Saara - Rio's 'Arab Quarter'
It’s a far cry from the designer outlets of Sao Conrado and the well-heeled boutiques of Ipanema and Leblon, but Saara – known as Rio’s Arab quarter – is one of the most interesting spots in the city to indulge in a spot of of retail therapy. Here, the therapy comes without that post-splurge guilt that can come after a major shopping spree, as there are bargains galore to be found here.
A bustling network of 11 criss-crossed streets, Saara comprises around 1,250 shops, selling everything from throw-away fashion (at these prices, you can’t expect your new purchases to last more than a couple of wears!) to specialist food stores catering to Rio’s Arab, Greek, Lebanese and Argentinian communities.
Rummaging through all the bargain stores here can work up an appetite, so it’s handy that there are dozens of restaurants here too – mostly of the pay-by-weight buffet variety, and mostly very good value. Fans of Arabic food are in for a treat – Saara boasts the highest concentration of Arab restaurants anywhere in the city, and prices are a fraction of those charged in Ipanema and Leblon.
The history of Saara stretches back to the 18th Century, when it functioned as a market selling goods to international seafarers who had just arrived in the nearby port. In the early 20th Century, an influx of immigrants from Syria, Turkey, Greece and numerous other countries saw the Saara area establish itself as a an international ‘mini-city’, and today the majority of establishments are still owned and staffed by non-native Brazilians. Head here to pick up bags, jewelry, clothes and any other bargain bits and bobs that take your fancy, and you can kid yourself that your shopping spree is a lesson in Rio history!
To get to Saara, take the Metro to Urugaiana, in Centro. The shopping action takes place in the streets around Rua da Alfandega. The shops and restaurants are open from 9am-6pm Monday to Friday, and from 9am-2pm on Saturdays. Heading here on a Sunday would be a wasted trip - everything's closed, and the area is dangerously deserted.