Top 7 Flea Markets and Thrift Stores in Salvador

Salvador’s most famous market is worthy of the recognition. Housed in a huge 1800s building from in the lower city, the Mercado Modelo consists 263 stalls, two restaurants, and various bars, and often features live performances of music or capoeira. On sale is every kind of Brazilian handicraft you can think of, including lacework, musical instruments, and art. There are also jewels and gems, leatherwork, woodwork, and ceramics. It’s worth setting aside a good few hours to cruise the market stalls and stop for an ice-cold beer and some oysters with lemon and peppers, or a coffee and a bite of coconut brittle.

Also in Rio Vermelho is Sarastro Brechó, a secondhand clothes shop specializing in designer labels and vintage finds. It stocks both menswear and womenswear, including a wide selection of denim and a good range of accessories and high heels. With many pieces having been picked up abroad, the selection is eclectic and made up of designs not so often seen in Brazil.

Another well-presented thrift shop in Rio Vermelho, Brecholê sells shoes, bags, and accessories as well as women’s clothing. It is reasonably priced with a good selection of stock, aimed particularly at those wanting to snap up some casual, everyday items.

Lys and Carolina, who together founded The Finds, have combined their experience in fashion styling and their travels in America, and channeled their ideas into a blog and a shop. The Finds is a secondhand clothes and concept store stocked with bright, fun women’s fashions. The service is excellent; keep an eye on local news and flyers, as The Finds is often involved in pop-up events too.

Taking inspiration from used-clothes stores in the USA and Europe, Dorothy Brechó pushes the concept of buying retro clothes and past fashions in Brazil. The shop has plenty of prints and party dresses, as well as accessories, including sunglasses and watches.

The diversity of what you can find at the São Joaquim market means it’s well worth a visit. Fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, nuts, and dried spices make up much of what is on sale, but there is also an enjoyably eccentric selection of crafts and objects to snap up. Baskets hang from on high, shoes are stacked tightly, entire stalls are dedicated to wooden spoons, and strings of colourful beads adorn others. Even if you don’t make a purchase, it is a fun excursion and will leave you with some beautiful photos.