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Food tours in Sao Paulo: what to eat and which tour to book
São Paulo is Brazil's biggest restaurant city, built by immigrants. Italians gave it its pizza and cantinas, Japanese settlers made Liberdade the largest Japanese community outside Japan, and Lebanese, Syrian, Portuguese and Northeastern Brazilian cooks all left their mark. Everyday eating means a pastel and sugarcane juice at the weekly street fair (feira livre), a prato feito lunch at a lanchonete, and pizza on Sunday night. The Mercado Municipal (Mercadão) in the historic centre is where visitors go for the oversized mortadella sandwich and cod pastries, and the neighbourhoods of Pinheiros, Vila Madalena and Bixiga are where paulistanos go out.
Use this page to know what to order and where to go. The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as they appeared when we checked; confirm the current price on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Sao Paulo
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mortadella sandwich sanduíche de mortadela | A French roll stacked with a very thick pile of warm, thinly sliced mortadella, sometimes with melted provolone. The Mercadão's famous sandwich, said to date from the 1960s. | The snack bars inside the Mercado Municipal, including the long-running Bar do Mané; also at many bakeries around the city. | roughly R$40–65 (€6–10) at the Mercadão; it is big enough to share |
| Salt-cod pastry pastel de bacalhau | Large crisp fried pastry filled with salt cod, olives and onion; along with the mortadella sandwich, the other classic of the Mercadão. | The Mercado Municipal and Portuguese-style bars and bakeries. | roughly R$25–40 (€4–6) each |
| Street-fair pastel with sugarcane juice pastel de feira com caldo de cana | Thin, bubbly fried pastry with fillings like cheese, minced beef, heart of palm or pizza-style, eaten hot with a glass of fresh-pressed sugarcane juice, often with lime. | The pastel tents at the weekly feiras livres held in every neighbourhood. | roughly R$10–18 (€1.50–2.80) per pastel; caldo de cana about R$10–15 |
| São Paulo pizza pizza paulistana | Thin-ish, generously topped pizza, usually eaten with a knife and fork. Calabresa (sausage and onion), margherita and portuguesa are the standards. Sunday night pizza is a local habit. | Pizzerias across the city, especially the Italian areas of Bixiga, Mooca and Brás. | roughly R$80–150 (€12–23) for a whole pizza for two |
| Virado à paulista | A plate of tutu de feijão (beans thickened with cassava flour), rice, pork chop, fried egg, sautéed collard greens, crackling and fried banana. Many lanchonetes serve it on Mondays. | Lanchonetes and lunch restaurants in the centre, often as the prato do dia (dish of the day). | roughly R$35–60 (€5.50–9) |
| Bauru sandwich bauru | Roast beef, melted cheese, tomato and pickled cucumber in a French roll. Created in the 1930s at a São Paulo lunch counter and still on menus across the city. | Lanchonetes and old snack bars in the centre. | roughly R$30–50 (€4.50–8) |
| Japanese street food yakisoba, gyoza, tempurá | Japanese-Brazilian snacks and noodles, plus Chinese and Korean dishes from newer arrivals, served at stalls and small restaurants. | Liberdade, especially the weekend street fair at Praça da Liberdade and the restaurants on Rua Galvão Bueno. | roughly R$20–45 (€3–7) per dish at the fair |
| Chicken croquette coxinha | Teardrop-shaped fried croquette of shredded chicken, often with catupiry cream cheese. The standard bakery and bar snack. | Padarias (bakeries) and botecos everywhere. | roughly R$8–14 (€1.20–2.20) |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Mercado Municipal (Mercadão)
Covered market in the historic centre, opened in 1933, with stained-glass windows and more than 290 stalls selling fruit, cheese, cured meats, spices and nuts. The mezzanine and snack bars serve the mortadella sandwich and cod pastries.
Liberdade
The Japanese and East Asian district just south of the centre, with Japanese grocers, sushi and ramen restaurants and a busy street fair with food stalls at Praça da Liberdade.
Pinheiros and Vila Madalena
Neighbouring areas full of botecos, modern Brazilian restaurants and bars; Mercado de Pinheiros has stalls selling ingredients from around Brazil and small food counters.
Bixiga (Bela Vista)
The old Italian neighbourhood, with traditional cantinas serving huge plates of pasta, parmigiana and polenta, especially along Rua 13 de Maio. Hosts the Festa de Nossa Senhora Achiropita, an Italian food festival in August.
Feiras livres (street fairs)
Hundreds of weekly open-air markets across the city sell fruit, vegetables and fish, and nearly all have a pastel tent and a sugarcane-juice press.
Food tours in Sao Paulo compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4h Cooking Class in São Paulo: 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks | 3.5 - 4.5 hours | from €71 per person | max 8 | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| São Paulo Private Downtown Walking Tour. Optional Food Stops | 2.5 - 4 hours | from €36 per person | — | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
| São Paulo: Liberdade Street Food Tour | 2 hours | from €48 per person | max 10 | First-timers on a budget who want to try many cheap dishes in one go. | Check dates |
| São Paulo: Premium City Bus Tour with Dinner and Veggie Option | 2 hours | from €99 per person | — | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
| São Paulo: Suppers Food Tour With 12+ Tastings | 4 hours | from €81 per person | max 8 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| 4hr Food Crawl in São Paulo with 8 Local Bars & Food Stops | 4 hours | from €63 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
4h Cooking Class in São Paulo: 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks
On GetYourGuide · run by Cook in Fiesta
- Length
- 3.5 - 4.5 hours
- Price
- from €71 per person
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ from 18 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 8
- Included
- A cooking class that's less "lecture," more "epic food party." 8 food recipes + 1 way to become a caipirinha aficionado. Unlimited caipirinhas, because we're not about that "limit" life. Market tour: optional but reco…
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- This activity has 2 meeting points. Your meeting point depends on the option you select.
São Paulo Private Downtown Walking Tour. Optional Food Stops
On GetYourGuide · run by See in SP
- Length
- 2.5 - 4 hours
- Price
- from €36 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 155 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Local guide Walking tour Food Personal expenses Tickets Tips
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
- Starts
- This activity has 2 meeting points. Your meeting point depends on the option you select.
São Paulo: Liberdade Street Food Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Concrete Jungles Walking Tours
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €48 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 84 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- 3 main snacks Japanese Pastel & Onigiri Traditional Takoyaki or Tempura. (On weekdays, we might replace this with Argentinian Empanadas) Choux Au Craquelin Korean 1 bottle of water 1 sugar cane juice 1 final soft drin…
- Suits
- First-timers on a budget who want to try many cheap dishes in one go.
- Starts
- Praça da Liberdade, 135 - Liberdade, São Paulo - SP, 01503-010, Brazil
São Paulo: Premium City Bus Tour with Dinner and Veggie Option
On GetYourGuide · run by Onboard Bus
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €99 per person
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ from 8 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Sightseeing + dining in one activity: Enjoy a panoramic city tour through the historic downtown area of São Paulo while savoring an all-inclusive gourmet dinner on board. Exclusive restaurant on wheels: Board Brazil’s…
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
- Starts
- Jazz, Restô, and Burgers.
São Paulo: Suppers Food Tour With 12+ Tastings
On GetYourGuide · run by A Chef's Tour
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €81 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 6 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 8
- Included
- 12+ food tastings included, more than any other São Paulo food tour Moveable feast with 7-8 stops around República and Santa Cecília Max 8 exclusive guests, smallest group size in São Paulo (private / larger groups by…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Café Floresta
4hr Food Crawl in São Paulo with 8 Local Bars & Food Stops
On GetYourGuide · run by Cook in Fiesta
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €63 per person
- Rating
- 4.5 ★ from 5 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Guided food crawl with a passionate local host Insights into Brazil’s culinary history and local tips Traditional drinks Meals Tastings of the foods that combined will act as at least 1 fulfilling meal. Additional fo…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Rua Dona Veridiana, 158 - Higienópolis, São Paulo - SP, 01238-010, Brasil
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Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Street food in São Paulo is concentrated at the feiras livres (pastel and caldo de cana), the Liberdade weekend fair, and food trucks and stalls outside bars at night. Most quick meals happen in padarias and lanchonetes rather than on the street, so a bakery counter is often the best cheap option.
Sit-down meals
Weekday lunch is the prato feito or prato do dia: rice, beans, a meat and salad at a fixed price. São Paulo has one of the largest restaurant scenes in the Americas, from Italian cantinas and Japanese restaurants to modern Brazilian tasting menus. Dinner runs from about 20:00; book popular places on Thursday to Saturday.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes usually cover Brazilian basics such as feijoada, moqueca, coxinha, pão de queijo, brigadeiros and caipirinhas. Some start with a walk through the Mercado Municipal or a street fair to buy ingredients.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | roughly R$90–140 / €14–22 (bakery breakfast, prato feito lunch, pastel at a feira) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | roughly R$250–400 / €38–62 (sit-down lunch and dinner with drinks) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | roughly R$700+ / €110+ (a tasting menu at a well-known restaurant) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: One of the easiest Brazilian cities for vegetarians and vegans, with many dedicated restaurants in Pinheiros, Vila Madalena and the centre. Pastéis come with cheese or heart of palm, and por-quilo buffets have plenty of vegetables. Beans are often cooked with pork, so ask 'o feijão tem carne?'.
Halal: Better than most of Brazil, thanks to the large Arab-Brazilian community. Lebanese and Syrian restaurants are common, and some halal-certified restaurants and butchers exist, especially around Brás and Rua 25 de Março. Ask about certification; pork is common in mainstream dishes.
Gluten-free: Reasonable. Pão de queijo, tapioca and many rice-and-bean plates are naturally gluten-free, and packaged food in Brazil must state whether it contains gluten. Pastel, coxinha, pizza and sandwiches contain wheat, and fryers are usually shared. Gluten-free bakeries exist in Pinheiros and Jardins.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Pushy fruit sellers inside the Mercadão who offer 'free tastings' of exotic fruit, cut a bag for you and charge a very high price per kilo. Ask the price per kilo and the total before anything is cut or bagged, and say no if you only want to look.
- The 10% service charge already on the bill, then a request for an extra tip. Check the bill for 'taxa de serviço'; if it is there, no further tip is needed.
- Phone snatching on the street and from restaurant tables, including by thieves on bikes and motorbikes. Keep your phone off the table and out of your hand when walking in the centre, and use ride-hailing apps at night.
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
When is the Mercado Municipal open?
The Mercadão opens daily, usually from early morning until late afternoon, with shorter hours on Sundays and holidays; check current hours before you go. Weekends are crowded and queues for the mortadella sandwich can be long. A weekday morning is the best time to look around the stalls, then eat at the snack bars before the lunch rush.
Do I need to tip in São Paulo?
Restaurants and bars usually add a 10% service charge (taxa de serviço) to the bill. It is optional by law but normally paid, and no further tip is expected. At bakeries, lanchonetes and street fairs, no tip is expected. On food tours, tipping a good guide is appreciated but optional.
Is it safe to eat at street fairs?
Yes, feira food is a daily habit for paulistanos. Pastéis are fried to order, and sugarcane juice is pressed in front of you; choose stands with queues. Bottled water is a safer choice than tap water for visitors. As in any crowd, keep your phone and wallet secure.
How do I find a street fair?
Each neighbourhood has fairs on fixed days, usually from early morning to early afternoon, with the best selection before noon. Ask at your hotel or look for the tents on residential streets in Pinheiros, Vila Madalena or Higienópolis. The city publishes a list of fair locations and days; check it for current details.
How much should I budget for food per day?
On a budget, about R$90–140 (€14–22) covers bakery breakfast, a prato feito lunch and a feira pastel. With a sit-down lunch and a dinner with drinks, plan roughly R$250–400 (€38–62). São Paulo's best-known restaurants charge from about R$500 per person for a tasting menu, before wine.
What time do people eat?
Breakfast is light, usually coffee and bread at a padaria. Lunch is the main weekday meal, from about 12:00 to 14:00. Dinner starts from about 20:00, and bars in Vila Madalena and Pinheiros stay busy late. Pizzerias are fullest on Sunday evening, when many families go out for pizza.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.