🏡Campos do Jordão: A Relaxing Getaway Near São Paulo

A 3.5-hour drive from São Paulo takes you to the hidden gem of Campos do Jordão. Situated at a relatively high altitude, the town is dotted with wooden houses with pointed roofs—if you visit during the cooler season, you might even spot a light dusting of frost on the rooftops. Strolling along the stone-paved paths, you’ll feel like you’ve stumbled into a European village, which is why it’s affectionately called "Little Switzerland"～😉 The town itself isn’t large, so there’s no need to rush your visit. Compared to the parks and cable cars often recommended in guides (to be honest, they’re quite underwhelming—the cable car trundles along without much to see, and the parks are not much different from ordinary urban green spaces😐), the restaurants here are far more worth your time. The mountain-top steakhouse and Italian restaurant I visited had an incredible atmosphere! The steakhouse is tucked away on a hillside; sitting on the terrace, you can see the distant woods, and when the meat sizzles on the grill, the air is filled with a smoky aroma. The Italian restaurant, on the other hand, is cozy—wooden tables covered with checkered cloths, warm yellow lighting—and taking a bite of pasta while sipping red wine makes you unconsciously speak softly～✨ When it comes to the town’s specialties, chocolate is a must-mention, but I totally struck out with it this time😅! I tried the local hot chocolate, and it was so cloyingly sweet that one sip made my head spin—it practically "finished me off." If you want to try it, I’d suggest buying a small portion first. Overall, though, it’s a great weekend escape since it’s not far from São Paulo. No need to rush to attractions—just walk along the paths, watch the smoke curling from the chimneys of wooden houses, and have a leisurely meal at a restaurant. The workweek stress seems to be blown away by the mountain wind, making it the perfect place to relax～😌 🍖Recommended Steakhouse: Restaurante Bonanza Grill ⛰️Recommended Mountain-Top Restaurant: Vecchia Toscana 📍Location: Campos do Jordão #FoodieCheckIn #LifeAbroad #HiddenGemRestaurantShare