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$$$$ | Santa Teresa |
A lantern-lit tropical garden filled with exotic plants, monkeys, and birds is the spectacular setting for this family restaurant serving pan-Brazilian dishes and an exciting selection of Brazilian wines. The owner and chef, Ana Castilha, hails from Minas Gerais but received her formal training at New York City's French Culinary Institute. Call ahead to reserve, as weekends are reliably packed.
Rua Aprazível 62, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 20241–270, Brazil
Known For
- Sustainable dishes with a French twist like grilled palm heart with cashew pesto
- The Tangemahall (a mint and tangerine caipirinha)
- The handful of tables set in private tree houses
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner Sun., Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Ipanema |
A chic haven set on a quiet tree-lined street a few blocks back from Ipanema beach, this tropical wood-paneled restaurant specializes in contemporary Brazilian dishes crafted from sustainable, locally sourced ingredients. During the week, ask for the great value three-course lunch menu, or opt for classy cocktails at the bar before dinner on the alfresco deck.
Rua Barão da Torre 538, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22411-002, Brazil
Known For
- Palm-heart moqueca (coconut stew)
- Crab with fennel gratin
- Stylish design
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$$$$ | Centro |
Supported by its striking location overlooking the docks and set inside the sustainability-focused Museum of Tomorrow, this light-filled lunch-only restaurant has been a stand-out hit since opening in February 2018. Contemporary Brazilian dishes are crafted from locally sourced and often-organic ingredients and the extensive cocktail list and array of decadent desserts make this the ideal spot for a long lunch.
Av. Rodrigues Alves 2, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 20081240, Brazil
Known For
- The 'Picadinho' steak with banana and farofa
- Decadent desserts like the Chocolate Mud Cake
- Vibrant atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner
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$$$ | Leblon |
The post-beach hangout of choice for neighborhood locals since 1956, Jobi serves good coffee, super-chilled draft beer, and lip-smackingly delicious seafood. The restaurant is so small and unassuming, it's only after you step inside and see the many awards hanging on the walls that you realize just how special Jobi is.
Rua Ataulfo de Paiva 1166, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22440–035, Brazil
Known For
- Caipitequila (a caipirinha that's made with tequila instead of rum)
- The best bolinhos de bacalhau (cod and potato balls) in town
- Open from 9 am to 4 am
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Botafogo |
Set in a beautiful converted colonial town house complete with a roof terrace for cocktails, Lasai is one of the city’s leading gourmet experiences, featuring a daily changing 14-course tasting menu. Providence is the key here, with fish sustainably sourced from local fisherman and produce grown on renowned chef Rafa Costa e Silva's farm; for an intimate experience, book a spot at the chef's table and watch the master at work.
Rua Conde de Irajá 191, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22271-020, Brazil
Known For
- Gourmet experience at the forefront of Brazil's culinary scene
- Expert cocktails
- View of the Christ statue from the roof terrace
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.--Mon. No lunch
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$$ | Centro |
The best spot for city-center people-watching, this vast pavement boteco overlooking the Biblioteco Nacional and the Theatro Municipal has been a Carioca institution since it opened in 1921. Waitstaffers in bright yellow waistcoats and bow ties flit among the bustling tables delivering reasonably priced Brazilian dishes and ice-cold draft beer to a local after-work crowd. Don't confuse Amerelinho with the adjoining bar, Vermelhino—both have yellow roof canopies and yellow plastic chairs, but Amerelinho serves superior food.
Praça Floriano 55B, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 20031–050, Brazil
Known For
- Expertly grilled meats
- Authentic local atmosphere
- Prawn pastries
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Ipanema |
While hundreds of places in Rio serve the antioxidant-rich acai berry bowls, few are more authentic than this Amazonian restaurant, which prizes the purity of its super-food pulp that's sourced straight from Para and delivered sugar and additive-free. The ultimate beach snack or light meal, add banana, sprinkle on granola, or go for the full Amazonian set-menu to experience an authentic feast of flavors you’ve likely never tried before.
Praça General Osório, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22410-010, Brazil
Known For
- Tapioca pancakes
- Organic acai berries
- Jambu snappes (guava liquor)
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$$$ | Santa Teresa |
A neighborhood favorite for more than three decades, this informal tavern in the heart of Santa Teresa serves Northeastern cuisine in more than ample portions. Expect a meat-focused menu with various fried side dishes and an informal atmosphere, with friendly, laid-back service attracting a predominantly Brazilian clientele.
Rua Almirante Alexandrino 316B, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 20241–260, Brazil
Known For
- Suckling pig stew
- Sun-dried beef
- Vegetarian options
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Urca |
While you can dine indoors in this relaxed spot, make like the locals and enjoy a snack alfresco, propped against the harbor wall across the street: the sea wall doubles as a makeshift table, and waiters run to and fro delivering orders of ice-cold beer and deep-fried salgadinhos (seafood snacks). You'll have a stunning backdrop to your light meal—the panorama takes in bobbing boats, framed by a clear view of Christ the Redeemer.
Rua Cândido Gaffrée 205, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22291–080, Brazil
Known For
- Fried shrimp pastries
- Fish soup
- Bolinhos de bacalão (salted cod balls)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.
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$$$$ | Barra da Tijuca |
A nice place to stop after a long day at Barra Beach, this popular steak house serves more than 30 cuts of top-quality meat. Choose from the menu or go whole hog with the impressive all-you-can-eat rodizio buffet, which includes seafood, sushi, and colorful, fresh salads in addition to the succulent grilled cuts; there is a vegetarian option.
Av. Ministro Ivan Lins 314, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22620–110, Brazil
Known For
- The picanha steak
- The prime rib
- The wild boar
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Ipanema |
Restaurants traditionally serve feijoada, Brazil's savory national dish, on Saturday, but here the huge pots of the substantial stew simmer every day; it's a great option for groups or when you are particularly hungry. The menu also features options such as baked chicken, shrimp in coconut milk, grilled trout, and filet mignon, and the caipirinhas are made not only with lime but also with tangerine, passion fruit, pineapple, strawberry, or kiwi.
Rua Prudente de Morais 10, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22420–040, Brazil
Known For
- The set-menu, complete with black-bean soup, dessert, and a caipirinha
- A quintessential Brazilian dining experience
- Romeo and Juliet dessert (guava compote with fresh cheese)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Leblon |
Opened in 2017, the latest restaurant from leading Franco-Brazilian chef Claude TroisGros is reliably packed every night of the week with well-to-do locals feasting on gourmet Brazilian dishes in a fun, buzzy atmosphere. Dishes are served tapas-style and come crafted from an open-plan kitchen set smack in the center of the restaurant, so you can watch the chefs at work while you sip the house bubbly.
Rua Conde de Bernadotte 26, Loja Q & R, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22430-200, Brazil
Known For
- Raw scallop ravioli
- Foie gras duck egg
- Vibrant 'see-and-be-seen' atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$$$$ | Ipanema |
This up-market churrascaria is famed for the quality of its grilled meats, which are served in a sleek wooden dining room on a quiet tree-lined street in Ipanema. All the grilled dishes come with fried palm hearts, seasoned rice, and a choice of fried, baked, or sautéed potatoes.
Rua Barão da Torre 600, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22411–002, Brazil
Known For
- The T-bone
- The picanha (a brazilian cut of beef with little fat)
- Attentive service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Botafogo |
The winning combination of great service, a vibrant atmosphere, and reliably delicious finedining ensures this light-filled converted town house is almost always packed. A great option for both lunch and dinner, flavors in the tapas-style dishes are sophisticated yet fresh, with highlights including the lamb tacos and the scallops with leek.
Rua Conde de Irajá 109, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22271-020, Brazil
Known For
- Brazilian wine list focused on independent vineyards
- Signature caipirinhas
- Stylish design
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$$ | Centro |
A smaller, more laid-back neighbor to the long-established samba party at Rio Scenarium, Santo Scenarium shares its parent club’s passion for grandiose interiors, and the split-level space here is packed with ornate pillars, carved cherubs, and borderline-kitsch religious artifacts. While there’s live music on the upper floor by night (a cover of around R$20 applies), at lunchtime the kitchen serves tasty Brazilian classics; a prime spot at the heart of Rio’s oldest street in the party district of Lapa makes it a top stop for history and architecture buffs as well as for music-loving night owls.
Rua do Lavradio 36, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 20230–070, Brazil
Known For
- Fun, kitsch decor
- Live jazz and bossa nova
- Vibrant local scene
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner. Closed weekends.
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