Other shopping in Brazil
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A
Mercado Municipal
This covered market is a belle époque confection of stained glass and a series of vast domes. Inside is a delightful market specializing in fresh produce and dried goods. It’s also a great place to sample a couple of classic Sampa delights: mortadella sandwiches and pasteis, pockets of dough stuffed with meat, cheese or fish and then fried. Many Sundays there is live music, but note that approximately one Sunday per month, the market closes for maintenance. Unfortunately, there is no regular schedule for these closings.
reviewed
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B
Galeria Melissa
This temple to high-end footwear is worth checking out for its bold design – but don’t expect bargains. Melissa first made its name for inexpensive but stylish plastic shoes that appealed to all social classes – unusual for Brazil.
reviewed
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C
Mercado Municipal Adolfo Lisboa
This imposing cast-iron city market building opened in 1882, a copy in miniature of Paris’s famed Les Halles market. Although the art-nouveau ironwork was imported from Europe, the place has acquired a distinctly Amazonian character. In and around the market, you can purchase just about anything, from leather hats and índio crafts to bizarre fruits and traditional medicines.
reviewed
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Cerâmica Mbara-yo
This is the modest shop of ceramicist Carlos Amaral, who combines traditional Aruã and Marajoara ceramic traditions with award-winning results. You can have a short tour of the workshop to see how the pieces are made. Numerous small, affordable pieces are for sale, and each has a particular tale or significance behind it. It’s between Ruas 3 and 4.
reviewed
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D
Galeria do Rock
Even if you’re not in the market for a skateboard or a new tattoo, this seven-floor shopping center is an anthropologically fascinating gathering point for São Paulo’s underground communities, from punks to goths to metal heads. Hundreds of shops hawk everything from CDs and concert T-shirts to black capes and extreme piercing.
reviewed
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E
Mercado Ver-o-Peso
This and the surrounding area is probably the most interesting place to shop, whether for pants or piranha or anything in between. There are no set hours, but there is something interesting to see from 5:30am to 8:30pm every day. However, you should be especially wary of pickpockets and assailants in the early and late hours.
reviewed
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F
Hippie Fair
The Zona Sul's most famous market, the Hippie Fair (aka Feira de Arte de Ipanema) has artwork, jewelry, handicrafts, clothing and souvenirs for sale. Stalls in the southeast and northeast corners of the plaza sells tasty plates of acarajé (croquettes, with a sauce of vatapá and shrimp, R$7), plus excellent desserts (R$3). Don't miss it.
reviewed
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Market Building
Opposite the Museu de Artes Visuais, this 19th-century market building now trades in a fascinating variety of typical Maranhão crafts and foods, from dried prawns and live ducks to big bags of cashews and a bright, artificially colored purple cassava liquor called tiquira.
reviewed
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G
Shopping Cassino Atlântico Antiques Fair
Inside an air-conditioned shopping center, this antique fair consists of three floors of blown glass, sculpture, carpets, silverware and jewelry. Pieces are in much better condition here, which is clearly reflected in the prices. A tearoom and live music help shoppers get in the mood.
reviewed
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H
Iodice
One of São Paulo’s top homegrown brands for both men and women, Iodice prides itself on top-quality materials and creative elegance. This shop has both casual wares at relatively accessible prices as well as a high-end line with prices to match.
reviewed
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I
Livraria Cultura
Spread out over three stores on the ground floor of the Conjunto Nacional building, this is hands-down the city’s best bookstore. There is a large selection of both English-language books and travel guides, plus a pleasant café.
reviewed
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J
Photography and Image Fair
Works from amateur and professional photographers are for sale at this once-monthly market in the verdant Parque do Catete. There's also a multimedia room, which hosts workshops, talks and slide projections.
reviewed
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K
Galeria Amazônica
Right on Praça São Sebastião, this is Manaus’s top shop for genuine-article Amazonian handiwork, including gorgeous basketwork, pottery and folk art. Prices are on the high side, but so is the quality.
reviewed
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L
Boulevard Shopping
Belém’s latest, biggest mall is a modern cement, steel and glass structure, brilliantly lit at night, and boasting top-tier clothing, electronics and department stores as well as a cinema complex.
reviewed
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Feira do Rio Antigo
Although the Rio Antiques Fair happens just once a month, don't miss it if you're in town. The colonial buildings become a living installation as the whole street fills with antiques, and samba bands add to the ambience.
reviewed
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Feira Tom Jobim
This thriving Saturday fair just east of Parque Municipal, between Av Brasil and Rua dos Otoni, features a mix of antique dealers and stalls hawking Brazilian and international street food.
reviewed
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N
Ceprama
The large Ceprama, 2km southeast of the city center, is housed in a renovated factory and functions as an exhibition hall and interesting sales outlet for handicrafts.
reviewed
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Shopping China Importados
This megastore has…well, everything and is teeming with wide-eyed Brazilians throwing down real after real for massive discounts on everything from Johnny Walker to Canon.
reviewed
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Shopping Pátio Belém
The former ‘Iguatemi Shopping’ has a new name and much more highbrow orientation, with upscale shops, from jewelry to electronics to designer clothing, spread over four floors.
reviewed
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O
Espaço Brasil
Spread over three stories, this light-filled store is practically a museum of Brazilian arts and crafts, ranging from carvings and paintings to soaps and linens.
reviewed
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Havaianas
You will find flip-flops in every imaginable design and hue – and at quite reasonable prices – at the new flagship store of Brazil’s favorite beach footwear.
reviewed
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Mercado Municipal
The Mercado Municipal is one of the lively attractions in town, with a wide range of goods sold and bartered inside the two-story building.
reviewed
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Q
Praça do Lido Market
Copacabana's response to Ipanema's widely popular Hippie Fair, this smaller weekend affair features handicrafts and souvenirs, soccer jerseys, jewelry stands and, from time to time, a man selling amazing slices of chocolate cake.
reviewed
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Ipanema 2000
Ipanema's fashion-conscious shoppers flock to this store gallery in search of something new for the after-office soiree – or the upcoming trip to Búzios.
reviewed
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Galeria Ouro Fino
From hip-high boots to camouflage club gear, this old-fashioned, three-story mall has been turned into ground zero for alternativo shoppers.
reviewed