Bar Brahma attacked
An iconic place in "Sampa"; is it safe to go?
This week, Bar Brahma, one of the most iconic spots of São Paulo, was attacked after an attempted robbery of customers. It was not an exact attack on the bar. It was more of a collateral effect: one burglar of the gang was immobilized by the people. At least ten people in the gang started throwing stones and other objects toward the bar and a parked car.
The scene was shocking and shows how this region is still degraded.
Álvaro Aoas, the owner of Bar Brahma, did a convocation asking those who want to help the place to resist calling friends and family to continue attending the place.
"The center of São Paulo needs you. We need you. Come to the center!"
The central region is living a kind of reflourishing, with new bars and restaurants, but at the same time sees a degradation and abandonment (subject for another article).
You may ask: is it safe to go there? Yes and no. Yes: go with Uber Black, never walking on foot or driving your car. When you get in there, go directly to the entrance or the line. When going out, wait for your Uber inside the bar. Once on the sidewalk, stay with your cell phone in your pocket.
And no: don't go walking on foot.
Since 1948, Bar Brahma has been located on the corner of Avenida Ipiranga and Avenida São João. This place was once immortalized in a Caetano Veloso song: "Sampa".
It's very common, by the way, for people going to Bar Brahma and take photos like this:
Of course, there are A LOT OF PLACES to go first, before going to Bar Brahma - but I can understand if you want to.
Marcos Nogueira, from "Folha de S. Paulo", says that Caetano Veloso made the street "Instagrammable" before Instagram existed. The song was released in 1978 - AND - "Brahma is the zombie carcass of a bar that should have closed 30 years ago".
I'm not a regular attendee of Bar Brahma - probably, I have gone there 3 or 4 times.
But let me say some of the pros:
Brahma Chopp is really, really good (but you can find it in a lot of bars in São Paulo);
For ten years, Ivo Meirelles has performed every Friday - and is really cool;
Bar Brahma brings a lot of old-school artists, like Demônios da Garoa - a very traditional Brazilian samba band formed in São Paulo, in the Mooca neighborhood, in 1943.
If you are looking for more tips in this region, I'll drop some places that you can do research on your own:
Good drinks: Regô (the best?!), Terê, Bar da Dona Onça;
Good food: Casa do Porco, Cora, Bia Hoi, Z-Deli, Escarcéu, Cuia.
PS: I’m not an English native writer/speaker. Sorry for the eventual mistakes. And feel free to comment.