Bar Astor Jardins

Bar Astor sits on Alameda Lorena in the Jardins district of São Paulo, occupying an Art Deco-inspired room of dark wood, brass fixtures, and low lighting that recalls a 1930s American cocktail lounge. The crowd skews professional and moneyed, generally late 20s to 50s, with smart-casual dress expected — collared shirts and dresses are the norm, and beachwear or gym clothes are turned away. There is no dance floor; the focus is conversation over a long bar and low tables, with a soundtrack of jazz and lounge music kept low enough for talk. The drinks programme is built around classic and signature cocktails, with an emphasis on well-executed standards like Negronis and Old Fashioneds alongside a rotating list of house creations using Brazilian spirits such as cachaça. Beer and wine are available but secondary to the cocktail list. Bar Astor opens Tuesday through Saturday from 6PM to 1AM, with the room filling from around 9PM on Thursdays and Fridays as the after-work crowd from nearby Avenida Paulista arrives; earlier evenings are quieter and better suited to a relaxed drink. There is no cover charge, and reservations are recommended for groups on weekend nights since table seating is limited, though walk-ins can usually find space at the bar.