R$100 is equal to about $40 U.S. The exchange rate fluctuates daily.

Business has taken me to Sao Paulo numerous times over the years, but mongering activities have mostly been confined to the areas of Rua Augusta, the Kilt, Love Story, and other clubs near there. I wanted to try the much talked about Café Foto, or the new one, Romanza, and this trip presented such an opportunity. With the Real at about 2.5 to the dollar, even a high cover charge would not hurt too much.

After arriving at the hotel and taking care of some business, I decided to call a sweet girl I met walking down Rua Augusta a few months ago. We had used one of the small hotels before, but I decided to have her come over that afternoon. With me not speaking more than a few words of Portuguese, and she the same with English, we managed to set a time. She met me outside of the hotel, and had her notes and books from the English classes she was taking, so it was very easy to bypass the reception and security detail. She had some lessons that had to be translated from English to Portuguese, so I agreed to do them for her on my laptop, and would have them ready for her to come over the next afternoon at 5:00. She was just as sweet as ever, and after her departure, I got a few hours of needed sleep.

People have told me not to pay the cover charges of Foto and other such clubs, as you can get the same quality in some of the other clubs such as Moulin Rouge and Bahamas. I was in Moulin Rouge a few weeks ago, and was not that impressed. I was able to bring home a nice friend though. As is the case with any place though, it may just have been an off night. The nice part of Rouge and Bahamas is that they have rooms right on the premises in case you can not bring a lady with you, or do not want to. After talking with the hotel bellman and my partner who just wanted to window shop, we settled on the new club, Romanza. Cover charge for Romanza is R$120($48 U.S.) which includes four beers or three whiskeys. Any drink over that is R$30($12 U.S.), and champagne is R$60($24 U.S.) per glass, so be forewarned. Foto wanted R$160($64 U.S.) which included four drinks. I do not know how they break it down.

Café Foto is supposed to be a lot of well-dressed people, with very little groping and kissing going on in the corners, and a more professional atmosphere compared with the rest of the clubs. Foto is also supposed to be on the decline, and the new club, Romanza, is supposed to be better than Foto. When paying the cover charge, I saw some ladies that were not that impressive, as this club was supposed to have some of the finest, and I was beginning to have my doubts about the whole deal. Why pay the high cover for poor quality? It was early though, around 11:00, and all doubts went away as the evening progressed.

Romanza is rather small in overall size, with two levels and bars on both. There is a stage mounted above the lower level and slightly below the upper level, visible from both. During the night they have one or more of the girls put on a dance and a small show. It is done very nicely, with class, and the girls seem quite enthusiastic. The word spread quite quickly that there were a couple of American guys sitting at a table upstairs, and the parade started. As time went on, more and more ladies entered, and there was quite a selection for anyone's personal taste.

The girls are very enthusiastic, very pretty, dressed in everything from hip hugging jeans and halter-tops to beautiful evening dresses. Flirting and eye contact was constant, and they are not afraid to move in at every opportunity and are very affectionate in the process. There are a couple of small open portals with pillows and areas for lounging with one or more girls, but you are on very public display there. The choice is yours, and there is no extra charge. A few of the girls spoke English, quite well actually, and there is no shortage of attention getting looks from the ladies when you get up to stretch and move around a bit.

After a few drinks, and some polite small talk, one beautiful hardbody dressed in red, white, and blue, who was the star of the show that night, came over to sit down. She spoke good English, could easily have adorned the centerfold of Playboy, and ran a hair salon place as well. We talked for a bit, as she was very pleasant, and wanted us to leave together. Maybe I was wrong, but I felt that this would just be eat and run, and I was looking for someone who would stay the whole night, and just relax with me. I told her that she was free to move around if she wanted, and she said, "What, you don't like me?" I politely told her that even though she was a very nice and beautiful girl, I was not ready to commit to anyone right now. She thanked me for being honest with her and then left the table. When she did her dance for the show, the enthusiasm was very strong as if to say, "see what you missed."(grin).

I wandered downstairs to look around, and struck up a conversation with a very pretty girl. She was not the centerfold material of the previous guest, but still pretty, and very affectionate. She had no problem with staying over the night, and even had her own car. My choice was made, and after about 30 minutes, my partner and I and the girl got ready to leave. As she was getting her things together, another girl started talking to me. I told her that I could not join her tonight, but if she would leave me her phone number, maybe another time. My girl came out with her things, and as we were starting to walk out the door, the new girl slipped her name and phone number in my hand. Competition, I love it(grin).

The night was every bit as nice as I could have expected, as we went dancing in a club in the hotel, and she stayed until the next morning. In a way, it was perfect. She wanted to come over that afternoon again, but I had to decline due to my other friend coming over that day.

Some business was taken care of, and after translating my friend's lessons for her, they were printed out on the hotel's computer. I called her and she came over around 4:00, and stayed until it was time for me to leave. It was really a fantastic two days, and it couldn't have been any better. Next time, maybe Café Foto, or see the girl that I turned down.

Sao Paulo has many TSM activities available, this was only one of them. It is there for all to appreciate.

Romanza's website: www.romanza.com.br

Cafe Romanza located in the Moema area. Competes with Foto but supposedly a slight notch below Foto.

Here is duh link http://www.romanza.com.br/

Romanza address is Ave. Nove de Juhlo, 5660
Closed on Sun. Fairly new club trying to compete with Foto.
I think Romanza is in Moema too, close by neighborhoods include: Itaim Bibi, Vila Nova Concecao, Jardim Europa, Jardim America and Jardim Paulistano.
Moondog had a trip report on SP and mentioned enjoying himseld at Romanza.

Romanza update for August. Don´t go. Whatever you do, stay away.

Why do you say that? Every time I've been there, it has been great. Maybe that is why you want everyone else to stay away?

Yeah Jarule, didn't you say that you had an inspired evening when you were there back in May?

yup, and believe me, things have changed. i´m talking the ugliest & fattest girls i´ve ever seen in brazil. we went on a wednesday, for reference.

it was so bad we came up with a theory: cafe foto has won the war of the boites (at least for now); romanza is desperate and just filling it with bodies, no matter how bad the quality

on the other hand, cafe foto on a tuesday (the best night to go by the way)...my god..200+ sorority quality garotas....they even opened up the upper floors. house does not allow girls to charge less than 300R to maintain the name...might also be the reason why all the stars have flocked to CF for now.

happily exploring the non-pro scene in recife & belo,

ja

Shortage of garotas could be explained by low season? I won't be there till Nov.
200+ 8's and 9's at CF, I can live with that.

sounds like wishful thinking there athos. there is definitely a high and low season in rio but I doubt that the swings are as great in sao paulo (just a guess). there are few tourists in Sao Paulo.

From Athos' Trip Report Sampa 101: Guide to Sao Paulo for Dummies

Romanza - Ave Nove de Julho, 5660
Romanza is another tourist trap with lesser selection and less number of girls than Photo. Expect girls in Romanza to also work at Photo. They just rotate.
Cover charge was 120R for 3 drinks. Romanza is a bit smaller with two levels, the interesting part was the common bathroom so there you can get a good look at girls. Also some girls followed me inside the bathroom that's how desperate some of them were. Garotas were not as good looking but some were younger. Many older ladies available, none appealed to me except 1 or 2 7's.
Most girls were checking every of my move. It was pathetic.

Athos rating: Romanza was just pathetic 3.0

pathetic is right. imagine 40 year old overweight hookers, and you can get a picture.

there is a VERY CUTE jennifer love hewitt look-alike here...if you go, you can't miss her...she'll be the only fuckable one there.

i fucked her, and it was pretty damn good. but i think she likes working at romanza because there is literally no competition for her. all the other hags are nasty.

they also try to rip you off outside with their "private car service"....trying to take you to their own motel nearby and charging 20R for the ride. man, i just hate these brazilian scammers sometime.

in any case, another thumbs down. agree with athos....pathetic.

Pathetic? Overweight? Wrong again.

Moondog

i am still not convinced on romanza. but have been here often enough to think the place is horrible. the friends i know who have gone agreed with me. obviously, there may be a few who are good at any given time, and maybe a lot more if you are lucky, but generally, i think this is one of the worst boates in sao paulo.

when's the last time you went?

About one year ago, that is when I met her. Sorry to hear that is has gone downhill, but time changes everything, and hopefully it will come back.

Moondog

moondog, that's about right then. i went about a year ago, and thought the place was really unbelievable. so many beautiful girls it had my head spinning. i had a great experience with a girl who was incredibly affectionate in bed, and a complete animal. blew my load in her mouth, and she just smiled and took it like a good girl.

but like i said, it has REALLY gone downhill. i mean a straight nose-dive. i also don't like the way they try to milk the tourists who stumble in there. i guess i value my hard-earned money, but i think if i'm paying big money at a place, i should be treated with respect and get great service. i don't find this attitude at all at romanza.

if you decide to go, things to watch out for:

1)rip off cab service
2)they will take you to romanza-owned motel unless you direct otherwise
3)rip off cab service to romanza-owned motel (2 minutes away) - they will take long route and try to charge 20R
4)girls may be utterly heinous - if so, leave...it's not going to get better
5)do not be fooled by ads advertising strip tease by playboy models, etc...it is not a big deal and pretty boring
6)don't take a shit there....the toilet is in the same room where the girls hang out and do make up; my friend dropped the mother of all bombs in there, and when he came out, the girls all looked at him and pinched their noses
7)they will try to screw you on drinks and overcharge you since you don't know price

At boates unlike American Bars, girls are free lancers so they can rotate. You can expect to see same middle tier girls working at Romanza, Cafe Photo and Kilt. SP is always hit and miss with boates. My friend mentioned seeing some beautiful garotas at Romanza back in Feb. Still I like SP for escorts, American Bars and mp's. Boates turn me off with all the work you have to go through to find gems. As good or better looking escorts can be available for R$150/200 for multiple hours without having to suffer smoke inside boates.

Bomboa,

Thanks for the info. Hopefully, when the tourists dry up, maybe they will get the picture and clean up their act.

Moondog

I was here on a Sunday night in early March. Met a great girl that spoke a little english, named Teresa (real name, forgot her club name), 7+. She was a true GFE, did BBBJ, spent 3+ hours (she had a day job) with me for R$400. Lots of touching, groping, french kissing. She took orders well and rode me like a cowgirl until I came. Got her email address and she has emailed me a few times, promises to pick me up at the airport during my next trip there. Club itself was ok, they certainly tried to rip me off on the drinks, make sure you question the bill.

Romanza is fun, but keep a close eye on the your drinks and the tab.

Moondog

Mrveen,

Scroll up the thread and look at the photos. Is this the same girl? Her hair may be still long, but curly now. She has also had a boob job since these photos were taken. If so, please email me at baguidehelp@yahoo.com.

Thanks,

Moondog

(Message edited by moondog on April 12, 2004)

I went to Romanza's in Sao Paulo with a buddy of mine and I got totally hosed!!

BEWARE of that slim black girl that calls herself the hostess!! She's cute and she's nice but it's all a front. She'll only come over to you if she thinks you've got $$$ to spend. The girls she invites over are her "favorites" who are all in cahoots with her. She orders drinks (most likely champagne) and food and she also arranges an "on the house" strip show just for you.

So you're liquoured up and horny and ready to leave and then the bill hits you and you realize that you've just been gotten for at least $500.

Then to top off that bad night, the girl I went back to my hotel with (a real hottie named Carla) asked for R$350 to spend the night with me. I agreed and we went to do the deed. She provided all the good services (BBBJ, Greek, and all the good stuff), but after the first pop, she was on the phone with her lesbian girlfriend making arrangements to go back to Romanza to go on a double date with her!!

I was shocked and pissed. NEVER AGAIN will I go to Romanza. Who cares that they built a new place and it is supposed to be nicer decor. That probably means that they will rip you off for more of your hard earned money. STAY AWAY my friends!!

The girls who are worth the $$ don't stay in that place long when they realize what a rip-off it is so its not worth going.

BB,

Romanza has been written considerably on this and other boards as being a ripoff. It used to be good, now, not at all. Thanks for the info. Sorry you got ripped off.

Moondog

I went here last night a little wary because of the bad press. It was a 152r to enter which included 4 beers or 3 whiskeys. I was escorted to the bar by one of the hosts carrying a slip of paper that tallies ones drinks and which the bartender kept. I got bad vibes because of this. I meticulously made sure there was no padding by asking the bartender how many more drinks I had remaining after each drink. As for the girls, they seemed to be on a par with the cafe photo girls. A lot were quoting me a standared 350r.

I went there last night same pricing as Stayawayjoe. However all 4 of my beers came to me in a bucket. Paid for 2 drinks which came to another 80R. It was the day before independence day so when I arrived at about 9:00pm I was the only guy there. About 4 girls so I thought oh great hoseorama I better watch myself. Then this ugly and I mean just a pasty white chick latched on to me and she quoted me 600R to go to my hotel for a massage. I just laughed she kept going down to 200R and told her leave me alone or I will talk to the management because she would not leave me alone and I told her her no many many ways. However when she left I was upstairs and two hot morenas came over turned out they were sisters 18,19. The 19 year old asked if I was interested in a festa with them both. How much: $100 dollars each. To me this was a no brainer but as I have begun to learn my monger lessons I must negotiate so I countered with well I'm from Canada and its only about 2.2 times 1 Real so what about 200R each. They returned with 500R for the both of them. I accepted and we went to a hotel close to there for 40R and stayed for about 3 hours. Both were absolutly great what a way to end my time here. Looking down at two chicks that look the same with that dark skin and beautiful smiles was well indescribable. They wanted to come back to my hotel after we were done there and party but I was meeting the little one I took to Rio to say good-bye after she got off work so that was a no go. They said they are here most nights and I think big sister is showing the younger one the ropes as she was more aggressive but the younger one new what to do with a dick.

Went here last week...in a nut shell it SUCKED!

Very pricey to get it, 160R per person which included 4 drinks. I had a fellow business associate who really wanted to check this place out, I prefer Cafe Photo and some of the others but on this Sunday everything was closed!

Anyway--$$$$ cover, girls were 6-7 range with a few 9's in the mix. Most wanted 600R to go back to the hotel for an hour! UFB! I did meet a Cafe Photo girl I befriended and she warned me the place is a ripoff! She says they look for foreign guys there to take for a ride, esp the chick at the door who "sells" you a bottle of wine for $500USD! I thanked her for the info, and said I would see her back at Photo later next week.

Managers name is "Jonny" in case you want to bargin or let him know what a bad rap this place is getting.

Drank my beer and bolted. PLace is WAY OVERPRICED and not worth it in my opinion. I wished I checked with this board first...but it was a last minute thing....

Funny someone posted about this place after 3 years. I got sucked into it last year and can honestly say it was the worst, most disappointing rip-off joint I've ever been inside.

Although I have visited a high percentage of the Sao Paulo clubs, I have never visited Romanza given the bad reviews it receives, as well as that a few questionable taxi drivers have tried to talk me into going there, which suggests to me they are a tourist trap, high taxi commission, sort of place that likely doesn't rely on repeat customers for their business.

I was lured in by the promise that there were bona fide models (playboy and other print works) and actresses (porn, etc.) waiting to be had inside. I was shown a book of professional photos taken of the various garotas' works (pages out of Playboy and gossip-type mags. Of course upon entry I was told the girls were coming, and later the waiter said it was their night off. Kind of like a Tijuana donkey show.

Romanza is a joke. Sad little place with grubby men in ill fitting black suits. Tried to charge entry fee, dark shitty interior with very few girls. One girl whose job before this was "haunting a house" wanted a lady drink... the conman at door told me a champagen was R 125 / glass.. not that I was going to buy her one.
DONT BOTHER WITH THIS CLUB