I am born and raised in São Paulo, the largest and richest city in Brazil. Like any big city São Paulo is fast and loud, but there are some things that nobody tells you about it: some small pieces of paradise. One of those small pieces is Serra da Cantareira, not everyone knows, some have heard of it, others say “that place far away”, the older ones can still speak: that place that Elis Regina (the singer) had a house.
Serra da Cantareira is 40 minutes from downtown São Paulo. It is a green area where you can see monkeys, birds and other native species, part of it is within the city of São Paulo, it is a bucolic place, with waterfalls and trails. The mountains are home to restaurants such as “Velhão” and “Ora Pois” and “Miolo”, the famous organic artisan bakery.
Living near the “Serra”, I usually go to Serra da Cantareira to see the beautiful landscapes, on one of these visits I met the small and unique “Café Manacá”, a beautiful, colorful cafe, full of personality and with great cakes. The first visit was on a cold winter day, but the place was heated by a small fireplace and customers could still use the blankets that the house offers. Its owner Otávio gave me a lesson on the coffee beans available at the house and the ways they serve. Otávio and his wife Rebeca are passionate about what they do!
I was delighted with the place, my “local guider” spirit didn’t think twice, I took beautiful pictures of the place and made sure to do a good review. Undoubtedly one of the best things about being a local guider is being able to help publicize these small places, where their owners are dedicated to offering the best product with the best experience. I have been back before and I took more people to meet and try the delicious coffee.
Don’t be afraid to visit places far from your home, you may be surprised!
If you know a place near your home that you like a lot, support this place, spread the word, let the world know about!
