Cunha

If you’re staying in São Paulo for longer, or if you enjoy countryside trips to quaint picturesque locations, you will want to visit Cunha.

A three-hour drive from São Paulo, Cunha is a great place for a quiet trip, especially if you like small towns, lavender fields, pine nuts and hand-made ceramics.

Our first trip there was short, but memorable enough to return a few more times. One of the reasons was, as you can imagine, a restaurant. Do Gnomo is a charming place a bit out of town and you’d do well to send the owner a Whatsapp and ask if they’re free or open. They specialise in trout and lamb and prepare it in a finger-licking manner, with butter and local pine nuts, the fruit of the beautiful araucaria trees that are a hallmark of the region. You can enjoy your meal in their lush garden, surrounded by tropical vegetation and araucaria trees.

Despite the big portions, we managed to try quite a few of their dishes and never came away disappointed. The owner is friendly and likes to chat with customers, and if you like what you taste, you can buy quite a few local products at the small shop inside.

Cunha is well-known for ceramics. Once a month or so, they organise live events where they show their talent. You can of course also buy their beautiful products and ask anything you want to know about their craft.

Otherwise, Cunha is most famous for its lavender and you can visit several plantations and take a walk among the lavender fields. The beautiful views of the Serra da Bocaína mountain range are quite spectacular. Even if you’re not a fan of flowers, you’d do well to check it out.

The town itself is picturesque, even if perhaps not as memorable as the surrounding countryside.