I hope this is the one I went to when I visited. Extra is like a Costco, but there's no eating area…read morethat I can recall probably because I was too busy wide eyed in amusement looking around.. I know I wasn't a local, but I thought this place was heaven!! who doesn't love loves crust less bread?! bakery and fruit section was amazing and meats were interesting. if you spend a certain amount, you get a free container, but nothing special about it. they have everything here! wish we have an extra back in the bay. this Brazilian Costco.

One of my favorite things in Sao Paulo. Yes, it can be really hard for tourists to get to. But so…read morefun! I have been to almost 30 countries and Brazil is in the top 3 of flea markets around the world. The markets have original art like no other , great mid century modern items and a selection of fun jewelry mixed with bars serving up big boozy drinks and yummy food. Well- Embu is a WHOLE TOWN of that stuff. I went on a sunday, which I think is the big day for it. You walk the town center where the stores are with booths selling items are set up inbetween. In the park at the edge of the town center, there's the amazing artists selling their original work. The stores range from touristy knick knacks to stores selling furniture and housewares where locals actually shop. You can spend all afternoon here ( and should). Booths are set up selling ice cream and choculates also. I got there at noon and didn't leave till 5 pm. MIxed in with the shops are bars and resturants with outdoor seating and live music. I had drinks at several and was not disappointed. I had a great lunch outside at one with a huge tree sheltering the tables and a hoppin live band. Beware though, like most of Sao Paulo, the town center is VERY hilly. I walked it with a broken foot so trust me, it's steep. In the rain, I could see flooding and slippery walking. There's a famous 17th century Jesuit church there too. Its beautiful- white with blue trim - worth stopping in. It's right near the shopping so it's easy to find. I didn't see the indian museum but heard its interesting. And if you are really into war history and terrible things, Mengele is buried in Embu- although obviously not in the touristy town center. I went by car with friends from Centro and it was at least a 30-40 min drive. I think the best thing to do is talk to your hotel about what time it all starts and then get the hotel to talk to a cab about a flat rate to travel there. I think if you went when there was traffic- and believe me the traffic in Sao Paulo is horribel- it would be a very pricy cab ride there.

Embu is a village that is crawling with artisan shops and street food vendors. It is about 30 mins…read moreto an hour away from Sao Paulo, depending on traffic. Once you get to Embu, parking is a bit of a pain...there is street parking available in the hills above the market, or you can opt to park in one of the many paid lots in the area. Be prepared for a lot of walking, as there is so much to see and try! Vendors were selling a wide range of products, from Brazil souvenirs (think keychains, mugs, and shot glasses) to childrens toys, scarves and clothing, jewelry, figurines, ceramic goods, and paintings/photographs. There are also a number of street food vendors and stores selling local/regional food items and alcohol. My favorite street snack was the acai mixed with granola. The concentration of acai is much higher than the concentration of acai I've had in Hawaii, and the cold snack was very tasty and refreshing after walking around. I got acai two times while in Embu because it was so amazing! Vendors are more than happy to give you samples and let you try things on, so don't be afraid to ask! I bought several souvenirs for friends and family like magnets, small toys, soft fabric necklaces, and stone bracelets. Everything was reasonably priced, and there were many things I saw in Embu that I did not see while shopping around in Sao Paulo. If you are coming to Embu from Sao Paulo, I'd suggest planning to stay at least half a day. Walk around and explore, then go to one of the neighborhood restaurants for lunch (we chose O Garimpo), and then walk around some more to make your purchases before driving back to Sao Paulo. Have fun, buy lots, and try something new in this cute little village! TL;DR - lots of walking, parking may be difficult, and tons of products and food items to browse!