What Food To Try in Campinas and Food Prices
How much does lunch and dinner cost
Examples of food prices, cafes, street food and other dining options in Campinas for 2024.
National currency: Brazilian Real, symbol — R$ (international currency code BRL).
General Cafe Price Guide
Average prices in Campinas cafes and restaurants
$7.3
Quick Lunch for One
Starting from $5.2
$37.4
Dinner for Two
to celebrate your trip
Starting from $24.96
$7.3
Combo Meal
Starting from $6.24
What to Try in Campinas
Must-try Dishes
Pão de Queijo - Cheese Bread (crispy, chewy bites) - A classic snack made of tapioca flour and cheese, offering a delightful gooey center. Locals enjoy these warm for breakfast or as an afternoon boost with coffee.Pastel - Fried Pastry (savory street treat) - A thin, crispy pastry filled with various ingredients like cheese, meat, or vegetables, deep-fried to perfection. You can find these sold from street vendors, great for a quick bite while walking around.
Feijoada - Black Bean Stew (hearty dish) - A rich stew made with black beans, pork, and beef, often served with rice, collard greens, and orange slices. It's a weekend favorite, enjoyed during leisurely family lunches, often accompanied by samba music.
Virado à Paulista - São Paulo-style Dish (traditional comfort food) - Pork chops served with rice, beans, sautéed collard greens, and a fried egg on top, creating a satisfying harmony of flavors. This dish reflects Campinas's culinary roots and is often shared during family dinners.
Polenta with Sausage - Polenta com Linguiça (unexpected twist) - Creamy polenta topped with grilled sausage and a tangy tomato sauce, melding textures and flavors beautifully. Locals love it for a late lunch, typically garnished with fresh herbs.
Brigadeiro de Laranja - Orange Brigadeiro (seasonal variation) - A twist on the traditional chocolate brigadeiro, made with orange zest and sweetened condensed milk, infusing a citrus kick. Often enjoyed during festive seasons, it perfectly encapsulates the vibrant flavors of Campinas.
Desserts & Drinks
Café com Leite - Café com Leite (coffee with milk) - A comforting blend of strong Brazilian coffee and steamed milk, typically served in a generous bowl. Locals savor this drink in the mornings, often while enjoying a light breakfast with pão de queijo at their favorite café. Suco de Caju - Caju Juice (cashew fruit juice) - Made from the juicy pulp of ripe cashew fruits, this refreshing drink is lightly sweet with a tangy twist. It's especially popular in the hot summer months, served chilled at street stalls and fairs. By the way, don't confuse it with cashew nut juice; they’re quite different!
Caipirinha - Caipirinha (lime cocktail) - A classic cocktail made with cachaça (sugarcane spirit), lime, and sugar, muddled to create a refreshing drink. Often shared among friends during celebrations or weekend get-togethers, it's a rite of passage for anyone wanting a taste of true Brazilian spirit.
Pastel de Nata - Pastel de Nata (custard tart) - This flaky pastry filled with rich, creamy custard is a must-try dessert. Commonly found at bakeries and enjoyed warm with a sprinkle of cinnamon, it's popular during family gatherings and festivities. Locals often pair it with their afternoon coffee.
Geladinho - Geladinho (frozen fruit popsicle) - A nostalgic frozen treat, made from fruit juices or condensed milk, and enjoyed mostly during the warmer months. Street vendors usually sell them, and you’ll spot kids devouring these on hot days, blissfully sticky and happy. It's hard to pick a favorite flavor!
Food and Groceries in Campinas
Vegetables, Fruits and Bread
| Bread | $1.69 |
| Bananas | $1.1 |
| Oranges | $0.82 |
| Potatoes | $1.02 |
| Apples | $1.54 |
Beverages
| Water 1.5L | $0.57 |
| 0.5L Local Beer | $1.19 |
| Imported Beer | $2.54 |
| Wine Rating >4.0 | $8.57 |
| Milk 1L | $1.08 |
Various Groceries
| Meat (Beef or Pork) | $9.28 |
| Chicken | $4.35 |
| Cigarettes | $2.08 |
| Rice | $1.13 |
| Local Cheese | $9.48 |
Overview of Cuisine and Specialties
Don’t let Campinas's payment customs surprise you like they did me. At first glance, the casual vibe of dining here may lead you to expect standard credit card practices, but many smaller eateries still thrive on cash transactions. I learned this the hard way after ending up at a charming little restaurant that made some of the best feijoada I’ve ever tasted. I was caught without cash and had to run across the street to an ATM (which, by the way, that little adventure cost me a good amount of time during the busy lunch hours).
Speaking of lunch, forget everything you know about lunch hours in other cities. Here, many restaurants start getting lively around noon and don’t slow down until about 3 PM. It’s a time of day packed with locals enjoying a leisurely meal, often accompanied by a fresh caipirinha. You can comfortably sink your teeth into a filling lunch for around R$25 to R$40—a great deal when you consider some similar meals in more upscale areas can jump to R$70 or more!
The rhythm of meals here is delightful; unlike the hurried bites typical elsewhere, Campinas invites you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the company of those around you. Weekdays can see the popular districts filled with professionals during lunch break, while the evenings unleash families and groups of friends catching up over dinner. Just be aware of weekend crowds, especially around vibrant areas! It's best to aim for an earlier dinner before 8 PM if you want a quieter experience or to snag a table without a reservation.
When it comes to tipping, this is a bit of a personal choice here. While rounding up your bill is appreciated by staff, tipping more than 10% might leave servers guessing about their service quality. So, it’s always interesting to see a mix of traditions surviving here, with some locals leaving more and others going without that extra percentage.
Oh, and speaking of local customs, note that many prefer to share plates or order multiple dishes to enjoy together—a kind of communal dining I find charming. It can feel a little bewildering at first, especially for first-timers who might not realize that the larger portions are meant for sharing.
As the seasons change, especially in the colder months, I’ve seen a shift in food styles as well, moving toward heartier stews and comfort food that locals crave. So, don’t be surprised if you notice more people indulging in hot dishes during those chillier days. That’s just Campinas’s way of embracing what the weather offers!
The way the dining scene evolves over time and with seasonal changes makes it a continuously intriguing part of local life.
Speaking of lunch, forget everything you know about lunch hours in other cities. Here, many restaurants start getting lively around noon and don’t slow down until about 3 PM. It’s a time of day packed with locals enjoying a leisurely meal, often accompanied by a fresh caipirinha. You can comfortably sink your teeth into a filling lunch for around R$25 to R$40—a great deal when you consider some similar meals in more upscale areas can jump to R$70 or more!
The rhythm of meals here is delightful; unlike the hurried bites typical elsewhere, Campinas invites you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the company of those around you. Weekdays can see the popular districts filled with professionals during lunch break, while the evenings unleash families and groups of friends catching up over dinner. Just be aware of weekend crowds, especially around vibrant areas! It's best to aim for an earlier dinner before 8 PM if you want a quieter experience or to snag a table without a reservation.
When it comes to tipping, this is a bit of a personal choice here. While rounding up your bill is appreciated by staff, tipping more than 10% might leave servers guessing about their service quality. So, it’s always interesting to see a mix of traditions surviving here, with some locals leaving more and others going without that extra percentage.
Oh, and speaking of local customs, note that many prefer to share plates or order multiple dishes to enjoy together—a kind of communal dining I find charming. It can feel a little bewildering at first, especially for first-timers who might not realize that the larger portions are meant for sharing.
As the seasons change, especially in the colder months, I’ve seen a shift in food styles as well, moving toward heartier stews and comfort food that locals crave. So, don’t be surprised if you notice more people indulging in hot dishes during those chillier days. That’s just Campinas’s way of embracing what the weather offers!
The way the dining scene evolves over time and with seasonal changes makes it a continuously intriguing part of local life.