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Fashionistas from all over the continent flock to São Paulo for the clothes, shoes, and accessories. In fact, shopping is a tourist attraction in its own right. You can get a sampling of what's on offer six days a week: stores are usually open on weekdays from 9 to 6:30 and Saturdays from 9 to 1; many are closed on Sunday. Mall hours are generally weekdays and Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm; some malls only open on Sunday around 2 pm.
Well-heeled paulistanos famously love shopping malls, and there are plenty of those in the city. Perhaps of more interest for visitors, almost every neighborhood has a weekly outdoor food market, complete with loudmouthed hawkers, exotic scents, and mountains of colorful produce. Nine hundred of them happen every week in São Paulo, so you'll be able to hit at least one; ask around to find out when and where the closest one happens.
Antiques and secondhand furniture are the big draws at the Sunday flea market at the Praça Dom Orione in Bela Vista. You'll also find clothing, CDs, and other (mostly) reasonably priced items here. In Centro, Rua do Arouche is noted for leather goods. Rua Barão de Paranapiacaba is lined with jewelry shops and is nicknamed the "street of gold." The area around Rua João Cachoeira in Itaim has evolved from a neighborhood of small clothing factories into a wholesale- and retail-clothing sales district. Several shops on Rua Tabapuã sell small antiques. Also, Rua Dr. Mário Ferraz is stuffed with elegant clothing, gift, and home-decoration stores.
In Jardins, centering on Rua Oscar Freire, double-parked Mercedes-Benzes and BMWs point the way to the city's fanciest stores, which sell leather items, jewelry, gifts, antiques, and art. Shops that specialize in high-price European antiques are on or around Rua da Consolação. Lower-price antiques stores and thrift shops line Rua Cardeal Arcoverde in Pinheiros. Flea markets with secondhand furniture, clothes, and CDs take place on Saturday at the popular Praça Benedito Calixto in Pinheiros, where you can also eat at food stands and listen to music all day long. Arcades along Praça Benedito Calixto and many streets in neighboring Vila Madalena, like Ruas Aspicuelta and Harmonia, house boutique clothing stores.
Líquido is a Brazilian swimwear and fitness brand, founded in 2001 and known for its high-quality bikinis and vibrant prints. With a focus on comfort and style, the brand stands out for its versatile and contemporary design.
The designer Lita Mortari sells her feminine festive wear in four stores in São Paulo, including two in Jardins.
São Paulo's best selection of travel literature can be found here, along with many maps.
Many a trend has been set at this gallery, which sells all types of art but mostly paintings and sculpture.
Though it's taken a back seat to newer malls Cidade Jardim and JK Iguatemi, MorumbiShopping is still a slice of São Paulo's upper crust, seasoned with swank boutiques, record stores, bookstores, and restaurants. The atrium hosts art exhibits.
Outfits built around leggings are no stretch for Mulher Elástica. Looks range from sporty to business casual.
Founded in 1969, Natura is known for its sustainability and use of natural ingredients from the Amazon's biodiversity. Its product range includes fragrances, moisturizers, makeup, and skin and hair care, with a strong environmental commitment. Try the "Ekos Castanha Body Cream," made with Amazonian Brazil nut oil.
The Brazilian brand O Boticário was founded by dermatologists and pharmacists from Curitiba in the 1970s. The company creates products for men, women, and children, and through its foundation funds ecological projects throughout Brazil. The shops can be found in most neighborhoods and malls in the city.
Souvenirs and presents, from vividly colored hammocks to papier-mâché piggy banks (cows, actually), are for sale here.
Vendors sell jewelry, embroidery, leather goods, toys, clothing, paintings, and musical instruments at the Sunday morning arts-and-crafts fair in Praça da República. If you look carefully, you can find reasonably priced, out-of-the-ordinary souvenirs.
Sophisticated, high-quality women's clothing is Reinaldo Lourenço's calling card.
The collections at Richards include casualwear for men, women, and kids.
Boots, sandals, wedges, stilettos—if you can't find a pair of shoes you like at Schutz, you're probably not looking properly. This flagship store carries a huge variety of fashion footwear, from statement heels to fun prints on sneakers.
The feeling here is almost as though archaeologists have uncovered a lost jungle city's ancient temples—only they're to upscale shopping and gourmet dining, not deities and potentates. Trees outside sprout three stories high, and a bevy of plants inside shrouds boutiques with names like Valentino, Rolex, and Louis Vuitton. For resting, there's a huge open garden with splendid city views. If you get hungry, head to the Argentine steak house Pobre Juan for a hearty meal or, for lighter fare, drop in at Il Barista.
One of the most upscale shopping malls in São Paulo, Shopping Pátio Higienópolis is a mixture of old and new architecture styles. It has plenty of shops and restaurants, as well as six screens in the Cinemark movie theater.
The world-famous store sells exclusive pieces for the very wealthy. Go for the diamonds—you know you want to.
This brand's shops, which you'll find in nearly every mall in São Paulo, are good places to buy beachwear and sports clothing.
Women of all ages lust after the simple elegance of Uma's swimsuits, dresses, shorts, shirts, and pants—they're not cheap, but they're good.
The shop of the French beauty-product brand famous in Brazil has hair, skin, face, and body products for men and women.
An excellent chain store for travel and leather goods, Comtesse can also be found at various other shopping malls.
Everyday outfits with classic lines are Cori's specialty.
The center shares a building with the World Trade Center and the Sheraton hotel. It's loaded with fancy home-decorating stores, full-scale restaurants, and fast-food spots.
Here's a good place to buy men's and women's jeans, sportswear, and street wear.
Shop for Brazilian prints, sculptures, and paintings and then stop at the café.
You can buy maps and English-language books, magazines, and newspapers at Fnac. There are also branches on Avenida Paulista and in Morumbi.
This bookstore usually receives magazines from abroad earlier than other ones.
Accessorize at Sou-Sou, a craft-jewelry workshop and store. The boutique also carries women's clothes.
