Galeria dos Pães

Galeria dos Pães is a São Paulo institution of a particular kind: a bakery that never closes. Open 24 hours a day on Rua Estados Unidos in Jardins, it describes itself as a traditional gastronomic meeting point of the city, and its appeal is that you can come in for a simple coffee or a full meal at any hour. For travellers arriving on a late flight, or anyone ending a night out, that round-the-clock service is the main draw.

Its counters cover breads, savoury snacks and cakes, and the bakery is known for custom orders such as metre-long sandwiches, cold-cut platters and mini sandwiches, popular for parties and office gatherings, and the menu runs from a quick coffee to a full meal whatever the hour.

The bakery's logo carries the date 1936, although its website does not explain the history behind it.

The busiest times are the buffets. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays a breakfast buffet runs from 7:00 to 15:30, making it a popular choice for a long weekend brunch. From Friday to Sunday evenings there is a soup buffet with six different soups each day, served year round. The lunch and afternoon tea buffets were listed as temporarily unavailable at the time of writing, so check before planning around them.

Practical details make life easy. The bakery offers free parking, and the staff pride themselves on taking custom orders quickly. Contact the team on +55 11 3064 5900 or by email at [email protected] for orders. If you are staying at one of the Jardins hotels, such as the Fasano or the Emiliano, it is a handy option for a late snack when hotel restaurants have closed.

Galeria dos Pães suits families, groups and anyone wanting a classic São Paulo bakery experience, as well as night owls and early risers. It is in Jardins, so it fits well with a stay in the area or a day around Avenida Paulista, and it is a good alternative when other cafés are closed. Come hungry for the weekend buffet, or drop in late at night for a soup or a sandwich when most of the city has gone to bed.