Frê Restobar: A Pet-Friendly Spot in Santa Cecília

Frê Restobar (Instagram) is located in downtown São Paulo, in the Santa Cecília neighborhood, at Rua Tupi, 228 — specializing in pasta and cocktails.

It’s housed in a 1950s building, which the owners renovated with inspiration from New York architecture.

This is an ideal spot for anyone who wants to grab a drink and also eat well with friends, in a cozy, beautifully decorated setting.

First things first: the name Frê is a tribute to the owners’ dog, rescued off the street, who now lives on the upper floor of the building.

What really sets this place apart is that it’s pet friendly, even serving chef-made treats for dogs as they arrive. The owner told us they’ve even had a pet rabbit visit before.

The setting

Split into two distinct spaces — the indoor area features a restaurant with blue, green, and pink velvet chairs facing an open kitchen.

The indoor section also displays artwork for sale on the walls, along with two chandeliers by a German designer, decorated with love notes in various languages on translucent Japanese paper.

The open-air outdoor area functions as a bar, with a great sunset view and live music on Sundays. The string lights on the ceiling are especially charming, resembling Christmas lights, and make the whole space feel cozier.

Even if it rains, there’s nothing to worry about — a retractable plastic cover handles any weather.

We chose to sit outside.

Drinks at Frê Restobar

They offer a full menu, ranging from beer to sophisticated cocktails.

During Pink October, they were running a special promotion: order the Dragon Drink, made with pitaya, vodka, and tonic — delicious and refreshing — post it to your Instagram stories with the hashtag #outubrorosa, and get a free matching drink, a nice way to help raise awareness during this important month for women’s health.

Main course at Frê Restobar

The dishes here are genuinely delicious, generously portioned, and well priced.

We ordered chicken with lemon zest and a salad, and it was simply delicious.

We didn’t try dessert, but just looking at it was enough to make our mouths water.

Price

R$220 total, including beer and food.

Read about more bars in Fortunato Bar e Gastronomia.