Relatively new to the growing list of well-to-do Guadalajara malls is Punto Sao Paulo, a compact plaza on Avenida Americas’ financial district, a stone’s throw from the fairways of the Guadalajara Country Club and just a few blocks from Plaza Patria.
Anchored by the five-star Hotel NH and a corporate office block whose main tenant is HSBC, upmarket Punto Sao Paulo caters to a business-oriented clientele during the day and and hipper, fun-loving crowd in the evenings.
This isn’t the place to come shopping for clothes but the mini-mall does offer a good selection of restaurants and cafes. A branch of the established Argentine chain La Estancia Guacha takes up a sizable chunk of the plaza’s space, while there are also Italian (Il Tavolo), Japanese (Osaka), Mediterranean (Le Olio Bistro) and Spanish (La Lidia) options.You’ll also find household names such as Carls Junior, Black Coffee and Super Salads, as well as a Häagen-Dazs ice cream outlet and Arnoldi, local purveyors of rich chocolates.
The latest blockbusters can be seen at the well-appointed Platino movie theater complex (it includes a VIP theater), and the Paradise Casino satisfies those with cravings to depart with their cash.
The mall also boasts two spas (one offering aromatherapy), an accessories store (J+E Barcelona) and a fine jewelers (Weller).
The doors of the 137-room NH Hotel open out onto the top tier of the two-level plaza. With the Fiesta Americana Grand right next door, whose patrons are also a draw for the mall, it’s clear that the business client is the main target. As well as a Mac Store stocked with all the latest Apple gadgetry, there’s a Fed Ex office, branches of USACELL BVVA, HSBC and INBURSA, a travel agency and a car rental outlet. In addition to the regional offices of HSBC, the Torre Corporativo houses the likes of Brown Forman, New York Life and Samsung.
For movie times at the Platino cinemas go to www.cinemex.com. A current promotion offers four tickets for the price of two on the purchase of 130 pesos’ worth of eats and drinks (cola, popcorn, etc.).