The Best Markets to Visit in Sao Paulo

If there is something Sao Paulo does well, it is a good old-fashioned market. Every neighborhood in this sprawling metropolis has at least one weekly street fair to call its own, where locals can buy fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, and spices. From traditional farmers’ markets with an incredible variety of produce to charming antique fairs where you can find the perfect souvenir, the city has something for everyone. Here are some of the best markets Sao Paulo has to offer.
Mercado Municipal
Bar, Market

Mercado Municipal
The city’s Municipal Market, commonly known as the Mercadão (or “Big Market”), is a mainstay on any list of the top things to see and do in Sao Paulo. The market, located in the old center of the city, attracts large crowds every day. The ground floor has hundreds of stalls selling fruit, vegetables, spices, and cured meats, while there is an upper level with a number of charming restaurants. Hocca Bar is the most popular, serving the Mercadão’s famous mortadella sandwich and pastel de bacalhau, a deep-fried thin crust pie filled with salt cod.
Mercado Municipal, Rua Cantareira 306, Centro, Sao Paulo, Brazil, +55 11 3313 3365
Mercado Municipal de Pinheiros
Market
Mercado Municipal de Pinheiros
Located in the trendy neighborhood of Pinheiros in Sao Paulo’s west zone, the Mercado Municipal de Pinheiros is an excellent option for anyone looking to buy superb produce and rare ingredients sourced from all over Brazil. The market has been functioning at its current address since 1971, but only in the last few years has it undergone a dramatic renovation, with renowned chefs Alex Atala, Rodrigo Oliveira, and Checho Gonzales moving in and opening their own stalls and restaurants. Comedoria Gonzales, owned by the aforementioned Checho Gonzales, is a must-visit as it serves one of the best ceviches in Sao Paulo.
Mercado Municipal de Pinheiros, Rua Pedro Cristi, 89, Pinheiros, Sao Paulo, Brazil
http://instagram.com/p/BTrSKblg-Xp/?taken-by=comedoriagonzales
Feira da Praça Benedito Calixto
Restaurant
Feira da Praça Benedito Calixto
A short walk from the Mercado Municipal de Pinheiros is the charming Benedito Calixto Square, which hosts one of the most charming arts and antique fairs in Sao Paulo every Saturday from 9 AM to 7 PM. The stalls sell a little bit of everything, from vinyl records and clothes to antique furniture and children’s toys. There is also live music and food, meaning Benedito Calixto is an excellent place to spend a sunny Saturday.
Feira da Praça Benedito Calixto, Praça Benedito Calixto, Pinheiros, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Feira de Antiguidades do MASP
Feira de Antiguidades do MASP
One of Sao Paulo’s most popular markets takes place every Sunday underneath MASP, the city’s most famous art gallery. The impressive museum, designed by Brazilian architect Lina Bo Bardi, is made of glass and concrete and suspended above ground level by large beams. Therefore, the area underneath MASP is left free, often serving as a meeting place for cultural events. On Sunday, however, the free space is devoted to the MASP Antique Fair, which receives around 5,000 visitors each week and has been running for over 25 years. The stalls offer all kinds of unique items, including antique clocks, jewelry, plus arts and crafts.
Feira de Antiguidades do MASP, Avenida Paulista, 1578, Bela Vista, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Feira da Liberdade

Feira da Liberdade
Sao Paulo has the largest concentration of Japanese people outside of Japan, and nowhere is that more evident than in the central neighborhood of Liberdade, Sao Paulo’s very own Japantown. With its roads lined with oriental suzuran-to streetlights, the neighborhood has a distinctly East Asian feel year-round. However, it is on the weekends that Liberdade celebrates its heritage with its arts, crafts and culture fair. From 8 AM to 7 PM every Saturday and Sunday, stalls sell traditional Japanese ornaments, jewelry, and clothing. There are also plenty of stands selling Asian street food.
Feira da Liberdade, Avenida da Liberdade, 365, Liberdade, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Feira Kantuta

Feira Kantuta
While it is among the largest immigrant communities in the cosmopolitan metropolis of Sao Paulo, many people often overlook the city’s Bolivian population, and their culture is certainly not as celebrated as the Italian or Japanese in Sao Paulo. In the northern neighborhood of Canindé, where many Bolivian families live, the fair held every week at Kantuta Square is the best way to get an authentic experience of Bolivian culture in Sao Paulo. Held every Sunday between 11 AM and 7 PM, the fair hosts a number of stalls selling Bolivian food, ornaments, and authentic textiles. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a traditional Bolivian dance display.
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!


Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.


KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.