World Famous Markets In Brazil

The markets in Brazil are the best places to discover exotic ingredients, fulfilling restaurants and local produce that ranges from jewellery and clothes to religious artifacts and souvenirs. Put aside a few hours to browse around any of the following markets that are found in Brazil’s largest cities.

1. Municipal Market of São Paulo

Market, Bar, Brazilian, Vegetarian

It’s not hard to imagine why this market has the local nickname, Mercadão (big market) – inside is a plethora of stalls that sell a vast range of food products. Exotic vegetables, colourful fruits, strong cheeses, aromatic spices and mouth-watering dried meats tease the senses and most stalls will let you sample their goods. After browsing through the labyrinth of temptation, head upstairs to the casual dining and drinking court to try the market’s most famous food item – the legendary mortadella sandwich. It’s a huge wedge of sliced meat held together by French bread.

2. Central Market of Belo Horizonte

Farmers' Market, Market, Food Stall, Farm Shop, Brazilian, Vegetarian

The Central Market of Belo Horizonte is renowned in Brazil and on a global scale, recognised as one of the best and most diverse markets in the world. It accommodates around 400 shops and stalls that sell anything from fresh vegetables and organic fruits, meat and dairy products, spices and herbs to sweets, cachaca, religious items, handicrafts and even live animals. Fuel up at the informal restaurants and ask for liver with jiló – it’s a local specialty. If liver is not your thing, then try the slow-cooked pork knuckle or wait until Saturday to try a traditional feijoada.

3. Ver-o-Peso Market of Belém

Market, Food Stall, Brazilian

No trip to the north of Brazil is complete without sampling some of the local cuisines that are largely inspired and influenced by the nearby Amazon rainforest. To do that, head to the Ver-o-Peso market in Belém that sells a variety of produce from the Amazon. The range of fruits and vegetables that are almost impossible to put a name to is stunning, as is the incredible fish market stocked fresh from the Amazon river and the acai fair. This market offers a true immersion into Brazilian lifestyle – expect to hear little-to-no English spoken and encounter few, if any, tourists.

5. Feira de São Cristóvão of Rio de Janeiro

Market

It’s hard to contain your excitement upon entering Rio de Janeiro’s largest fair. The market is a dizzying explosion of all things that come from the northeast of Brazil including plenty of Bahian products – look out for the typical Bahian ornaments of curvaceous women. The 600 stalls offer a range of food such as herbs, spices, cachaca (distilled sugar cane), dried meats, cheese and the regional bottles of melted butter used to pour over meals. After satisfying your senses at the fair’s hundreds of stalls, head to any one of the informal restaurants to fill up on rice, beans, chips and meat cooked the northeastern way and served up in huge portions. Enjoy the live forró (a music typical from the northeast) and join in with the impromptu dancing and singing.

Feira de São Cristóvão, Campo de São Cristóvão, s/n – São Cristóvão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil +55 (21) 2580 6946

Feira de São Cristóvão |©Alexandre Macieira | Riotur/Flickr

6. Adolpho Lisboa Municipal Market of Manaus

Market, Food Stall, Food Stand, Brazilian, Seafood, Fast Food

Perched on the shores of the Amazon’s vital water supply, the river Rio Negro, the Adolpho Lisboa Municipal Market is one of Manaus’s most important food and craft centres. It is also the oldest market in the city, having supplied the city with the Amazon’s produce since 1882. The market is a fascinating place to see food produce from the rainforest, especially the freshwater fish market that is restocked every day from daily catches. There are also hundreds of different fruits, vegetables, spices and indigenous products available to buy. It is one of the most authentic Brazilian markets and it has barely changed since it first opened over a century ago.

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