Must-see restaurants in Rio de Janeiro State

  • Salomé

    Rio de Janeiro

    Run by the same people behind Ipanema's enormously popular Canastra, Salomé brings a dash of style to the Leme beachfront. The easygoing open-sided bistro…

  • El Born

    Rio de Janeiro

    Named after Barcelona's hippest, foodie-loving neighborhood, El Born fires up some of Rio's best tapas plates, such as Galician-style octopus, spicy…

  • Churrascaria Palace

    Rio de Janeiro

    This elegantly set dining room is one of the best churrascarias (traditional barbecue restaurants) in town. Aside from juicy, high-quality cuts of meat,…

  • Casa Camolese

    Gávea, Jardim Botânico & Lagoa

    One of the most talked-about openings in recent years is this beautifully designed eating, drinking and entertainment space overlooking the Jockey Club…

  • Giuseppe Grill

    Ipanema & Leblon

    One of Rio's best restaurants, Giuseppe Grill aims for perfection and it rarely disappoints. Chargrilled meat and fish plates are outstanding, as are…

  • Zazá Bistrô Tropical

    Ipanema & Leblon

    Inside an art-filled and whimsically decorated converted house, Zazá serves beautifully prepared dishes with Asian accents, and uses organic ingredients…

  • Aprazível

    Santa Teresa & Lapa

    Hidden on a winding road high in Santa Teresa, Aprazível offers beautiful views and a lush garden setting. Grilled fish and roasted dishes showcase the…

  • Zuka

    Ipanema & Leblon

    One of Rio's best restaurants, Zuka prepares mouthwatering cuisine. Try zingy ceviche with Brazilian piquinho pepper or the confection-like delicacy of…

  • Casa Momus

    Santa Teresa & Lapa

    One of the best and loveliest restaurants in Lapa, Casa Momus has a small but well-executed menu of Mediterranean-influenced dishes. Start with prawn…

  • Lilia

    Santa Teresa & Lapa

    You could easily miss the low-key entrance to this tranquil lunch spot. Covering the top two floors of a 19th-century building, the restaurant has an airy…

  • Xian

    Rio de Janeiro

    One of Rio's loveliest new additions is this spacious, theatrically decorated dining room, open-air cocktail bar and nightclub, all set rather…

  • Lasai

    Rio de Janeiro

    Inside an elegant early-20th-century house in Humaitá, Lasai dazzles critics and foodies with its deliciously inventive cuisine. The award-winning carioca…

  • Espírito Santa

    Santa Teresa & Lapa

    At this beautifully restored mansion, you can sit on the back terrace with its sweeping views or in the charming, airy dining room, and feast on rich,…

  • Restaurante Alcobaça

    Rio de Janeiro State

    Verdant, flowery grounds and a gorgeous mountain setting enhance the mood of relaxed elegance in the lovely glass-walled dining room of Pousada da…

  • Linguiça do Padre

    Rio de Janeiro State

    Don’t miss this local favorite beside a rushing river just off the Teresópolis–Friburgo highway. The menu ranges from linguiça (spicy Portuguese sausage)…

  • Banana da Terra

    Paraty

    Creative taste combinations and artistic presentation make this one of Paraty’s classiest restaurants. Meat and fish dishes are supplemented by inspired…

  • Bacalhau do Tuga

    Arraial do Cabo

    From humble origins selling codfish fritters from a beachside stand in 2008, the ‘Tuga’ (Portuguese guy) has built this wonderful family-run restaurant…

  • O Barco

    Búzios

    This down-to-earth waterfront joint stakes its reputation on well-made, reasonably priced fish dishes – from fried fish with rice and salad to full-on…

  • Belli Belli

    Búzios

    There's no more blissful spot to catch the sunset than the outdoor deck of this gastrobar in the waterfront Porto da Barra complex. While away the early…

  • Rosmarinus Officinalis

    Rio de Janeiro State

    Food and setting are equally enticing at this sweet little house in the woods between Mauá and Maringá. Sporting a gorgeous riverside deck, it's…

  • The Secret

    Ilha Grande & Vila do Abraão

    Every evening, Argentine expats Cris and Nel invite up to 10 prereserved guests into their secret garden in Abraão village for wonderful home-cooked…

  • Crescente

    Rio de Janeiro State

    Nova Friburgo's standout restaurant for over 25 years, this classy family-run place specializes in French-influenced cuisine accompanied by wines from a…

  • Mistico

    Búzios

    Perched high on the hill between Armação and Ossos, Mistico's intimate glass-walled dining room enjoys one of Búzios' finest panoramic sea views. The menu…

  • Quintal das Letras

    Paraty

    Attached to Paraty's Pousada Literária hotel, this sophisticated eatery serves regional cuisine with big city flair. From amuse-bouches like a mushroom …

  • Rocka Beach Lounge

    Búzios

    Prime people-watching and some of Búzios' most creative cuisine are the twin draws at this casual-chic seafood eatery perched directly above Praia Brava…

  • Ferro e Farinha

    Flamengo & Around

    Sei Shiroma, an expat from NYC, and a dexterous team of dough handlers serve Rio's best pizza at this atmospheric and delightfully ramshackle spot in…

  • CT Boucherie

    Ipanema & Leblon

    Created by Claude Troisgros, Rio's most famous chef, this innovative Leblon restaurant takes the idea of the churrascaria (traditional barbecue restaurant…

  • Marchezinho

    Rio de Janeiro

    This multipurpose space operates as a cafe, bar and minimarket. The owner’s French roots show through on the menu and store shelves, with the excellent…

  • South Ferro

    Rio de Janeiro

    Chef Sei Shiroma made his name with Ferro e Farinha, widely regarded as Rio’s best pizza place. South Ferro, Shiroma’s second restaurant, adds a healthy…

  • Meal at Cais do Oriente Restaurant, Centro.

    Cais do Oriente

    Rio de Janeiro

    Brick walls lined with tapestries stretch high to the ceiling in this almost-cinematic 1870s mansion. Set on a brick-lined street, hidden from the masses,…

  • Joaquina

    Rio de Janeiro

    Joaquina has much to recommend it: a great ocean-facing location with outdoor seating, excellent caipirinhas that don't stint on the fresh fruit, and…

  • Adega Pérola

    Rio de Janeiro

    Going strong since 1957, this atmospheric bottle-lined eating and drinking den serves outstanding Spanish and Portuguese small plates, including marinated…

  • Ancoramar

    Rio de Janeiro

    Ancoramar (previously known as Albamar) has long been one of Rio’s best lunchtime seafood destinations. Its top picks are fresh oysters, grilled seafood…

  • Sobrenatural restaurant in Santa Teresa..

    Sobrenatural

    Santa Teresa & Lapa

    The old hardwood ceiling and exposed brick set the stage for feasting on frutas do mar (seafood). Lines gather at weekends for crabmeat appetizers, fresh…

  • Santa Satisfação

    Rio de Janeiro

    Oozing farmhouse charm, this always-packed bistro is worth forking out a bit extra for its outstanding daily lunch specials (R$37) of upscale Brazilian…

  • L'Atelier du Cuisinier

    Rio de Janeiro

    Set in a 19th-century building just off busy Av Rio Branco, this small 24-seat place serves some of the best cuisine in Centro. The menu is tiny (just a…

  • Govardhana Harí

    Rio de Janeiro

    Amid artwork and decorations from India, the always-welcoming Hare Krishnas whip up delicious vegetarian dishes made with care. The restaurant is tucked…

  • Puro

    Gávea, Jardim Botânico & Lagoa

    Puro offers consistently excellent food and service in the upmarket Jardim Botânico neighborhood. Chef Pedro Siqueira’s menu features traditional…

  • Formidable

    Ipanema & Leblon

    Something of a secret culinary spot in Leblon, Formidable is a charming bistro with only a handful of tables inside (and a few tables out front). It has a…

  • Lagoon

    Gávea, Jardim Botânico & Lagoa

    This lakefront eating and entertainment complex houses a handful of restaurants, plus a cinema, a bar and a live-music venue. The best tables are on the…