Have you heard of the
Third Place Theory ? It is believed that for a healthy existence in society, people must
live in a balance of three spaces: the home, the workplace and a social place. According to sociologist Ray Oldenburg's theory, while work is a formal social experience and home is an intimate and private experience, these "third places" are
environments where people could socialize, feel comfortable and belong . So, from coffee shops, gyms, beauty salons to parks, what matters is finding a Third Place that makes you
feel good and welcomed . The
CASACOR editorial team will tell you below about each of our favorite
Third Places in the city of
São Paulo . Get inspired and discover yours!
Liberdade neighborhood
"Despite being known as a
Japanese corner , the Liberdade neighborhood in São Paulo goes much further: since its beginnings in the 19th century, when it was a space for the black community and also the place where there was a gallows, the region has been marked by a
mix of cultures . In the same perimeter there is a
2D restaurant inspired by the world of Hello Kitty and the traditional
Capela Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos , a Shaolin Buddhist temple and cafes that serve as a meeting point for K-pop fans.
The flow of people is always intense (that's why the tip is to go on weekdays and avoid holidays and festival days), so much so that the City of São Paulo has adopted a system of
streets exclusively for pedestrians on Sundays and holidays , as is the case on Avenida Paulista. The intersection between Galvão Bueno Street and Student Street also has one of the few 'X' pedestrian crossings in the capital of São Paulo:
very common at large intersections in Tokyo , the solution helps pedestrians
cross the street diagonally safely, saving time. To differentiate it from a regular crossing, the markings on the floor are green."
- Nadia Kaku, contributing reporter. Vergueiro Cultural Center
"I think my
third place is the
Vergueiro Cultural Center . There is a public library there with a super quick registration process and I always go there when I want to read in a different place. In addition, the outdoor cafeteria is charming, with colorful chairs, and the prices are affordable."
- Yeska Coelho, contributing reporter. Cantareira State Park
"Cantareira State Park is my
refuge from the urban chaos . Exploring its trails is my instant
escape from the frenetic pace of São Paulo . With a territorial extension that extends into other neighboring municipalities, it is crucial to plan activities to make the most of the experience without getting lost. Within the park, there are cafes and restaurants that provide a relaxing break while still
enjoying the scenery . A must-see is the top of the
Pedra Grande Trail , which offers stunning panoramic views and is famous for being a highlight for visitors."
- Chrys Hadrian, contributing reporter. Aclimation Park
"My favorite place in São Paulo is
Aclimação Park . I have an emotional connection with the place because I lived in the neighborhood for several years and used to take walks there before work.
The place is an oasis in the city center (even though it is just a few kilometers from Marco Zero and the busy Avenida Paulista), with a lake, a generous walking trail around it and among the large forest of trees that represent our Atlantic Forest. In the park you can enjoy some silence, practice yoga, have a picnic, breathe in the fresh air, read under the shade of the trees and
recharge your batteries in the middle of the day. Right next to the main entrance is the
Raul Bopp Municipal Library , specialized in the Environment, which is also worth visiting.
– Giuliana Capello, social media contributor. Higienopolis Shopping Mall
"As a
true São Paulo native , my third place is definitely the
Higienópolis Shopping Mall: tree-lined, open spaces, with great cafes, shops and a cinema! It's a good place to escape from
working from home and vary your weekend outing, if you're looking for a quiet mall with great entertainment options. After all,
the mall is the beach for São Paulo residents !"
- Marina Pires, website and media reporter.
Brazilian Cinematheque
"One of the places in São Paulo that I like to visit the most lately is the
Cinemateca Brasileira . This is because, in addition to having an interesting program, with an open-air screen, the place is perfect for relaxing, taking a breath and thinking about life a little. In addition, there are usually few people, a rarity in São Paulo, and it is also quiet. In addition, recently, they started holding
creative fairs on the weekends , including gastronomy fairs — a theme that I love! The
architecture of the Cinemateca is also beautiful and interesting! It is located at
Largo Senador Raul Cardoso, 207, in Vila Mariana , where, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the city's last slaughterhouse operated. It was officially opened on
June 21, 1887 and was very important for the development of the neighborhood and for the urbanization process. In 1884, a public competition was held for the construction of the building and the winning project was by the German architect
Alberto Kuhlmann . The slaughterhouse closed in 1927. In 1985, the process of listing the complex as a national heritage site by the São Paulo State Council for the Defense of Historical, Archaeological and Tourist Heritage – Condephaat was completed. And in 1988, the city government granted the area to the Cinemateca Brasileira. The initial project for the restoration of the
old warehouses was designed by architects
Lúcio Gomes Machado and
Eduardo de Jesus Rodrigues . After that,
Nelson Dupré took over the work of reconfiguring the buildings. By
restoring the aesthetic and historical characteristics , the architect added
contemporary elements to the original buildings."
– Nádia Simonelli, contributing reporter. Antonia's House
"The other day I joked that 'if I have any minor inconvenience, I'll go to 'A Casa de Antônia'. I said this as I walked down the ramp of
Conjunto Nacional on my way to the restaurant. It's located inside the
Livraria Cultura do Conjunto Nacional and seems to be my own refuge to
relax my mind and pamper my stomach: the dim lighting, the soul-warming food, and the main attraction – the desserts! – are enough to
convince me to go down there after work (for those who don't know, CASACOR's office is on the second floor of CN; and A Casa de Antônia, on the ground floor). I first visited the restaurant last year and
have been back many times since then – and I have to say that every time the experience was impeccable. The
décor (beautiful, by the way), the service, the
drinks and the delicious food made me a regular there. For the readers, the visit becomes even
more pleasant when, before even entering the restaurant, you choose
some books from the famous
Livraria Cultura on Paulista and start reading while sitting at the table while waiting for your dish. Oh, I recommend you try the
Duck and Beetroot Confit , the
Tagliatelle Bolognese and the
Thai Shrimp. For dessert, go for the
Apple Pie and the
Classic Cheesecake. Trust me and enjoy!"
– Giovanna Jarandilha, editor. IMS
"As a
good Sagittarius who wants to have a little bit of everything within reach, one of the places I like to visit the most besides home and work is the
IMS , which is located on Paulista Avenue. With
great architecture , incredible and free exhibitions, the IMS also has a café and a
pocket- sized
Livraria da Travessa - what better combination?! I can spend hours there! And if you get bored, you're already on Paulista Avenue, so you can go on
other trips like going to MASP, Japan House, Itaú Cultural, Sesc or just walking around the area."
- Laura Ré, social media contributor.
