Manioca

The story

Manioca São Paulo: Uncomplicated Modern Cuisine by Chef Thaís Alves | Bib Gourmand

Uncomplicated Contemporary Dining in São Paulo

Manioca is a casual and contemporary restaurant in São Paulo that brings the celebrated cooking of chef Helena Rizzo’s Maní group to a more relaxed setting. The restaurant describes its food as uncomplicated contemporary cuisine—pratos that have become iconic at Maní, such as capellini with mushrooms and the PF picadinho, are served here in a straightforward, welcoming atmosphere. This approach to modern cuisine earned Manioca a Bib Gourmand from Michelin, a recognition awarded for good quality, good value cooking.

Chef Thaís Alves at the Stove

Since 2021, the kitchen has been led by chef Thaís Alves. Her path to cooking was almost accidental—she started by making sweets for friends, and a suggestion led her to culinary school. After graduating at 20, she interned at Maní, staying for two years. She then spent a year traveling through Chapada Diamantina and living in Pirenópolis before moving to Rio de Janeiro to work at Lasai with chef Rafael Costa e Silva, an experience she remembers fondly for its sophisticated simplicity. When she returned to São Paulo, she accepted the invitation to join Manioca. “I came back home,” she says, and now commands the kitchen with firmness and sensitivity.

A Place for Any Occasion

Manioca is designed for flexibility. With air conditioning, outdoor seating, and the capacity for private parties and events, it suits both lunch and dinner. Delivery is also available. The restaurant operates three locations in São Paulo—Shopping Iguatemi, Shopping JK Iguatemi, and Rua da Mata—each offering the same unpretentious, high-quality modern cuisine.