Best Italian Restaurants In São Paulo

If you're absolutely obsessed with Italian food (or just food in general), then this article is for you. Lately I've been trying to go to as many restaurants in SP during the weekend as possible, and I've only now realized that there is a clear pattern in the restaurants I'm choosing to go to – they all serve pasta. In this article I've included a list of the Italian restaurants that have quickly become my new favorites and a suggestion of plates to order.

1. Nino Cucina & Vino With a modern, Italian-inspired decoration, Nino makes you feel like you're in the countryside of Italy. They make their pasta fresh (displayed in one of their balconies), so make sure you don't skip out on their pasta dishes. My recommendation is for you to start off your meal with their famous burrata and then choose either the pesto or carbonara. If you're still up for a challenge, order the parmigiana filet – you won’t be disappointed! [R. Jerônimo da Veiga, 30 - Jardim Europa, São Paulo - SP, 04536-000]

2. Zucco is one of the restaurants I didn’t research online; I was walking in the street and came across a ginormous glass window and bam! Instantly felt attracted to try it out, and I sure wasn't disappointed. They firstly try to offer you a nice-looking couverte, but since I was super hungry and eager to try their dishes, I gave it a pass. My recommendation would, without a doubt, be for you to try the tagliata di manzo al crema di tartufo bianco – a dish which consists of meat with a truffle sauce and fresh pasta with a yolk on top. If you're not up to eating meat, I suggest the ravioline di burrata al burro di tartufo bianco, which is equally as delicious and light. If you're going to take anything form this review it would be this: try their chocolate soufflé. It is so, so good and light and unlike anything else I've ever tasted. [732/21, Rua Haddock Lobo, 1416 - Cerqueira César, São Paulo - SP, 01414-002]

3. Etto is one of my friend's (which I practically call a chef) personal favorites – so trust me when I say it's good. Whenever we go there we usually order one of their cheeses (in my case my favourite is the gorgonzola dolci) as a starter - they're always fresh and a nice way to start off your meal. You simply cannot pass up on ordering their Ovo no Purgatório, it won't be like anything you've tasted before (I won’t give you too many details or else I'll ruin the surprise). For a main dish, I recommend either the gnocchi di patati al ragú di salsiccia or the rigatoni con ragú alla bolognesa. Both are simply but extremely well-made dishes, and I'm absolutely certain you'll love them! [R. Bela Cintra, 1783 - Consolação, São Paulo - SP, 01415-001]

4. Due Cuochi Just writing about this restaurant makes me super hungry, so that's already a bonus point for me. This is one of the few restaurants where I'll go for meat (with pasta as a side dish, obviously) instead of an only-pasta dish. If you’re in love with lamb meat like me, I recommend trying the costeleta de cordeiro com tagliolini - it's simply delicious. If you're not up to the challenge, try their carbonara. It's really different from Nino's, but nonetheless delicious. [R. Manuel Guedes, 93 - Itaim Bibi, São Paulo - SP, 04536-070]

5. Picchi For my final recommendation, Picchi is one of my go-to's. Recommended to me by my 'chef friend', it has soon become a family favourite. Here, I go for a more of an exotic (for me) plate, the arroz de polvo. If you're a fan of seafood this is 100% a great option for you. If you like the classics a little bit better, the gnocchi trufado is one of my favourite plates ever. Be sure to try their cannoli for desert too - it's served with a delicious ball of pistachio ice cream!