Jardim Botânico / Rua Lopes Quintas

But minutes away from the gorgeous and serene Botanical Gardens, this itin is best done late Saturday morning before stores shut early afternoon. Begin at cosy Casa Carandaí / Rua Lopes Quintas, 165 (see Coffee) / a specialty gourmet shop stocking treats like Rio-made Green People juices and a selection of cheeses from the state of Minas Gerais, with cute caff in the back for breakfast or coffee. Exit right and trot a few doors down to Dona Coisa at #153 / 2249 2336 / donacoisa.com.br / a nifty treasure trove of Brazilian-designed womenswear labels including Isolda, Gloria Coelho and Pedro Lourenço, plus accessories from Les Petits Jouers and Virzi + DeLuca. Nip up the stairs to cross into Dona’s newer concept store DC Lá em Cima / #157 / 3322 1176, which combines regional skincare and cosmetics label Phebo, porcelain homeware from Sampa import Estudio Manus, and pretty floral arrangements by Fernanda Fehring Flores (see V. Useful) among other curated lifestyle brands. Exit and continue down to Oba! at #147 / 2249 8194 / obaarquitetura.com.br, Carioca designer Leilla Bittencourt’s adorable toy and furniture store that has fun bits for grown-ups too. Right next door and sharing an address is Casa Soma / 3442 4943 / acasasoma. com, simply ring the bell to enter and discover trendy accessory label Brir downstairs, with Marina Azevedo’s curated multi-brand fash finds at OS/ON upstairs. Now push on for a few blocks, ducking your head in at Overend / #97 / 3264 5909 / overend.com.br / for menswear and a spiffy shoe selection out back, then Gabinete Duilio Sartori #87 / 3173 8828 / gabineteduiliosartori.com.br / is your final stop, a moody concept store selling an eclectic mish-mash of tableware, décor and costume jewellery in textured materials like leather and metal. Phew! Short and sweet shopathon complete, exit left and left again onto Visconde de Carandaí, then follow Pacheco Leão right until you reach the entrance of the gardens. Leisurely amble through, and if hunger strikes, end with sarnies or cake at the darling La Bicyclette (see Lunch). Arrasou, querida!