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$$$$ | Ipanema |
A chic haven set on a quiet tree-lined street a few blocks back from Ipanema beach, this tropical wood-paneled restaurant specializes in contemporary Brazilian dishes crafted from sustainable, locally sourced ingredients. During the week, ask for the great value three-course lunch menu, or opt for classy cocktails at the bar before dinner on the alfresco deck.
Rua Barão da Torre 538, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22411-002, Brazil
Known For
- Palm-heart moqueca (coconut stew)
- Crab with fennel gratin
- Stylish design
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$$$ | 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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$$ | Leblon |
Inspired by Japan's informal izakayas, this intimate spot combines first-class sashimi with more traditional hot Japanese dishes—grab a seat at the bar that loops around the center of the restaurant or the handful of tables outside. Good-value prices, an extensive sake menu, delicious food, and the laid-back vibe make it a reliable neighborhood favorite for just about everyone.
Rua Humberto de Campos 827, Loja G, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22430-190, Brazil
Known For
- Langoustine dumplings
- Soba noodle soup
- Sashimi
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$$$$ | Ipanema |
A tank of snapping lobsters and a fish counter where you can pick your catch-of-the-day ensures you'll get some of the best seafood in town. And white tablecloths, off-the-boat-fresh fish, and excellent service ensure the quality of the experience is worth the price tag.
Rua Barão da Torre 192, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22411–000, Brazil
Known For
- Classic seafood dishes like salt-baked whole fish
- Trio of fish carpaccio
- Homemade Italian ice cream
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Ipanema |
Hidden away on the second floor of the unassuming apart-hotel Ipanema Beach Star, this low-key vegan lunch spot and sister spa (Maria Bonita) is a real find, not just for the quality of the all-you-can-eat buffet, but also for the reasonable prices. The daily changing menu is crafted from ingredients sourced from the restaurant’s organic farm, while friendly staff deliver complimentary detox juices and digestion shots to your table.
Rua Prudente de Morais 729, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22420-041, Brazil
Known For
- Shiitake mushroom stew
- Eggplant lasagna
- Green detox juice
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | Ipanema |
The food at this happening little Ipanema restaurant is so fresh and inventive that you’ll barely notice that they only serve plant-based vegan dishes. Its chic industrial design and top-quality cooking make this one of Rio’s go-to spots for a relaxed lunch or dinner.
Av. Henrique Dumont 110, Loja B, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22410-060, Brazil
Known For
- Vegan dishes like jack-fruit tacos and spicy Manchurian cauliflower
- Sophisticated cocktails like cucumber-infused sake
- Interesting wine list that includes biodynamic and organic options
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$$ | 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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$$$$ | Ipanema |
Rio fairly bursts with pizza places, but this upmarket chain's Ipanema branch emerges at the top of the list. Wood-fired, thin-crust pizzas are made with imported Italian flour, and the toppings—from wild mushrooms and handmade buffalo mozzarella to wafer-thin Parma ham and fresh tuna—are of the highest quality; there are branches in Jardim Botânico, Barra da Tijuca, Copacabana, and the beach resort of Búzios.
Rua Vinicius de Moraes 134, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22420–021, Brazil
Known For
- Wood-fired oven
- Prime people-watching location
- Gluten-free pizzas
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Ipanema |
Restaurants traditionally serve feijoada, Brazil's savory national dish, on Saturday, but here the huge pots of the substantial stew simmer every day; it's a great option for groups or when you are particularly hungry. The menu also features options such as baked chicken, shrimp in coconut milk, grilled trout, and filet mignon, and the caipirinhas are made not only with lime but also with tangerine, passion fruit, pineapple, strawberry, or kiwi.
Rua Prudente de Morais 10, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22420–040, Brazil
Known For
- The set-menu, complete with black-bean soup, dessert, and a caipirinha
- A quintessential Brazilian dining experience
- Romeo and Juliet dessert (guava compote with fresh cheese)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$ | Leblon |
One of an increasing number of organic eateries in Rio, Celeiro is a combination café and health-food store that's popular with models and other body-conscious locals. The restaurant operates on a pay-by-weight system, and the expensive buffet features a staggering 50 types of salad, as well as oven-baked pies, whole-wheat pastries, fish and chicken dishes, and low-calorie desserts.
Rua Dias Ferreira 199, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22431–050, Brazil
Known For
- Delicious homemade breads
- Pay-by-weight buffet system with 50 types of salads
- Café and health-food store in one
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No dinner, Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Leblon |
Opened in 2017, the latest restaurant from leading Franco-Brazilian chef Claude TroisGros is reliably packed every night of the week with well-to-do locals feasting on gourmet Brazilian dishes in a fun, buzzy atmosphere. Dishes are served tapas-style and come crafted from an open-plan kitchen set smack in the center of the restaurant, so you can watch the chefs at work while you sip the house bubbly.
Rua Conde de Bernadotte 26, Loja Q & R, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22430-200, Brazil
Known For
- Raw scallop ravioli
- Foie gras duck egg
- Vibrant 'see-and-be-seen' atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$$$$ | Leblon |
The city's most celebrated chef—Claude Troisgros—has changed the face of the all-you-can-eat churrascaria with this chic bistro. Unlike at traditional rodizios, where waiters deliver cut after cut of meat, here they dash from table to table with steaming plates of roasted palm hearts, stuffed tomatoes, creamy mashed potatoes, and other meat-free sides to accompany meaty mains like the substantial prime rib or the more accessibly priced house burger.
Rua Dias Ferreira 636, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22431–050, Brazil
Known For
- Charming French-style interiors
- The banana 'farofa' breadcrumbs
- Never-ending flow of vegetable plates
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$$$$ | Ipanema |
This up-market churrascaria is famed for the quality of its grilled meats, which are served in a sleek wooden dining room on a quiet tree-lined street in Ipanema. All the grilled dishes come with fried palm hearts, seasoned rice, and a choice of fried, baked, or sautéed potatoes.
Rua Barão da Torre 600, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22411–002, Brazil
Known For
- The T-bone
- The picanha (a brazilian cut of beef with little fat)
- Attentive service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Ipanema |
Owned by the Italian Fasano chain, this award-strewn and beautifully appointed restaurant is frequently cited as the best Italian in Rio, although quality like this comes at a cost. The high-ceilinged, wooden-floor building exhibits the clean, contemporary design that is the Fasano hallmark and the menu contains wonderful pastas and risottos, as well as excellent fish and meat dishes; a second Rio branch operates in Barra da Tijuca.
Rua Anibal de Mendonca 157, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22410–050, Brazil
Known For
- Plentiful vegetarian options in a meat-heavy menu
- The tiramisu, a perfect blend of creamy, espresso-laced mascarpone
- Elegant surroundings
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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$$$ | Ipanema |
A prime Ipanema location paired with great service and elegant design make this trendy sushi spot a good option for a great meal surrounded by well-dressed locals. Long lines are common, so go early or sip sake in the street while you wait---just don’t miss the daily specials or the trio of nigiri (thin slices of raw fish over vinegar rice).
Rua Aníbal de Mendonça 132, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22410-050, Brazil
Known For
- Innovative combinations of sushi and sashimi
- Extensive sake menu
- Nigiri (thin slices of raw fish over vinegar rice)
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$$$$ | Ipanema |
A block from Ipanema Beach, Margutta has a reputation for outstanding Mediterranean-style seafood, such as shrimp panfried in olive oil, white wine, and garlic; and lobster baked with butter and saffron rice. There's a handful of vegetarian options including mixed-vegetable risotto with truffle oil.
Av. Henrique Dumont 62, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22410–060, Brazil
Known For
- Oven-baked whole fish
- Seafood risotto
- Strong wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Credit cards accepted
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$$$ | Leblon |
Bringing the concept of Italian stuzzichini (tapas-style small plates of food for sharing), Stuzzi has evolved into a star of Leblon's Rua Dias Ferreira foodie strip. It's the perfect late-night spot for a light dinner or snacks while sipping from the array of expertly shaken cocktails.
Rua Dias Ferreira 48, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22431–050, Brazil
Known For
- Impressive cocktail menu including perfetto limone (a cocktail made with bourbon, limoncello, lemon, passion fruit, and chili pepper)
- Homemade focaccia
- Late-night menu including rice balls and polenta grissini (breadsticks)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No Lunch.
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$$ | Leblon |
Vegan restaurants are a growing trend in body-conscious Rio, but few are as established and well-loved as the Vegetarian Social Club. The all-you-can-eat organic lunch buffet includes tasty and wholesome soups, whole-grain rice, colorful salads, and many soy-based dishes, while dining in the evening is à la carte.
Rua Conde de Bernadotte 26, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22430–200, Brazil
Known For
- Detox juices and smoothies
- Tempeh burgers with soy mayonnaise
- Sunday feijoada, made with smoked tofu instead of pork, attracts the city's vegetarians
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
