Did you know that the oldest pizzeria in Brazil is in São Paulo? Opened in 1924, Castelões Cantina e Pizzaria has been serving traditional snacks for over a century, building a legacy that captivates generations of São Paulo residents at its Brás location.
After so much history, this year São Paulo City Hall awarded Castelões the “Seal of Cultural Value”. The tribute officially recognizes the pizzeria as a reference in the city, a historic establishment that keeps traditions alive and contributes to the local gastronomic and cultural scene.
This only confirms something that many São Paulo residents already knew: having a meal at Castelões means traveling back in time, tasting centuries-old Italian recipes in a decor that harks back to the São Paulo of yesteryear. But if you haven’t had that experience yet, don’t worry. Find out more about this historic pizzeria below!
Photo: Mauro Holanda/Divulgation
Castelões Cantina e Pizzaria
The history of Brazil’s oldest pizzeria began because of a passion of the Brazilian people: soccer. A century ago, a group of friends would get together every week to play soccer and, at the end, they would have a get-together where Castelões is today. Then, one day, the “players” Vicente Donato and Ettore Siniscalchi had an idea. What if they built a pizza oven to add to the celebration?
So the friends – who were the sons of Italian immigrants – included pizzas in the party. It tasted so good that it became a hit with the public, attracting more and more people to the get-together. It was then that Vicente and Ettore decided to open a pizzeria, offering their traditional Italian recipes to anyone who wanted to try them.
Brazil’s oldest pizzeria serves traditional Italian recipes
Today, Castelões is in the hands of Fábio Donato, Vicente’s grandson. Although the ingredients are getting better and better, the basis of the recipe remains the same as it was a hundred years ago, guaranteeing a pizza that is faithfully Italian.
The menu has 18 flavors, many of which have been present since the opening. These include Margherita, Tuna, Neapolitan, Calabrese and the traditional Castelões. The flavor takes special mozzarella, fresh tomato sauce and slices of pepperoni, and has already made its way into other pizzerias in the city.
In addition, there is a choice of salads and other pastas, such as risotto and spaghetti; and pannacotta or cannolo for dessert. In other words, Castelões Cantina e Pizzaria is your chance to enjoy a tasty and truly Italian experience, with pizzas that have been a tradition for generations.
How to visit?
Since its opening, Castelões Cantina e Pizzaria has charmed even celebrities. Former president Fernando Henrique Cardoso, for example, was a loyal customer for years and celebrated his 1994 victory there. Hebe Camargo, Luiz Gonzaga and Regina Casé are other personalities who have approved of the house recipe.
In other words, if you haven’t tried it yet, it’s high time you did! The pizzeria is in Rua Jairo Góes, 126, in Brás. Opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday, from 6pm to 11pm, but you can also try it via iFood delivery.
To keep up with the latest news from Brazil’s oldest pizzeria, keep an eye on Castelões’ social networks!
