Restaurant
Tuju
Ivan Ralston's seasonal tasting-menu restaurant, one of the first two in Brazil to win three Michelin stars, with menus that change four times a year.
Ponto Chic
The century-old bar on Largo do Paissandu where the Bauru sandwich was created, now recognised as intangible cultural heritage of São Paulo state.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic sandwich bar
- Area
- Centro Histórico, São Paulo, Brazil
- Price
- $ · Budget
- Official site
- pontochic.com.br
Good to know
- Historic bar
- Draught beer
- Delivery
Why we recommend it
Ponto Chic opened in 1922 on Largo do Paissandu, in the historic centre, and more than a century later it is still run by the founding family; the current manager, Rodrigo Alves, belongs to the fourth generation. In its early decades it drew figures from the modernist movement, including Mário de Andrade, Anita Malfatti and Monteiro Lobato, as well as law students from the nearby Faculdade de Direito do Largo São Francisco.
The bar's claim to fame is the Bauru sandwich. It was created here in 1937 by a customer, Casimiro Pinto Neto, nicknamed Bauru after his home city, who asked the sandwich maker for something new. The recipe has stayed the same: roast beef, tomato and pickled cucumber with a blend of four melted cheeses, prato, estepe, gouda and Swiss, in French bread. The Bauru is now recognised by state law as intangible cultural heritage of São Paulo, and the bar says it sold around 146,000 of them in 2024. In April 2023 the city council awarded Ponto Chic its Salva de Prata, one of the city's highest honours.
The rest of the menu sticks to the same tradition. Other house classics include the Rococó and the Beirute sandwiches and a calabresa sausage sandwich, and the bar takes pride in pouring its draught beer following Heineken's Star Quality ritual. There are small sweets and desserts such as a chocolate brownie with ice cream.
The Paissandu branch is open Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 20:00 and Saturday from 12:00 to 18:00; Sunday hours are not published, so check before going. Ponto Chic also has branches in Paraíso, on Praça Oswaldo Cruz at the end of Avenida Paulista, and in Perdizes, both open daily from 12:00 until midnight, which are useful for a late Bauru. Delivery is available through the bar's own platform and iFood.
Ponto Chic suits anyone curious about São Paulo food history, solo travellers wanting a quick lunch and budget travellers. A Bauru and a draught beer here make a good break during a walk around the centre, as the bar is close to the Galeria do Rock and the Theatro Municipal.
Ponto Chic FAQs
What is the Bauru sandwich?
Roast beef, tomato, pickled cucumber and four melted cheeses in French bread, created at Ponto Chic in 1937.
When did Ponto Chic open?
In 1922, on Largo do Paissandu.
When is the Paissandu branch open?
Monday to Friday 12:00 to 20:00 and Saturday 12:00 to 18:00; Sunday hours are not published.
Are there other branches?
Yes, in Paraíso on Praça Oswaldo Cruz and in Perdizes, both open daily from 12:00 to midnight.
Is the Bauru officially protected?
Yes. It is recognised by state law as intangible cultural heritage of São Paulo.
What else is on the menu?
Sandwiches such as the Rococó, the Beirute and calabresa, plus draught beer and desserts.
Is it expensive?
No. It is a traditional, modestly priced sandwich bar.
What is nearby?
The Galeria do Rock and the Theatro Municipal are both close to Largo do Paissandu.