Housed in a building that has stained-glass windows, this one looks more like an art museum than a market. It sells everything from meat, veggies, seafood to cheese, spices and snacks and employs more than 1,500 people. The first floor has various lunch options: Hocca Bar is a local favourite for its salt-cod pastry.
Insider tip: “Try the fresh fruit, from the cacao of Amazon to mangoes from the Bahia coast. Visit Emporio Chiappetta to stock up on cachaça.”
This one is popular not just for its produce, but also for its classes on subjects like macaron-making and knife skills. There’s a Saturday Farmers’ market and seasonal festivals like the strawberry one that’s held every June.
Insider tip: “Scheffler’s Deli is a one-stop shop for hard-to-find cheeses and expertly cured meats. Try the samples of duck and pistachio pate and pata negra ham.”
