Monocle's Andrew Tuck on São Paulo's Ambition and Design Culture

In a recent column, Monocle editor Andrew Tuck shares ten observations from São Paulo, highlighting the city's unique urban model, design culture, and ambition. He notes that Paulistas notoriously underestimate travel times, with a claimed 15-minute journey often taking 30 to 60 minutes. Tuck recommends Spot, a diner-bistro off Avenida Paulista, for people-watching. Sunday pizza night at Pizzaria Camelo is a tradition, even at 23:30. A leading entrepreneur returned from Paris, calling São Paulo a "real city" with 23°C winter temperatures. Developers near Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima found inspiration in Tokyo and Bangkok rather than Europe. Shopping malls, run by companies like Iguatemi, serve as civic infrastructure offering theatre, cinema, art, and dining. Lissa Carmona's family business Etel produces furniture by celebrated designers, and she preserves homes like Casa Zalszupin, where designer Jorge Zalszupin lived until his death in 2020. Tuck advises avoiding business during Carnival in February and the upcoming World Cup. Carmona emphasizes that design and architecture are integral to Brazil. Otávio Suriani, owner of Pulso Hotel, states he could not have made a hotel that didn't excite him, reflecting the city's confidence in its megacity identity.