Did you know that Cambuci is one of the oldest neighborhoods in São Paulo? Although it was only made official a little over a century ago, the region began to be explored shortly after São Paulo was founded in 1554. At that time, what is now known as Cambuci was nothing more than a trail that led to the Caminho do Mar, and eventually to the city of Santos.
Around 1850, the first farms, ranches and small businesses sprang up around the trails. Despite having had residents for centuries, Cambuci only officially became a neighbourhood in 1906, when it underwent a process of industrialization. With this, many workers came to the neighborhood, including Italian and Syrian-Lebanese immigrants.
The factories, however, began to abandon the area from the 1970s onwards. Today, Cambuci can be considered a service district, but there is still plenty of leisure to explore there! If you plan to live in the area or just want to explore it further, check out some of the attractions below.
What to do in Cambuci: the best attractions in the neighborhood in SP
São Joaquim do Cambuci Parish
Built in 1895, the São Joaquim Parish is located in Cambuci and is a historic landmark in SP. Also known as Nossa Senhora da Glória Church, it is an attraction both for the faithful and for those who want to learn more about local history. After all, it was one of the first churches in the region and boasts majestic architecture from the time.
The parish also played an important role during the 1924 Revolution. Due to its strategic location at the top of the hill, it served as a trench for the rebels. As a result, it was bombed by government troops, which knocked down one of the towers and damaged the altar, but fortunately the São Joaquim Parish survived to tell the story to this day.
📍 Avenida Lacerda Franco, 02
Brazil Mosque
Did you know that the first mosque in Latin America is in Cambuci? Built in 1929, the Mesquita Brasil is a meeting place for believers in Islam and also welcomes visits from non-Muslims who want to get a closer look at its beautiful architecture.
On Fridays, the mosque offers its traditional lunch with Arabic and Brazilian flavors. The meal always takes place at 1:30 p.m. and costs R$50 per person, with food and drinks provided. The mosque also offers classes in Arabic, religion and even cooking.
📍 Rua Barão de Jaguara, 632
Fortal Cuscuz
How about stopping off to try some Northeastern cuisine? Fortal Cuscuz promises to deliver the best northeastern couscous in São Paulo, as well as other typical delicacies such as tapioca, cocada and bolo de rolo.
📍 Rua Senador Carlos Teixeira de Carvalho, 77
Largo Nossa Senhora da Conceição
This little square is right on the border between Cambuci and Aclimação, and is one of the locals’ favorite spots for a stroll. It has a playground and a circular walking track, and is also good for those who want to walk their pets. It is tree-lined and is patrolled by the Metropolitan Civil Guard.
Belka Russian Cafeteria
If you like trying foreign flavors, you need to visit the Russian coffee shop in Cambuci. Belka has desserts typical of the country, such as the “Napoleon” cake, made with cream-filled pastry, or the Oreshki, walnut-shaped biscuits. The owners of the café are a Russian couple who immigrated to Brazil, which makes the experience even more authentic.
📍 452 Robertson Street