If you’re interested in buying plants, flowers or fruits, try the state market CEAGESP (also known as Ceasa), located in the west of town close to Parque Villa-Lobos. The wholesale market feeds the entire city, but offers a number of retail sales as well, with prices that take some beating. Tuesdays and Fridays are plant and flower days. Get there early to find good deals and fresh products.

For fruit, Wednesdays (at night) and weekends (in the morning) are the peak times. And if all the healthy, fresh produce and natural aromas get a bit much, outside the entrance you’ll find a hot dog stand, open 24 hours a day, with ‘dogs made the paulistano way, with mashed potatoes, corn and potato matchsticks.