Hi! I’m Alon. When I’m not teaching Hebrew at Citizen Café, I’m managing a bookstore, DJing on the weekends, or planning my next outdoor adventure. I currently live in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, but life has taken me across three countries. I grew up between Brazil and Israel before spending some time in Vienna, Austria. Each place has left its mark on me, but Belo Horizonte is the city I call home.
Hebrew has become a huge part of my life. Although I grew up attending a Jewish school in Brazil and have family in Israel, I never spoke the language fluently. I had to learn it almost from scratch when I moved to Israel as a teenager. Years later, what once felt like a challenge became my profession, and I’ve been teaching Hebrew for the past three years.
When I’m not working, there’s rarely an in between. I’m either out with friends, dancing until late, exploring another waterfall in Minas Gerais, or spending a quiet evening at home immersed in a thriller or horror novel or film. No matter how I spend my free time, the people closest to me are always part of it. Family and friends are what make every adventure, and every quiet moment, meaningful.
1. Where do I get my coffee?
My go-to coffee spot is OOP Café in Savassi, just a few minutes from where I work. Whenever I need a break from the bookstore, that’s where I go. I almost always order a strong filter coffee, black, with no sugar or milk. I appreciate its simplicity, especially when it’s made with high-quality beans. OOP has a quiet atmosphere and a clean, modern aesthetic that reminds me of the cafés I loved visiting while living in Europe.
2. Where do I go when I’m feeling fancy?
📍 Mira
When I’m feeling fancy, I usually head to Mira! Rooftop. It’s my favorite nightclub in Belo Horizonte and home to some of my favorite parties in the city. Right in the middle of the dance floor is a disco ball that gives the whole place a fun vibe. The drinks are on the expensive side, but that’s pretty much what you’d expect. What I really love is the variety. One night there’s a Latin party, the next it’s techno, and no matter the genre, the DJs are always excellent. I usually go there with my best friends, and it’s our favorite place to celebrate or simply enjoy a great night out.
3. Cultural hub
📍Bank of Brazil Cultural Center
For a taste of Belo Horizonte’s cultural scene, I’d recommend CCBB, right in the city center. The building itself is part of the experience. It’s a beautiful historic building located right across from Praça da Liberdade, one of the city’s most beautiful squares and the perfect place for a walk before or after your visit. It’s where I go to watch the best theater productions, with companies from all over Brazil performing there throughout the year. Besides the plays, there’s always an interesting exhibition to explore, usually showcasing Brazilian artists and culture. If someone asked me where to start discovering the city’s cultural side, CCBB would be my first recommendation.
Photo: Elvis Boaventura, CC BY 3.0
4. My go-to outdoor spot
Whenever I want to spend some time outdoors, I head to Mirante Serra do Curral. In my opinion, it’s the best viewpoint in Belo Horizonte. The city’s name literally means Beautiful Horizon, and there’s no better place to understand why. After a hike to the top, you’re rewarded with a panoramic view of the city, surrounded by rolling hills. If you can, go around sunset, when the skyline is at its most beautiful.
5. A place that I don’t like in the city
If there’s one place I’d tell you to avoid, it’s Paulão Beer. It’s one of those bars that’s always open, so people usually end up there after every other place has closed. By five in the morning, it’s packed with the strangest crowd you’ve ever seen, and somehow people keep drinking there until lunchtime. If you find yourself at Paulão Beer, you’ve probably made at least one questionable decision already. Trust me, that’s your sign to call it a night and go home.
6. A significant person for you who was born in the city or currently lives there
One artist I always associate with Belo Horizonte is Chanina. Although he wasn’t born here, he spent most of his life in the city and became one of Minas Gerais’ most important painters. His work is known for its vibrant colors and joyful scenes of everyday life, often inspired by the people, traditions, and landscapes of Minas Gerais. My uncles own a few of his original paintings, so I grew up seeing them on the walls whenever I visited. I think that’s one of the reasons I’ve always felt connected to his art. His paintings have a warm, welcoming feel that reflects the spirit of Belo Horizonte.
