Sao Paulo Entertainment

You won't have a problem finding something to do in the evenings. Sao Paulo, like most large cities, has huge variety of bars, restaurants and cafés catering for all tastes. The varied culture of the city can be seen in the different districts, each with its own unique character. Whether you are after a flashy nightclub, live music, a trendy restaurant or something more refined such as dance presentations, classical music or opera; Sao Paulo won't disappoint.

Nightlife

Sao Paulo has a reputation for lively nightlife and there are plenty of clubs and bars, many with bands playing everything from samba and jazz to pop. The main districts to head for are those of Jardins, Bela Vista, Moema, Itaim-Bibi, Vila Madalena and Pinheiros.

Vila Olímpia is emerging as the new hotspot for nightlife, with a number of large clubs located here as well as some of the city's best bars. The nightlife scene is quite spread out, so you need to plan your evening's activities if you want to visit more than one venue. It's advisable to pick a district and stay there, thus avoiding the infamous night-time traffic jams.

Many of the bars and clubs charge a minimum drink price instead of a cover charge. You will receive a small card on arrival, where all of your expenses are recorded, which you then pay on departure. Don't lose the card or you will be charged a hefty maximum fee.

The club scene is well established and there is a wide variety of places offering different types of music including commercial dance tunes and hip-hop as well as more specialist nights such as indie and trance. Sao Paulo has a large gay population, with the scene mainly in the Jardins area.

Beer gardens are often a popular choice for local people and they serve good draft beers in china mugs or aluminium steins. Many of the local bars have their own beers and generally attract a young crowd.

Theatre and music

Cultural entertainment thrives in Sao Paulo and there are several good venues for theatre and the arts. There are more than 40 theatres dotted around the city, but most of the major performances take place at just two halls, with the Teatro Municipal being the traditional focal point for Sao Paulo's vibrant opera and classical music, while the Estação Júlio Prestes is equally popular.

Built in 1903 as a Parisian-style opera house, the Teatro Municipal can be found in the heart of the old downtown area. The renovated Estação Júlio Prestes is housed in the former Victorian railway station and has a new 1,500-seat concert hall. Both halls put on a varied programme of classical music, theatre, opera and dance. The cultural department of the state government publishes Revista Cultural, a monthly listing of all events in the city.

There are more than 250 cinemas in Sao Paulo showing the latest blockbuster movies as well as some smaller places and art-house cinemas offering presentations of non-commercial and cult films. Performances of traditional and modern Brazilian music can be found at many venues. The best entertainment guide can be found in the A Folha de Sao Paulo broadsheet every Friday. Tickets for the theatre should be booked well in advance.

Festivals

Sao Paulo plays host to a lot of festivals, meetings and events every year. The following are some of the most popular:

• Achiropita Festival (Festa da Achiropita) in August. A free festival celebrating Italian traditions and organised by the local church, Paroquia de Nossa Senhora da Achiropita. It is held in the Italian neighbourhood of Bixiga and there are many stands selling sweets, snacks and crafts.
• International Convention of RPG in September. A rather unusual event that is dedicated to role playing games, and aimed primarily at the younger generation. It consists of stands of RPG games, fan clubs and comics. There is a huge area for challenging other fellow visitors as well as seminars about RPG, fantasy and science-fiction related themes.
• Sao Paulo International Film Festival (Mostra BR de Cinema) in October. The oldest Brazilian festival of its kind and one of the largest festivals in the region. The Mostra BR screens over 300 foreign and domestic films at different locations in Sao Paulo. The focus is very much on the films and not the glitzy parties.
• F1 Grand Prix of Interlagos in October. A regular fixture of the FIA world championship and regarded as one of the most challenging and exciting circuits. It is held at the Interlagos Autodrome, where Ayrton Senna, Emerson Fittipaldi and Rubens Barricello once trained. The quality of the facilities is often questioned, but it is an established track and a favourite among the drivers.