The city’s dining scene has reached a threshold that matters for discerning travellers. São Paulo hosts Latin America’s first two three-Michelin-star restaurants, Tuju and Evvai, which both received their third Michelin star in April 2026, becoming the first restaurants in Latin America to hold three stars. Both sit in upscale residential and office corridors, within a 40-minute transfer of GRU. For a traveller with six to eight hours between flights, that is a workable window.
Tuju, led by chef Ivan Ralston and located at Rua Frei Galvão 135 in Jardim Paulistano, holds three Michelin stars and a Michelin Green Star for sustainability as of 2026. It placed 8th in the 2025 edition of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants. The Green Star signals a commitment to local sourcing and low-waste production — factors that resonate with ESG-conscious executives travelling on corporate accounts. Folha de S.Paulo’s 2026 restaurant rankings name Tuju São Paulo’s best restaurant. That is a credible signal for any first-time visitor deciding where to invest two hours at lunch.
What does the mid-tier offer for shorter layovers?
Not every transit passenger wants a full tasting menu. These neighbourhoods cluster close to major hotels and conference facilities. They serve contemporary Brazilian and international menus, often with à la carte formats and faster table turns. Booking windows are shorter, and the price points sit well below the flagship tasting-menu tier.
For the truly time-pressed, São Paulo’s artisan bakery culture offers a compelling alternative. A quality coffee stop here carries less scheduling risk than a full restaurant service and still delivers a distinctly São Paulo experience.
Inside GRU: options are improving but limited
Inside Guarulhos Airport itself, the picture remains uneven. These airside venues serve a function. However, none approaches the standard available 40 minutes away in the city. The gap between GRU’s in-terminal dining and São Paulo’s best restaurants remains wide. For travellers who can manage the transfer time, the calculus is straightforward: the city wins.
Quick answers
Tuju and Evvai are São Paulo’s — and Latin America’s — first restaurants to hold three Michelin stars, the guide’s maximum rating. Tuju also carries a Michelin Green Star for sustainability.
A layover of six to eight hours at GRU is generally sufficient. The transfer from Guarulhos Airport to Jardim Paulistano or Itaim Bibi takes roughly 40 minutes each way.
Terminal 3 hosts the GRU Executive Lounge at around R$130–150 (US$24–28) for walk-in access, plus General Prime Steak & Burger and Paris 6, the latter temporarily closed for renovation as of mid-2026.
