Our Story
Born with Brazilian soul. Raised in New York. Still making history in SoHo.
It Started With a Dream
WHAT BEGAN AS A BRAZILIAN DREAM BECAME A NEW YORK BEAUTY ICON.
Maria Bonita Salon & Spa began with a simple idea: to create a place where beauty felt personal, warm and full of life.
Founded by Fernanda Lacerda in New York City in 2003, Maria Bonita grew from one Brazilian woman’s dream into a beloved SoHo destination—bringing together Brazilian warmth, exceptional beauty services and the unmistakable energy of New York.
For more than two decades, Maria Bonita has been more than a salon. It has been a meeting place, a community and a little piece of Brazil in the heart of Manhattan.
More Than 20 Years of Stories
For more than two decades, countless moments have unfolded inside Maria Bonita: first haircuts and dramatic transformations, Brazilian waxes before vacations, blowouts before important nights, brides getting ready for weddings, friends arriving together and clients stopping by simply because Maria Bonita felt familiar.
Behind every appointment was a person and a story. That connection became one of the most important parts of our legacy. Maria Bonita was built through the hands of talented beauty professionals, the loyalty of extraordinary clients and a community that embraced us for more than 20 years.
BRAZILIAN SOUL. NEW YORK SPIRIT.
From the beginning, Maria Bonita approached beauty differently.
Our philosophy was simple: beauty should never feel intimidating or impersonal. We welcomed people warmly, understood what made them feel beautiful and created a place they wanted to return to.
Brazilian beauty rituals and techniques became part of the Maria Bonita signature, while New York gave the brand its energy, diversity and edge. Over the years, clients became friends. Generations came through our doors. Our team grew. Trends changed. SoHo changed. But the spirit of Maria Bonita remained the same.
MARIA BONITA TODAY
A NEW CHAPTER AT 497 BROOME STREET
After 23 years under its founder’s ownership, Maria Bonita entered a new chapter—but it never left SoHo.
Today, Maria Bonita Salon & Spa continues at 497 Broome Street as the first officially licensed Maria Bonita location, carrying forward the name, spirit and Brazilian identity that have defined the brand for more than two decades.
The transition to licensing opens a new chapter for Maria Bonita: an opportunity for the brand to grow while honoring where it came from. What began as one salon and one woman’s dream has evolved into a brand with a legacy of its own. Broome Street marks the beginning of that next generation.
The Story Continues
Maria Bonita is not saying goodbye. Quite the opposite. The doors are open. The name is still in SoHo. Clients can still walk into Maria Bonita, experience its Brazilian spirit and become part of a story that began more than two decades ago in New York City.
Now, that story has room to grow—from one woman’s dream, to a New York beauty institution, to a brand entering its next generation.
MARIA BONITA IS STILL HERE.
And this is only the beginning of our next chapter.
