São Paulo Like a Local

Game On

São Paulo has three of Brazil’s most powerful soccer clubs—Corinthians, Palmeiras, and São Paulo—with a fourth titan in neighboring Santos, where all-time and current kings of the national sport, Pelé and Neymar, came to fame. Games normally occur on weekends and Wednesday night, when kickoff happens only after the prime-time Brazilian soaps have concluded.

Parks and Recreation

São Paulo has plenty of public space for amateur athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. Paulistanos convene at the city’s plentiful parks to play sports, walk, jog, bike, skate, and sunbathe.

Centrally located Ibirapuera Park—with its ponds, monuments, and Oscar Niemeyer–designed buildings—features many of São Paulo’s most recognizable cityscapes. The sprawling lawns and network of pathways attract leisure-seeking locals from all walks of life. The grounds’ museums, theaters, and planetarium speak to those seeking mental stimulation.

Outside of Ibirapuera, there’s Burle Marx and the botanical gardens in the south, Villa Lobos and the campus of University of São Paulo to the west, Tietê Ecological Park in Guarulhos, and Parque do Juventude up north.

Shopping Till You Drop

If soccer is São Paulo’s principal sport, then shopping is surely its second. JK Iguatemi and Cidade Jardim are the city’s most opulent malls. With stunning skyline views and greenhouse lushness, both demand as much attention as their encased stores, which feature brands like Animale and Valentino.

São Paulo’s streets offer excellent browsing as well. In the Jardins neighborhood, Oscar Freire lures shoppers at the highest end of the market, as does João Cachoeira in Itaim Bibi. Bom Retiro’s José Paulino focuses on women’s clothing, especially evening wear. The boutiques of Vila Madalena specialize in artwork, apparel, and household ornaments. The vendors of weekend flea markets at plazas Benedito Calixto (Saturday) and Dom Orione (Sunday) sell antiques.

Food Shopping

For food, find the nearest feira (farmers’ market), where locals purchase much of their produce and chow down on pasteis (fried pastries with savory or sweet fillings). These markets change location depending on the day of the week. One of the biggest occurs Saturday in Vila Madalena (Rua Mourato Coelho).

Padarias (bakeries) resemble American-style diners, and are favored locally for their menu diversity. Bella Paulista (near Avenida Paulista) and Santa Etienne (Alto de Pinheiros) top the list.

Nightlife

With its party atmosphere, São Paulo never idles entirely. Paulistanos catch meals and drinks nightly at gastropubs in the Vila Madalena, Pinheiros, Itaim, and Jardins neighborhoods. Bar do Juarez (Itaim) and Boteco São Bento (Vila Madalena) are fashionable choices. Music and dance clubs ensure the celebrations continue into the early hours. Nightlife starts during the afternoon on Saturday, when locals gather to dance samba and pagode, and eat feijoada (black bean and pork stew). Try Traço de União (Pinheiros) or Você Vai Se Quiser (Centro).