Not to mention that it is in a building designed by Oscar Niemeyer, surrounded by beautiful works of the Museum of Contemporary Art, MAC www.mac.usp.br
The first thing to say about Vista Café Ibirapuera www.vistasaopaulo.com.br is that it is not a passing coffee shop, the one where you enter by impulse, because it is on your way, whether when you are on your way to work, to pick up the children at school etc. No. In order to get to know it, you have to leave home with the intention of going to Vista Café Ibirapuera.
Vista Café Ibirapuera
And in case you do so, you will not regret it – starting with the parking lot that is free, a rarity nowadays in São Paulo. In fact, the coffee shop is just a Vista complex, the only one installed on the second floor. The rest, comprising the restaurant, the Obelisco bar, and event space, are located on the eighth floor, on the Rooftop, with a breathtaking 360 degree view of the city. In fact, it was in this space that the files of the Detran processes remained. “This place is unique. Imagine how it would be to transport it to New York, next to Central Park. It would be priceless,” explains one of the partners, Walace Giuzo. Later this year, they will open a new spot on site, the Bar do Mar.
The cafeteria is set up on the second floor of the Museum of Contemporary Art, the MAC, a building designed in the 1950s by none other than Oscar Niemeyer www.niemeyer.org.br, one of the greatest architects this country has ever had. Despite his lack of appreciation for green spaces, Niemeyer’s work is surrounded by the beautiful gardens of the Ibirapuera Park, designed by another genius, Roberto Burle Marx www.museudorio.com.br. Not to mention the beautiful Art Noveaux building of the Biological Institute www.biologico.sp.gov.br, whose garden houses the world’s largest coffee plantation in a metropolis, which can be seen from the eighth
walking, in the opposite direction of the Park.
Upon arriving at Vista Café, visitors will pass through the hall downstairs of the Museum, with beautiful sculptures and even a large graphite panel in the background. In the middle of the hall, Niemeyer drew a majestic staircase leading to the cafeteria.
Museu de Arte Contemporânea
It opens into a large hall, with capacity for 74 people, large spaces between tables that Niemeyer would certainly approve, whether he was alive. The outdoor area, in fact a large terrace, overlooking the Ibirapuera, accommodates 18 people sitting. But make no mistake about it. It could contain, underneath, more than 100 people; nevertheless, as the building is listed, care in preserving the Patrimony is the biggest concern.
Specialty coffees
Partner and chef Marcelo Correa Bastos, owner of Jiquitaia, www.jiquitaia.com.br, where the emphasis is on Brazilian cuisine, who is responsible for the Vista Café menu (of the other two projects as well), brought the same footprint to the property a complete menu, offering several options such as the Convescote, which includes three appetizers, three main dishes, always a vegetarian one, meat or chicken, fish or seafood and three desserts, which client can complement as they wish. A full meal, including a drink and coffee, will total around R$ 50.
Vista Café
Walace is in front of the coffee shop, and when the partners decided to open Vista Café, they went deeper into the subject, attending a barista course at the school of Isabela Raposeiras www.coffeelab.com.br. Read the story on the Coffee Lab, at. His knowledge on artisanal beers has helped a lot.
“My audience here is not the same as Isabela’s, so I decided that I was going to work at first with just one special brand of coffee, considered to be an entry-level coffee in this broad universe. I chose Urbe 2, from the Pereira brothers, from the Urbe Coffee shop, www.urbecafe.com.br Read story on the coffee shop, at which have a great cost/benefit ratio. Our concern is to get this coffee in the best way possible, so that the customer begins to realize that there is a vast field of nuances and flavors to be explored and to work in a cocktail shop around this cafe,” explains Walace.
Vista Café
Currently, an espresso is sold at R$ 5.50. In addition to the Nuova Simonelli espresso machine, they also use Hario V 60 and the French Press – and, occasionally, the Aeropress.
“Today, almost two years after the opening, I realize that we have space to insert a slightly different grain, a special crop, a microlot, something new to present to customers,” he says. Soon, they wish to offer other differentiated methods as well as guided tastings of specialty coffees.
“Our public is much more influenced by the Museum and Ibirapuera visitors,” he says. At the end of the week, they serve up to 750 people, with an average number of 250 people per day, with a peak at lunchtime. There are 10 exclusive coffee shop employees and two baristas.
The MAC
Created in 1963, the Museum of Contemporary Art of the University of São Paulo migrated from USP in 2012 to the Oscar Niemeyer building. It has one of the most important collections in Latin America.
Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Universidade de São Paulo
Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Universidade de São Paulo
Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Universidade de São Paulo
Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Universidade de São Paulo
Obelisco Bar
Adjacent to the Vista restaurant, it is open from Tuesday to Saturday (from 6:00 p.m.), and has a varied musical program with MPB, jazz and classical shows, as well as parties and DJs. The cocktail party is starring Zulu Lamp and Jairo Gama.
Vista Restaurant
The cuisine is owned and operated by Marcelo Corrêa Bastos, a Brazilian gastronomic chef, and was elected in 2018 by Veja Comer e Beber as the best restaurant, best restaurant and premiere of the year. It employs 116 people and the average price offered for a meal, including beverages, is R$ 150.00 per person.
Membership
Leo Sanchez, Walace Giuzo, Marcelo Correa Bastos, Felipe Bellini, Eduardo Vitali and Jairo Chansky.
Other projects
Rey Castro www.reycastro.com.br; The Sailor Legendary Pub www.thesailor.com; Vista Cafe, Restaurant View, Obelisk Bar.
MAC USP – Museum of Contemporary Art of the University of São Paulo
Avenida Pedro Álvares Cabral, 1301
04094 -050 – São Paulo – Brazil
Phone: +55 11 2648 0254
Opening Hours / The Vista Café follows the same times as the Museum
Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (including holidays)
Monday is closed
Restaurant Hours
Everyday from Tuesday to Saturday from 7 p.m.
Saturdays from 12 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to midnight.
Sunday – 12 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For further Information, visit www.vistasaopaulo.com.br
