Southeast São Paulo

Parque da Independência, with Museu do Ipiranga in the background.

Southeast is a region of São Paulo. It can be described as a "transition zone" between its three surrounding regions: the Historic Center (the Downtown), the "City of New Rich" (the South Central) and the "City of Workers" (the Far East), mixing characteristics of these three regions. In the past, the region was an industrial and working class residencial area, with population mostly composed of foreign immigrants.

The Southeast is divided into 15 districts, grouped into four subprefectures:

• Mooca subprefecture: Pari, Brás, Belém, Tatuapé, Mooca, Água Rasa.
• Ipiranga subprefecture: Ipiranga, Cursino, Sacomã.
• Aricanduva subprefecture: Carrão, Vila Formosa, Aricanduva.
• Sapopemba-Vila Prudente subprefecture: Vila Prudente, São Lucas, Sapopemba.

Understand

In the first half of the 20th century, the Southeast was mostly occupied by industries and working class neighborhoods, with a large number of foreign immigrants. During São Paulo's great economic and populational growth during the second half of the 20th century, industries have been replaced by services, or moved to peripherical areas of the city. Foreign immigrants and their descendants advanced to middle and high social classes.

Nowadays, the Southeast remains heavily populated by immigrants and their descendants, mostly Italians, but also Spanish, Japanese (most from Okinawa), Portuguese, Lithuanian, Lebanese, Koreans and Yugoslavians. There is also a large number of migrants from the Northeast of the country. Verticalization is accelerate and progressing towards the east part of the region. This is attracting shops and restaurants to the area, but it is also causing problems, including increase of traffic and pollution.

Besides, buildings from the industrial era of the region are disappearing, with a significant number of them only remaining in the Brás and Belém districts. Tatuapé is the center of gastronomy, shopping and nightlife in the Southeast, and Museu do Ipiranga, probably the most beautiful museum of the entire São Paulo state, is one of the primary reasons to visit the region.

Brás is also one of the busiest centers of popular commerce in São Paulo, and it is particularly important for the Christian Pentecostal community: the district is home to the central churches of Congregação Cristã and Igreja Mundial do Poder de Deus, and the new colossal cathedral of Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus, a replica of King Solomon's temple, is being constructed there.

Get in

By metro and train

These are the metro and train stations located at each district:

• Brás: Brás, Bresser-Mooca
• Belém: Belém
• Cursino: Imigrantes
• Ipiranga: Alto do Ipiranga
• Mooca: Mooca
• Tatuapé: Tatuapé, Carrão
• Vila Prudente: Ipiranga, Tamanduateí, Vila Prudente, Sacomã

By bus

8 of the 15 districts have no metro/train stations, making the bus the only available public transport to reach them. Some attractions are also not really close (or not close at all) to a metro/train station.

By car

The Radial Leste-Oeste links the Southeast to the Far East and Center regions, Marginal Tietê links it to the Northeast, and Av. Dr. Ricardo Javet, together with Av. Pres. Tancredo Neves, links it to the South Central.

Get around

By bicycle

Cycleway Radial Leste (see São Paulo main section) is partly located in the Southeast. The other cycleway is:

• Cycleway Adutora Rio Claro, from Av. Sapopemba w/R. Germínio Gomes da Silva to Praça Felibserto da Silvia. Cycleway in the more suburban district of Sapopemba. It has some serious slopes, making parts of it not very suitable for amateur cyclists. 7 km. 

See

• 1 Aquário de São Paulo, Rua Huet Bacelar, 407 - Ipiranga (Near Imigrantes station), ☏ +55 11 2273-5500. Daily 09:00-18:00. The largest oceanarium in South America, with 1 million liters of seawater and 300 different animal species. A night visit, with flashlight and dinner included, can also be scheduled by groups (more costly than regular visit). R$45 for kids aged 2 to 12 years, and R$90 for the full ticket. (updated May 2019)
• Basílica Nossa Senhora da Penha (Our Lady of Penhaa), Rua Santo Afonso, 199. Penha. One of the oldest churches of São Paulo. 
• 2 Cemitério da Vila Formosa, Praça Estevão Ribeiro Neto, Carrão. With 780,000 m², Cemitério da Vila Formosa is the largest necropolis of Latin America, with most of the 1.5 million buried people belonging to low and low middle classes. Interestingly, the cemetery is used for leisure and sports by locals, as it is the only green area of the surrounding neighborhoods. 
• Santuário Santa Isabel Rainha, Alameda Rainha Santa, 322 - Vila Santa Isabel, ☏ +55 11 2781-1048. Perhaps the most beautiful church of the region, projected by Benedito Calixto and sitting in a small hill in a peaceful residential neighborhood between Carrão and Vila Formosa. It has Neoclassic-Roman style and a 90-meter-high tower, which can be visited. 
• Teatro Sílvio Romero, Rua Coelho Lisboa, 334 - Tatuapé. 
• 3 Vila Maria Zélia, Entrance at crossing between Rua dos Prazeres and Rua Cachoeira - Belém. The historical neighborhood was built in 1917 to be the home of workers of Companhia Nacional de Tecidos de Juta, a textile factory. The architecture and many buildings from that time remain, although only the church is completely preserved. 

Museums

Steam locomotive ride at Museu de Imigração do Estado de São Paulo.

• Casa do Sítio Tatuapé, Rua Guabijú, 49 - Tatuapé (15 min walk from Tatuapé station). Tu-Su 09:00-17:00. One of the oldest houses of São Paulo, constructed by an early explorer (bandeirante) between 1668-1698. Now it hosts cultural activities. Free. 
• 4 Museu de Imigração do Estado de São Paulo (Memorial do Imigrante), Rua Visconde de Parnaíba, 1316 - Brás (Near Brás station), ☏ +55 11 2692-1866. From 1887 to 1978, this building hosted immigrants from other countries and other parts of Brazil that came to São Paulo in search of work and opportunity. Now, the building is a museum about the history of immigration in the state. Attractions include a replica of a 19th-century coffee farm and a 1-km ride on a steam locomotive. (updated May 2019)
• 5 Museu do Ipiranga (Museu Paulista da Universidade de São Paulo), Parque da Independência, Ipiranga (15 min walk from Ipiranga station; 30 min walk from Alto do Ipiranga station), ☏ +55 11 2065-8000. Tu-Su 10:00-17:00. São Paulo's most important historical museum, built in an eclectic style, tells the history of the Brazilian society, the Independence of Brazil (which reputedly, happened where the Ipiranga district sits now), and the importance of people of the state of São Paulo, the Paulistas. R$15,00–30,00. (updated Aug 2024)

Parks

Jardim Botânico de São Paulo, Parque Estadual Fontes do Ipiranga.

• 6 Parque Anália Franco (Sport Workers' Park), Rua Canuto Abreu, s/n - Anália Franco. One of the largest and cleanest green areas of the city. It has many installations for practice of sports and the largest swimming pool of Latin America - which requires a special license to use. 
• 7 Parque Estadual Fontes do Ipiranga (Parque do Estado), Avenida Miguel Estéfano, Cursino. Consists in a large patch of Atlantic rainforest, with more than 5 million m². Only a portion of this area is open for visits, and includes the Zoo and the Botanical Garden (listed below). To get there, it is possible to use Ponte Orca Zoo, a bus from Jabaquara metro/bus station to the São Paulo Zoo, available everyday from 08:30 to 17:00. The roundtrip bus ticket costs R$ 2.20 (Bilhete Único not accepted) and you can buy the tickets for the Zoo together with the bus ticket. More information available in this website. 
  • 8 Parque Zoológico de São Paulo (São Paulo Zoo), ☏ +55 11 5073-0811. The largest zoo from Brazil has about 825,000 m², and exhibits more than 3,200 animals. The "Simba Safari" tour allows you to see free animals in the wild area of the park. free to R$ 21.40 (depending on age). 
  • 9 Jardim Botânico de São Paulo (São Paulo Botanical Garden), Av. Miguel Estéfano, 3031. A 360,000-m² space containing gardens and lakes, with many species of local flora and birds. R$ 3. 
• 10 Parque do Piqueri. 

Do

Football and other sports

The association with football (soccer) is one of the most remarkable traits of the Southeast. The region is home to Corinthians Sport Club, the most popular football club of the state (and 2nd most popular of Brazil), Associação Portuguesa de Desportos, a club that also usually runs in the 1st division, associated with the Portuguese community, and Clube Atlético Juventus, a minor but traditional club, that is part of the history of the Italian community of the city. Besides football clubs, these clubs are also general sport and social clubs, so associating with them may be a good idea if plan to stay a long time in the city.

• 1 Estádio do Canindé (Estádio Doutor Osvaldo Teixeira Duarte), Rua Comendador Nestor Pereira, 33 - Pari (near Tietê station). Despite the association of the region with football, it contains only one stadium capable of hosting 1st division games, the Canindé, home to Associação Portuguesa de Desportos. Capacity for 27,000 people. 
• 2 Estádio Alfredo Schürig, Rua São Jorge, 777 - Parque São Jorge (Accessible from Marginal Tietê), ☏ +55 11 2095-3000. The 158,000-m² area is the headquarters of Corinthians Sport Club. It is a private club with many sport facilities, including an impressive waterpark. It contains a museum of the football team, and a chapel where the supporters pray for its success in the various championships of the year. 
• Parque Anália Franco (Former CERET), Praça do Trabalhador, Vila Formosa. A park with 286,000 m², including a patch of Atlantic rainforest and various sport facilities. Those include, among others, a swimming pool and Arena Paulista de Rugby, the first rugby field of the city. 

Events

• Festa de San Gennaro, Rua San Gennaro, 160 - Mooca. The annual event of the Italian community, around the Church of San Gennaro, starts around September, and happens every Saturday and Sunday night for the next 4 weeks. Basically, it is a smaller version of Festa de Nossa Senhora Acheropita (in the city center, and it includes Italian food, music and dance, plus an optional paid cantine for those who want to sit. Attracts around 70,000 visitors. free. 
• Festa Junina da Portuguesa, Rua Comendador Nestor Pereira, 33 - Pari (at Estádio do Canindé). The annual festival, that happens during weekends of June and early July, combines a typical Brazilian Festa Junina with traditions of the Portuguese community in São Paulo. It showcases performances of both popular Brazilian artists and typical Portuguese dance and musical groups. 
• Okinawa Festival, Praça Haroldo Daltro, Carrão. The event of the Japanese-Okinawan community happens in a weekend in August, and has become one of the largest cultural events from the Southeast. It includes cultural presentations typical from Okinawa, like the Okinawa Taiko, that mixes music and dance, plus, naturally, Japanese-Okinawan food. Attracts around 20,000 visitors. 

Buy

The Southeast has a rich and diverse shopping scene, not much behind Downtown, West and South Central.

• 1 Brás (Near Brás station). The Brás neighborhood is one of busiest centers of popular commerce in the city, particularly of clothes, with the shops typically owned by Arabs, Koreans and Chinese. Many clothes sold in local retailers around the city were produced in Brás. During the day, most shops can be found in and nearby Rua Oriente, Rua Maria Marcolina e Largo da Concórdia. During the night (03:00-10:00), Feirinha da Madrugada happens, with shops concentrated in galleries and open-air spaces in and nearby Rua Oriente, Rua São Caetano and Rua Monsenhor de Andrade. 
• 2 Central Plaza Shopping, Avenida Dr. Francisco Mesquita, 1.000 - Vila Prudente (continuation of Avenida do Estado). The shopping mall is popular among younger people due to its nice area for bowling, billiards and games. Also has 26 shops specific for house furnishing. Quite spacious parking lot. About 240 shops. 
• 3 Mooca Plaza Shopping, Rua Capitão Pacheco e Chaves, 313 - Mooca. The second upscale shopping mall in the region, a consequence of the valorization of the Mooca region. About 232 shops. 
• 4 Praça Silvio Romero (Near Tatuapé station). Praça Silvio Romero, in Tatuapé, and its surroundings, like R. Serra de Bragança and R. Coelho de Lisboa form an important middle class commercial area, that concentrates a large number of shops, bars and services. 
• 5 Shopping Anália Franco, Av. Regente Feijó, 1739 - Vila Formosa, ☏ +55 11 4003-4133. The first shopping mall in the East with a more upscale profile, i.e. more expensive shopping options and a better decorated interior. The favorite option of middle class and wealthy inhabitants of Tatuapé, Mooca and Vila Formosa. About 329 shops. 
• 6 Shopping D, Av. Cruzeiro do Sul, 1100 - Pari (near Armênia station, crossing between Av. Cruzeiro do Sul and Marginal Tietê). Shopping mall easy to spot from Marginal Tietê due to its "Lego" architecture. About 230 shops. 
• 7 Shopping Metrô Boulevard Tatuapé, Rua Gonçalves Cresp w/R. Tuiti - Tatuapé (linked to Tatuapé station). Basically an extension of Shopping Metrô Tatuapé, constructed in the other side of the Tatuapé station. It is far less crowded than the "other Metrô Tatuapé mall", making it popular among those who are after more leisure and less shopping, like couples. An area in the ground floor of the shopping mall hosts diverse expositions. About 150 shops. 
• 8 Shopping Metrô Tatuapé, Rua Domingos Agostim, 91 - Tatuapé (linked to Tatuapé station), ☏ +55 11 2092-9444. The shopping mall, due to its connection to the busy Tatuapé metro, train and bus station, has become one of the most crowded shopping malls of the city. Has a very diverse public, frequented by people from various social classes coming from the East. A favorite among teenagers. It is also physically linked to Shopping Metrô Boulevard Tatuapé. About 300 shops. 

Eat

• Attrio Pizza and Bar, Rua Serra de Japi, 1275. Pizzeria. 
• Bracia Parrilla, Rua Azevedo Soares, 1008. Lunch, happy-hour and dinner.. Barbecue, with meat prepared by Uruguayan and Argentinian parrilleros. 
• Burgguers, Rua Azevedo Soares, 1172 - Tatuapé, ☏ +55 11 2094-3940. Hamburguer restaurant with thematic decoration of comics. 
• Espetinho Giba, Rua Baquiá, 70 - Carrão, ☏ +55 11 2227-1294. A favorite among locals of Carrão, owned by a Japanese family. Serves skewers (chicken, beef, cheese, bread and others), which may be accompanied by Japanese rice balls (onigiris). R$ 3 per skewer. 
• Hakken, R. Azevedo Soares, 541 - Tatuapé. Japanese cuisine. 

• La Pergoletta, Rua Itapura, 1478 - Tatuapé. Italian restaurant, with specialities in pasta. 
• Sol do Oriente, Rua Azevedo Soares, 679 - Tatuapé. Vegetarian food, with self service. 

Drink

• Bulls Club, Avenida Salim Farah Maluf, 1500 - Belém, ☏ +55 11 2601-4488. The largest club of the Southeast. Has two dance floors 
• Copacabana Bar, Rua Coelho Lisboa, 537 - Tatuapé (near Praça Silvio Romero), ☏ +55 11 2295-4364. Bar with Rio de Janeiro theme. Live Brazilian music on Fridays and Saturdays. 
• Elídio Bar, R. Isabel Dias, 57 - Mooca, ☏ +55 11 2021-3097. Bar owned by Italians that serves 130 types of snacks. Football is the theme of the decoration. 
• Jordão, R. Apucarana, 1462 - Jd. Anália Franco, ☏ +55 11 2671-0670. Typical German pub, with one of the best beers of the city. 
• Bargunça´s Tatuapé, Rua Coelho Lisboa, 534 - Tatuapé, ☏ +55 11 99551-6169. 

Sleep

• Blue Tree Towers Anália Franco, Rua Eleonora Cintra, 960 - Anália Franco, ☏ +55 11 2672-7000. In front of Parque Anália Franco. 
• Meliá Tryp Tatuapé, Rua Serra da Juréia, 351 - Tatuapé, ☏ +55 11 2942-4900. Includes: Cable TV, Internet, international restaurant, swimming pool and sauna. 

Stay safe

The Southeast is relatively safe, and as proven by crime statistics, it is actually the safest region of São Paulo. The only area which is more dangerous than the average of the city is Vila Heliópolis, in the district of Sacomã, a neighborhood that was once the largest favela of São Paulo.

Brás used to be a dangerous area in the past. Although there are still some run-down areas (typically the areas occupied by abandoned factories), today, the commercial center is relatively safe. Watch your belongings as in any crowded area.