Z Deli

Z Deli is a New York-style Jewish delicatessen on Alameda Lorena in Jardins, one of São Paulo's most affluent residential and commercial neighbourhoods. Open since 1981 and reinvented after a major renovation, the deli brought a food tradition rarely found in the city, where Italian, Japanese and Lebanese kitchens dominate the immigrant-influenced dining scene. The menu is built around house-cured pastrami, piled high on rye bread with mustard, alongside matzo ball soup, corned beef, Reuben sandwiches and pickled vegetables prepared in the deli style. The cheesecake, dense and lightly tangy, is a standing favourite for dessert. The dining room is casual and bustling, with deli-counter energy, close-set tables, exposed brickwork and a steady hum of conversation rather than a hushed or formal atmosphere; there is no dress code, and the pace suits a quick lunch as easily as a lingering dinner. The drinks list leans toward classic pairings for the food rather than an ambitious wine programme: local craft beers, simple cocktails and egg creams alongside coffee and soda, in keeping with the deli's diner-adjacent identity. Z Deli does not require advance booking for most visits, but reservations are recommended for dinner, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights when the Jardins crowd fills the room until the 1AM closing time. Portions are generous, and sandwiches are frequently split between two diners. The restaurant sits within walking distance of Jardins' main shopping streets, making it a practical stop between errands or after an evening out in the neighbourhood.