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$$$$ | Santa Teresa |
A lantern-lit tropical garden filled with exotic plants, monkeys, and birds is the spectacular setting for this family restaurant serving pan-Brazilian dishes and an exciting selection of Brazilian wines. The owner and chef, Ana Castilha, hails from Minas Gerais but received her formal training at New York City's French Culinary Institute. Call ahead to reserve, as weekends are reliably packed.
Rua Aprazível 62, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 20241–270, Brazil
Known For
- Sustainable dishes with a French twist like grilled palm heart with cashew pesto
- The Tangemahall (a mint and tangerine caipirinha)
- The handful of tables set in private tree houses
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner Sun., Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Ipanema |
A chic haven set on a quiet tree-lined street a few blocks back from Ipanema beach, this tropical wood-paneled restaurant specializes in contemporary Brazilian dishes crafted from sustainable, locally sourced ingredients. During the week, ask for the great value three-course lunch menu, or opt for classy cocktails at the bar before dinner on the alfresco deck.
Rua Barão da Torre 538, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22411-002, Brazil
Known For
- Palm-heart moqueca (coconut stew)
- Crab with fennel gratin
- Stylish design
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$$$$ | Centro |
Supported by its striking location overlooking the docks and set inside the sustainability-focused Museum of Tomorrow, this light-filled lunch-only restaurant has been a stand-out hit since opening in February 2018. Contemporary Brazilian dishes are crafted from locally sourced and often-organic ingredients and the extensive cocktail list and array of decadent desserts make this the ideal spot for a long lunch.
Av. Rodrigues Alves 2, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 20081240, Brazil
Known For
- The 'Picadinho' steak with banana and farofa
- Decadent desserts like the Chocolate Mud Cake
- Vibrant atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner
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$$$$ | Botafogo |
Set in a beautiful converted colonial town house complete with a roof terrace for cocktails, Lasai is one of the city’s leading gourmet experiences, featuring a daily changing 14-course tasting menu. Providence is the key here, with fish sustainably sourced from local fisherman and produce grown on renowned chef Rafa Costa e Silva's farm; for an intimate experience, book a spot at the chef's table and watch the master at work.
Rua Conde de Irajá 191, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22271-020, Brazil
Known For
- Gourmet experience at the forefront of Brazil's culinary scene
- Expert cocktails
- View of the Christ statue from the roof terrace
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.--Mon. No lunch
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$$$$ | Jardim Botânico |
Claude Troisgros, of the celebrated Michelin-starred Troisgros family of France, runs something of an empire of upscale restaurants in Rio, and this is his original and most celebrated venture. Troisgros creates the menu together with his equally talented son Thomas, applying nouvelle-cooking techniques to meals with all-Brazilian ingredients; three course or five- or seven-course tasting menus with and without wine pairings are available.
Rua Custódio Serrão 62, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22470–230, Brazil
Known For
- Exceptional, inventive cooking like foie gras with rhubarb
- The sommelier's skill at matching wine pairings with the tasting menu
- One of the city's leading gastronomical experiences
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Sat.--Thurs., Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$$ | Centro |
The elaborate Portuguese tilework, bow-tied waiters, and first-class seafood dishes make this lunchtime, weekday-only spot one of the top picks for an atmospheric lunch in Rio's downtown. Perch at one of the alfresco bar-stools for a more informal snack, or head inside to dine in the colonial vestiges of one of the city's oldest restaurants, serving the city's well-to-do since 1884; if you're on a budget, opt for a snack at the restaurant's more affordable back annex.
Rua do Ouvidor 10, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 20010–150, Brazil
Known For
- Attentive, friendly service
- The Sopa Leão Veloso (a Brazilian bouillabaisse)
- Historical resonance
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends. No dinner, Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Ipanema |
A tank of snapping lobsters and a fish counter where you can pick your catch-of-the-day ensures you'll get some of the best seafood in town. And white tablecloths, off-the-boat-fresh fish, and excellent service ensure the quality of the experience is worth the price tag.
Rua Barão da Torre 192, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22411–000, Brazil
Known For
- Classic seafood dishes like salt-baked whole fish
- Trio of fish carpaccio
- Homemade Italian ice cream
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Centro |
The best spot for city-center people-watching, this vast pavement boteco overlooking the Biblioteco Nacional and the Theatro Municipal has been a Carioca institution since it opened in 1921. Waitstaffers in bright yellow waistcoats and bow ties flit among the bustling tables delivering reasonably priced Brazilian dishes and ice-cold draft beer to a local after-work crowd. Don't confuse Amerelinho with the adjoining bar, Vermelhino—both have yellow roof canopies and yellow plastic chairs, but Amerelinho serves superior food.
Praça Floriano 55B, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 20031–050, Brazil
Known For
- Expertly grilled meats
- Authentic local atmosphere
- Prawn pastries
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Centro |
Open since 1933, the Ancoramar (formerly known as Albamar) is not hard to spot: this outstanding seafood house is inside a distinctive green octagonal building with 360-degree views of Guanabara Bay a few minutes walk from Centro's bustling Praça XV square. Chef Rodrigo Costa is behind the array of seafood risottos, fresh fish, and pasta dishes that now draws Centro's business moguls.
Praça Marechal Âncora 184, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 20021–200, Brazil
Known For
- Glistening bay views
- Iconic architecture
- 300-bottle cellar
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner, Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Barra da Tijuca |
A nice place to stop after a long day at Barra Beach, this popular steak house serves more than 30 cuts of top-quality meat. Choose from the menu or go whole hog with the impressive all-you-can-eat rodizio buffet, which includes seafood, sushi, and colorful, fresh salads in addition to the succulent grilled cuts; there is a vegetarian option.
Av. Ministro Ivan Lins 314, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22620–110, Brazil
Known For
- The picanha steak
- The prime rib
- The wild boar
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Ipanema |
Rio fairly bursts with pizza places, but this upmarket chain's Ipanema branch emerges at the top of the list. Wood-fired, thin-crust pizzas are made with imported Italian flour, and the toppings—from wild mushrooms and handmade buffalo mozzarella to wafer-thin Parma ham and fresh tuna—are of the highest quality; there are branches in Jardim Botânico, Barra da Tijuca, Copacabana, and the beach resort of Búzios.
Rua Vinicius de Moraes 134, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22420–021, Brazil
Known For
- Wood-fired oven
- Prime people-watching location
- Gluten-free pizzas
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Ipanema |
Restaurants traditionally serve feijoada, Brazil's savory national dish, on Saturday, but here the huge pots of the substantial stew simmer every day; it's a great option for groups or when you are particularly hungry. The menu also features options such as baked chicken, shrimp in coconut milk, grilled trout, and filet mignon, and the caipirinhas are made not only with lime but also with tangerine, passion fruit, pineapple, strawberry, or kiwi.
Rua Prudente de Morais 10, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22420–040, Brazil
Known For
- The set-menu, complete with black-bean soup, dessert, and a caipirinha
- A quintessential Brazilian dining experience
- Romeo and Juliet dessert (guava compote with fresh cheese)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Leblon |
Opened in 2017, the latest restaurant from leading Franco-Brazilian chef Claude TroisGros is reliably packed every night of the week with well-to-do locals feasting on gourmet Brazilian dishes in a fun, buzzy atmosphere. Dishes are served tapas-style and come crafted from an open-plan kitchen set smack in the center of the restaurant, so you can watch the chefs at work while you sip the house bubbly.
Rua Conde de Bernadotte 26, Loja Q & R, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22430-200, Brazil
Known For
- Raw scallop ravioli
- Foie gras duck egg
- Vibrant 'see-and-be-seen' atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$$$$ | Copacabana |
The most lavish of Copacabana Palace's three restaurants is this homage to Northern-Italian cooking, set overlooking the enormous swimming pool and replete in soft lighting, velvet chairs, and impeccable staff. A contender for the most formal restaurant in Rio, it's a serious special treat to feast on fabulous fresh pasta and sip a Cipriani (champagne muddled with fresh peach juice).
Av. Atlântica 1702, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22021–001, Brazil
Known For
- Homemade gnocchi with lobster
- Impeccable fine-dining contrasted by bikini bathers by the pool
- Live pianist
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Leblon |
The city's most celebrated chef—Claude Troisgros—has changed the face of the all-you-can-eat churrascaria with this chic bistro. Unlike at traditional rodizios, where waiters deliver cut after cut of meat, here they dash from table to table with steaming plates of roasted palm hearts, stuffed tomatoes, creamy mashed potatoes, and other meat-free sides to accompany meaty mains like the substantial prime rib or the more accessibly priced house burger.
Rua Dias Ferreira 636, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22431–050, Brazil
Known For
- Charming French-style interiors
- The banana 'farofa' breadcrumbs
- Never-ending flow of vegetable plates
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$$$$ | Leme |
A world away from the touristy restaurants that line Copacabana's beachfront, this refined Italian restaurant is easily overlooked but well worth seeking out. The menu celebrates Italy's diverse regional cuisines, including wonderful homemade pastas, quality meats, and delicious desserts. The knowledgeable staff can advise you about appropriate wine pairings—helpful, as the list is extensive.
Rua Antônio Vieira 18, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22010–100, Brazil
Known For
- Fish-stuffed ravioli with saffron and shrimp sauce
- Delicious desserts like tiramisu
- Elegant interiors
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Ipanema |
This up-market churrascaria is famed for the quality of its grilled meats, which are served in a sleek wooden dining room on a quiet tree-lined street in Ipanema. All the grilled dishes come with fried palm hearts, seasoned rice, and a choice of fried, baked, or sautéed potatoes.
Rua Barão da Torre 600, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22411–002, Brazil
Known For
- The T-bone
- The picanha (a brazilian cut of beef with little fat)
- Attentive service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Ipanema |
Owned by the Italian Fasano chain, this award-strewn and beautifully appointed restaurant is frequently cited as the best Italian in Rio, although quality like this comes at a cost. The high-ceilinged, wooden-floor building exhibits the clean, contemporary design that is the Fasano hallmark and the menu contains wonderful pastas and risottos, as well as excellent fish and meat dishes; a second Rio branch operates in Barra da Tijuca.
Rua Anibal de Mendonca 157, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22410–050, Brazil
Known For
- Plentiful vegetarian options in a meat-heavy menu
- The tiramisu, a perfect blend of creamy, espresso-laced mascarpone
- Elegant surroundings
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Botafogo |
The winning combination of great service, a vibrant atmosphere, and reliably delicious finedining ensures this light-filled converted town house is almost always packed. A great option for both lunch and dinner, flavors in the tapas-style dishes are sophisticated yet fresh, with highlights including the lamb tacos and the scallops with leek.
Rua Conde de Irajá 109, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22271-020, Brazil
Known For
- Brazilian wine list focused on independent vineyards
- Signature caipirinhas
- Stylish design
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$$$$ | Ipanema |
A block from Ipanema Beach, Margutta has a reputation for outstanding Mediterranean-style seafood, such as shrimp panfried in olive oil, white wine, and garlic; and lobster baked with butter and saffron rice. There's a handful of vegetarian options including mixed-vegetable risotto with truffle oil.
Av. Henrique Dumont 62, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22410–060, Brazil
Known For
- Oven-baked whole fish
- Seafood risotto
- Strong wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Credit cards accepted
