more casual spots: menus will be in Portuguese — Google Translate camera mode works great.
⚡ Tech
- Plugs: Type N (2 round pins) — bring adapter
- Check brick for "100–240V"
🌡️ Weather & Time
- April: 68–78°F (20–26°C), can be rainy
- Light jacket + compact umbrella
- Time zone: BRT (GMT-3) — 2h ahead of Houston CDT
👋 Greetings
One kiss on the cheek — standard even with strangers in social settings. Just lean in, it's perfectly natural.
🕐 Time is Flexible
If dinner is at 8, people arrive at 8:30. Nights last longer than expected. Nothing starts on time. Embrace it — it's a feature.
Portuguese Cheat Sheet
🌎 There's So Much More to Brazil
This guide is intentionally focused on making the most of your short time in São Paulo. But Brazil is a continent-sized country with incredible diversity — Rio de Janeiro's beaches and culture, the Amazon, the Pantanal wetlands, Bahia's Afro-Brazilian culture, Florianópolis's beaches, the Iguaçu Falls... this guide barely scratches the surface. If you fall in love with the country (and you probably will), there's a lifetime of exploration waiting. For now — enjoy every minute of SP. 🇧🇷