Oh to wake up every day to a house like this filled with cheery knick-knacks and the smell of…read morebaking. A cross between craft shop and farmhouse kitchen, Lá da Venda is a lovingly-curated treasure trove where hams and cheeses hang from the ceiling alongside baskets, hammocks and multi-coloured crochet rugs, while tea towels, knitted dolls, wooden toys and clay pots cram the shelves. Pop by for coffee and one of chef Heloisa Bacellar's award-winning pães de queijo. Or for something more substantial, cop a spot outside or in the interior courtyard and linger over the daily-changing lunch menu.

Cosy place, in the middle of the Batman district! Organic food, i really recommend…read more Staff very welcoming and attentive

The worst acai i've ever had, and I've had so many. Literally just a bowl of sugar. Way too sweet…read moreand inedible. It's also expensive considering it's so much sugar and less berry. Avoid this place.

For me, this place has the perfect Açai bowl. Plain açai with a side bowl of mangos and a bag of…read moregranola. You can mix in the exact proportions you like and really enjoy it. Going back again tomorrow. They also have coffee, cappuccino and other sandwiches.

I went to Dona Vitamina to try to cram in some healthy food after eating a few too many pão de…read morequeijos and I wasn't disappointed! The açaí smoothie came out first and was perfectly thick and sweetened just enough - it was delicious. The mushroom wrap was great as well. I'm not a big bread eater (for sandwiches) so I likely would have asked for it without a wrap had I thought ahead. However, the spinach wrap was good and a great seasoning to it. This place is a bit more on the pricey side (in line with other restaurants in the area) - my meal was about $13 USD which is a little less than what I would have paid for a comparable meal in the US. If you're not on a strict budget then I'd recommend a detox meal here!

Place is rad and charming! Was looking for a place to grab a quick breakfast before bikram on a…read moreSaturday that would open early, didn't find many, found a few padarias but it's bad when I go in before a workout because I get enticed with greasy food like coxinhas, pão de queijo, etc so this time I'd skipped it. Came to Dona Vitamina to check it out and it's awesome! Open decor, a garden in the back of the room, vertical garden, open kitchen, smiling service staff, magazine rack, truly felt like I was having breakfast somewhere around Rodrigo de Freitas Lake in Rio. Menu has a wide range from vitaminas (smoothies), wraps, sandwiches, pão de queijo, bread, cakes, the list goes on. Though it's a healthy place, so no flaky croissants stuffed with ham and cheese, chocolate, etc. Since I had a bikram class to attend, I picked a açaí bowl which probably could feed three people easily, sliced banana e a side of granola along. Ommmm...

This fine establishment was just a block from the hotel I stayed in for a week of work. It's a…read morehealth-food mecca! I'm always worried about healthy food when i travel. I initially just thought this was a juice bar which would have been just fine for me, as I love a morning lemon juice (no sugar!), but this place has so much more! It's also got a great selection of salads, some nice egg dishes, some delicious Açai bowls for your daily superfood dose, and even KOMBUCHA! Service is super fast, so it's perfect for a quick lunch. For my entire time in Brazil I visited here every day and brought no less than 20 colleagues here - and if I'm ever back in the neighborhood I know I'll be right back here for a juice, snack, or healthy lunch.

Madureira is like a Rio-inspired healthy version of a diner. I honestly don't know how I haven't…read morereviewed this place yet. It's my go to hunger killer any time of the day. For breakfast enjoy delicious Açai bowls (a must try for all foreign visitors), a little bowl of scrambled eggs with a side of fruit salad or their version of French toast in which an egg is fried to your liking within the hole cutout of a piece of toast and then topped with requeijão, an extra creamy Brazilian creme cheese. Also worth trying is the crazy monkey sandwich made of banana, cinnamon and a special "healthy" cheese (as though cheese could be diet, ha!). Super health nuts will appreciate the mashed bananas with oats and honey. For lunch they have a lot of great sandwiches including a tasty veggie burger. You won't be tempted to get that side of fries, since they don't sell anything fried. They do however sell non greasy empanadas which make a great afternoon snack. My favorite is the carne picante. The juices are not to be missed as part of any meal but especially refreshing at mid day is a chilled coconut cut open on request. Foreigners should note the menu separation of Vitaminas (smoothies), which are quite thick and often include Açai or sorbet, and sucos (juices) which are usually filtered to a quite thin consistency. For dinner the platters are nutritious and filling. I think the baked white fish with salad is the most popular version for the post-gym crowd, but I am also a fan of the sweet potatoes or the veggie burger patties (comes without the bun). Basically this place is a vegetarian, gluten free and gym addict haven. But beware those desserts! I can say from personal experience that tasting that cheesecake should be done at your own personal risk. I think it's on the list of foods that I would request for my last meal. The bolo de banana integral while not as crave-worthy is also pretty good and meets the criteria of desserts that I actually believe are healthy. The only dessert, and actually menu item come to think of it, that I didn't love (after two years of quite devoted patronage) was the recently introduced gluten free cake, unfortunately really dry and flavorless. Beyond selling great value for money healthy food, the service here is super fast, theyre open pretty late, they deliver and they have an English menu (not that I need it anymore but great for visitors). And for extra super duper bonus points Madureira regularly gives away the pão de queijo that gets too hard from sitting in the front case for too long to the local homeless people. How can you not love them!?!?

I used to loooooove to go for brunches at this place however they got sooo expensive that is not…read moreworth it for a vegan meal. If they change their price I would definitively come back.

From the owner: Comida saudávelread more

Frutaria Paulista is a nice little spot to enjoy a healthy snack, with a decent range of juices,…read moresmoothies, açaí, and sandwiches (although they do have a few junk food options, like candy bars). Parking doesn't seem to be a problem, and it's near the corner of Paulista and Consolação, for those who are on foot in the area. It offers a view with plenty of greenery by São Paulo standards, and you can feel free linger after you finish your juice. One important thing to keep in mind is that they only take cash or debit cards - no checks or credit cards. Also, during the winter, their hours are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

This is the place to come if you're in Vila Madalena and dying for a fresh juice. The list of…read morepossible ingredients is inspiring and you can pick and choose to make your own blend, or go with one of their tried and true recommendations. Sandwiches and salads operate much the same way (pick and choose your ingredients), but sadly the execution (even if you go with one of their recommended choices) is pretty bland. My salad came with sliced deli meat and the dressing tasted like it came from a bottle (which is obviously did). Stick to the juices if you go here.