Casa Godinho is the oldest grocery store in São Paulo and has been winning over the downtown clientele for 137 years. Founded in 1888 by Portuguese immigrant José Maria Godinho, the grocery store stands out for preserving the values of traditional commerce.
Its first address was Praça da Sé, but since 1924 its doors have been open at Rua Líbero Badaró, 340. Since then, Casa Godinho has become a benchmark in the capital, delighting generations with its quality products and distinctive service.
Casa Godinho is São Paulo’s most traditional grocery store
In addition to maintaining its original characteristics for over a century, the Godinho grocery store is a living memory of São Paulo culture. This is because it maintains the spirit of traditional grocery stores, which are becoming rarer every day.
Over the decades, the establishment has served major figures in national history, such as Assis Chateaubriand, Adhemar de Barros and Jânio Quadros. Such historical importance led the city of São Paulo to recognize Casa Godinho as an intangible cultural heritage site in 2013. It was the first commercial establishment to receive this recognition in the city.
A trip back to the 19th century!
The past is present in every detail of Casa Godinho, from the silver scales on the counter to the hydraulic tile floor and the 19th century imbuia shelves. The staff still hand-pack the products in paper and sell spices in bulk, keeping the tradition of the old São Paulo shops alive.
In other words, visiting the grocery store is like taking a trip back in time. For a complete experience, we recommend trying Casa Godinho’s famous pie, voted the best in the city by Veja São Paulo magazine. It’s the perfect invitation to savor the history of this São Paulo heritage site!
