Design and architecture museum in a 1940s mansion on Avenida Faria Lima, with a shaded garden café
Museu da Casa Brasileira occupies a 1940s modernist mansion on Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, dedicated to Brazilian design, furniture, and architecture from the colonial period through contemporary practice. The permanent collection includes furniture by Brazilian modernist designers such as Joaquim Tenreiro and Sergio Rodrigues, displayed within the mansion's original rooms alongside rotating exhibitions on architecture, industrial design, and domestic life in Brazil. A shaded garden café at the rear of the property, set among mature trees, is a favored stop for a quiet coffee away from the surrounding avenue's traffic. A full visit through the galleries and garden takes about 1.5 hours. Saturdays are free and busiest; weekday afternoons are calmer for viewing the design collection. The mansion's modernist facade and garden courtyard are the best photo spots on site.
Highlights
- Furniture by Brazilian modernist designers
- 1940s modernist mansion architecture
- Shaded garden café at the rear of the property
- Rotating architecture and industrial-design exhibitions
- Collection spanning colonial to contemporary Brazilian design
Tips for visiting
- Entry is free on Saturdays, which brings the largest crowds
- Weekday afternoons are quieter for viewing the permanent design collection
- The garden café is a good rest stop between gallery rooms
- Check current exhibitions online before visiting, since displays rotate regularly
- Combine with a walk along Avenida Faria Lima's shops and cafes
When to visit
Weekday afternoons offer the calmest visit; free Saturdays draw the largest crowds.
Accessibility
The mansion's ground floor and garden are step-free, though some upper rooms are reached only by stairs.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit to Museu da Casa Brasileira take?
A full visit through the galleries and garden takes about 1.5 hours.
Is Museu da Casa Brasileira worth it for kids?
The museum appeals more to visitors with an interest in design and architecture than to young children.
Is photography allowed inside Museu da Casa Brasileira?
Photography without flash is generally permitted in the permanent-collection rooms.