Manioca da Mata

The story

Manioca da Mata, São Paulo – Modern Cuisine with Bib Gourmand Recognition

Casual and Contemporary Dining at Manioca da Mata

On Rua da Mata in São Paulo, Manioca da Mata offers a relaxed take on modern cuisine. The restaurant describes its style as “descomplicada e casual” – uncomplicated and casual – yet the cooking carries the refined DNA of its parent restaurant, Maní, under the guidance of chef Helena Rizzo. This is a place where iconic dishes like capellini with mushrooms and the PF picadinho have become signatures, served without pretense.

Chef Thaís Alves: From Sweet Beginnings

The kitchen is led by chef Thaís Alves, whose path to cooking began almost by accident. She loved making sweets for friends, and one of them suggested she study gastronomy. At 20, she started an internship at Maní, staying for two years before traveling through Chapada Diamantina and working at Lasai in Rio de Janeiro, where she was influenced by its sophisticated simplicity. Returning to São Paulo, she joined Manioca – “back home,” as she puts it. Since 2021, she has commanded the kitchen with both firmness and sensitivity, balancing reason and intuition.

A Bib Gourmand Value

Manioca da Mata earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2026, a nod to its good-quality, good-value cooking. The award fits naturally here: the food is contemporary but approachable, the atmosphere welcoming. With three locations in São Paulo (Shopping Iguatemi, Shopping JK Iguatemi, and Rua da Mata), the restaurant serves lunch and dinner, with outdoor seating and air conditioning. It also offers delivery, catering, and private chef services. The menu includes a drinks list and wine carta, though the focus remains on the straightforward, satisfying dishes that have made it a local favorite.