This week, São Paulo hosts the Bienal Internacional do Livro, the largest literary fair in Latin America. Until September 15, readers will be able to meet their favorite authors up close and check out thousands of titles, after all, there are around 150 different exhibitors there. And to take advantage of the literary atmosphere of the Bienal, we’ve decided to list some of the street bookstores in SP, which are still going strong in the capital and are resisting changes in the market.
The cool thing is that, as well as selling books, these bookshops are entertainment venues as a whole. After all, many of them offer cultural and leisure activities, such as soirees and launch parties, and even coffee shops. So, on your next reading, what about stopping by these addresses and supporting independent booksellers?
Street bookstores to visit in São Paulo
1. Megafauna
In the iconic Copan building is one of SP’s most traditional street bookshops. Here you’ll not only find books, but also debate sessions with authors, critics and other special guests.
📍 Avenida Ipiranga, 200 – Loja 53 – Centro
📍 Rua Nestor Pestana, 196 – Consolação
2. Bandolim Bookshop
If you’re looking for new street bookstores in SP, you can’t miss the Bandolim. In addition to books of all genres, the newly opened house also has nightly musical performances and a coffee bar to accompany them.
📍 Rua Conselheiro Brotero, 952 – Santa Cecilia
3. Livraria Simples
This charming bookshop is located in a very cute little blue house in Bexiga. There you’ll find new, used and semi-new books, as well as reading workshops and poetry soirees. It also holds book swaps in person and on its website.
📍 Rua Rocha, 259 – Bexiga
4. Livraria Caraíbas
Next up, another newcomer to the city. The Caraíbas opened its doors in August 2024 and has a diverse catalogue, from children’s books to foreign literature and non-fiction.
📍 Rua Caraíbas, 586 – Perdizes
5. Patuscada Livraria, Bar & Café
The Patuscada defines itself as a bookshop and cultural space. Very famous among artists and poets, it organizes poetry launches and soirees in a super cozy atmosphere, with tables in the garden and lots of beer!
📍 Rua Luís Murat, 40 – Vila Madalena
6. Livraria Gato Sem Rabo
Finally, Gato Sem Rabo focuses on titles written by women. It carries books by authors from all over the world that touch on social issues such as queer living, racism, decolonialism and, of course, feminism.
📍 Rua Amaral Gurgel, 352 – Vila Buarque
Extra: Bookshop Mandarina
In May of this year, the traditional Livraria Mandarina had to close its physical store in Pinheiros. However, it is still alive online, with book sales in its virtual catalog.
Although it’s no longer available in person, we thought it only fair to feature it as an extra for its importance in the history of street bookshops in São Paulo; after all, for five years, it brought launches and other literary events that shook up São Paulo’s cultural scene! Find out more about Mandarina’s e-commerce here.