galerias are mini-shopping malls that are located inside large commercial buildings in residential areas - they are often invisible to the untrained eye, and must be looked for by visitors who are not used to them. 

occasionally, they might occupy the first floor of a purely residential building, which is often the case in copacabana - entrances are not always marked or apparent, especially for the small gallerias in areas away from zona sul.

galerias include small stores selling everything from food supplements to windows - they usually include a small food-court or a café, and on the upper floors they host services such as tailors and shoemakers.