Last Monday, Michelin presented the fourth installment of the MICHELIN Guide Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, bringing forth two new two-stared restaurants, two new one-starred restaurants and four new Bib Gourmand eateries. And, for the first time in the country, the selection includes a new distinction: the Michelin Plate, signifying restaurants that offer good cooking using fresh ingredients and are carefully prepared—simply, a good meal—bringing the total to 169 establishments in the guide.
Though Brazilian cuisine varies by region, one thing is for certain: São Paulo is a gastronomic paradise, featuring the cuisines of many countries near and far, ranging from neighboring Peru, across to Italy and as far off as Japan. So it comes as no surprise that there are a number of French restaurants worth seeking out.
Here’s where to satiate your French fare hankering on your next visit to São Paulo.
Bistrot de Paris
JardinsMichelin Distinction: Bib Gourmand
What Our Inspectors Say: “Sitting out on the front terrace of this restaurant, set in a charming little alleyway, you could be forgiven for thinking that you're in a romantic, secretive part of Paris. It has both the atmosphere and the cuisine of a Parisian bistro; the honest cooking adheres to French techniques but with a nod to Brazilian produce. In 1990, its renowned French chef, Alain Poletto, won the 'best technique' prize at the Académie Nationale de Cuisine as a result of his research into sous-vide cooking.”
Bistrot Parigi
MorumbiMichelin Distinction: Plate
What Our Inspectors Say: “Located on top of an elegant shopping center, this restaurant—part of the Fasano Group—boasts a bright bistro-style dining room and a dazzling terrace with superb views of the surrounding skyscrapers. The menu is based around French flavors and features well-executed classic dishes alongside an appealing selection of egg-based recipes. To end your meal, we highly recommend one of their most famous desserts, the millefeuille with crème patissière.”
Chef Rouge
JardinsMichelin Distinction: Plate
What Our Inspectors Say: “On the French flag, the blue stripe signifies liberty, the white, equality and the red, fraternity. If we adopt this symbolism, it could be said that the raison d'être of this bistro is fraternization; something it achieves by offering great food and a charming atmosphere. Signature dishes here include grilled foie gras with figs and toasted brioche and, to round off your meal, the marvelous classic, Tarte Tatin.”
Marcel
JardinsMichelin Distinction: Plate
What Our Inspectors Say: “This French restaurant has been in existence for over half a century and has written its name in the history of São Paulo gastronomy thanks to its soufflés, which for many years have been considered the best in the city. The current chef, the grandson of the founder, continues the family tradition by offering cuisine whose roots are steeped in French culinary tradition. Signature dishes include the octopus with pesto, potato cake and garden herbs, and the legendary Gruyère cheese soufflé.”
Ici Bistrô
ConsolaçãoMichelin Distinction: Plate
What Our Inspectors Say: “In the past, a bistro was just a popular local bar. During the twentieth century, however, tourism in France transformed it into its present form—a style icon of local life that is both charming and informal and a haven for traditional French cuisine. Here, it is almost as if Ici Bistrô has been moved lock, stock and barrel from Paris to Higienópolis, with its classic, well-prepared dishes using top-quality ingredients, such as steak tartare, duck confit and Tarte Tatin without unnecessary frills.”
Hero image courtesy of Bistrot de Paris.
