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00 (Zero Zero)
Housed in Gávea's planetarium, 00 is a sleek restaurant-lounge that serves Brazilian cuisine with Asian and Mediterranean overtones. Jerked beef and leek-tapioca rolls or filet mignon with puree of arracacha (a root vegetable that is something of a cross between carrot and celery) are best enjoyed on the open-air veranda. After dinner, have a few cocktails and stick around: some of Rio's best DJs spin at parties here.
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Adega do Valentim
Bacalhau (cod) in 12 ways is the specialty at this old-fashioned Portuguese restaurant. Jocular old waiters also serve other favorites: baked rabbit, roast suckling pig, octopus, the list goes on…
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AlbaMar
Perched over the water, this old favorite offers excellent views of the Baía de Guanabara and Niterói and serves up tasty seafood dishes. Favorites include shrimp curry.
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Alessandro E Federico
Dominated by the wood-burning oven at center stage, this stylish two-story restaurant serves some of Ipanema's best thin-crust pizzas. You'll also find a large wine cellar and a well-dressed neighborhood crowd.
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Amir
A cozy air pervades this small, casual restaurant near the beach. As you step inside, you'll notice the handsomely dressed waiters in embroidered vests, and heavenly aromas wafting from the kitchen. Delicious platters - hummus, kaftas (spiced meat patty), falafel, kibbe and salads - are the best way to experience Amir's riches.
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Antiquarius
Serving without a doubt the city's best Portuguese cuisine, Antiquarius is a rewarding but pricey spot to celebrate old-world cuisine with an antique-filled dining room, top-notch service and lovingly prepared dishes. Some particular recommendations include the leg of lamb, the wild boar in red-wine sauce and the Portuguese favorite bacalhau (cod), elevated here to the sublime.
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Aprazível
Hidden on a windy road high up in Santa Teresa, Aprazível offers beautiful views and a lush garden setting. Brazilian fare with a twist showcases plates of succulent quail and salmon with mango chutney. Wednesday nights are dedicated to live choro (around R$10 cover). This place is a bit out of the way, so take a taxi (and have your map handy, as drivers don't always know this place).
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Arab da Lagoa
One of the lake's most popular outdoor restaurants, serving traditional Middle Eastern specialties like hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, kibbe and tasty thin-crust pizzas. The large platters for two or more are good for sampling the tasty varieties. During the day, it's a peaceful refuge from the city, while at night you can hear live samba, choro (romantic, intimate samba) or jazz from (cover charge around R$5 ).
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Arataca
The casual, no-nonsense Arataca serves the exotic cuisine of the Amazon. While there's better tacacá on offer in Rio (Flamengo's Tacacá do Norte is the city's best), Arataca is a handy spot to grab a savory bowl of the soup. There's also pirarucu (a kind of fish), pato no tucupi (roast duck flavored with garlic) or vatapá (seafood dish with a thick sauce made from manioc paste, coconut and dendê oil), all of which go nicely with real guarana juice.
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Armazém do Café
Dark-wood furnishings and the fresh-ground coffee aroma lend an authenticity to this Leblon coffeehouse. Connoisseurs rate the aromatic roasts much higher here than neighboring Cafeína. It also serves waffles, snacks and desserts.
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Armazem do Chopp
In a barnlike structure above the street, Armazem do Chopp is a neighborhood favorite for its tasty grilled dishes and traditional inexpensive Brazilian fare (with lunch specials). At night, its open-air front deck is a lively place for ice-cold drafts.
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Arte Temperada
Hidden in a tiny alley behind the Casa França-Brasil, this charming restaurant serves delicious Franco-Brazilian cuisine without the fuss. Some top choices are the crepes, the bouillabaisse, and the chicken breast served with passion fruit sauce and polenta. You can also opt for the two-course plate of the day.
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Artigiano
Overlooking the Jardim de Alah, Artigiano is set in a picturesque villa with more than a hint of the old-world about it. You'll find an older, well-dressed crowd enjoying classic Italian fare, including some 20 superb varieties of hand-made pasta amid the oil paintings and antique furnishings.
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Ateliê Culinário
Offering a tempting assortment of desserts, this small outdoor café is a good place to linger over dense cheesecake with guava sauce and/or moist chocolate cake.
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Ateliê Odeon
Next to the art house cinema of the same name, the Ateliê Odeon serves up decent Brazilian fare on its open-air terrace to a festive crowd. Ateliê opens onto the Praça Floriano, which is a lively gathering spot on weekday evenings. At weekends, it stays opens during film screenings next door.
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Atlântico
Named after the road and ocean that fronts it, Atlântico, with its loud electronica and moody lighting can't quite decide whether it's a restaurant or a bar. The sleek contemporary dining room was opened in 2007 and serves seafood with a twist; standout selections include crusted tuna with shrimp sauce and salmon with a flight marinade.
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Atrium
A stately dining room in the Paço Imperial, Atrium serves power-lunching business execs and those simply wanting a taste of decadence. The lamb with rosemary and mushroom risotto would have brought a smile to the face of Dom Pedro I (who once gazed out these same windows a little less than 200 years ago).
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Azul Marinho
Below the Arpoador Inn, Azul Marinho serves an excellent range of seafood dishes, and the outdoor tables facing the ocean have the best beachside setting you'll find in the Zona Sul (there's no traffic between you and the sea, only sand). Try one of the tasty moquecas or their famous whole fish baked in salt.
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Azumi
Some claim Azumi is the bastion of traditional Japanese cuisine in the city. This laid-back sushi bar certainly has its fans - both in the Nisei community and from abroad. Azumi's sushiman (sushi chef) masterfully prepares delectable sushi and sashimi, though tempuras and soups are also excellent. Be sure to ask what's in season.
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Bakers
One of the best places for flaky croissants, banana Danishes, strudels and other fresh-baked treats. There are also deli sandwiches (try the turkey breast and provolone cheese).
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Bar Brasil
According to legend, this German restaurant went by the name Bar Adolf until WWII. Although the name has been Brazilianized, the cuisine is still prepared in the same tradition as it was back before the war. Sauerkraut, wursts, lentils and an ever-flowing tap quench the appetites and thirsts of the sometimes-rowdy Lapa crowd.
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Bar do Mineiro
Photographs of old Rio cover the walls of this old-school boteco in the heart of Santa Teresa. Lively crowds have been filling this spot for years to enjoy traditional Minas Gerais dishes. Feijoada is tops on Saturdays. Other good anytime dishes include carne seca and lingüiça. Strong caipirinhas will help get you in the mood.
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Bar Luiz
Bar Luiz first opened in 1887, making it one of the city's oldest cervejarias (pubs). A festive air fills the old saloon as diners get their fill of traditional German cooking (potato salad and smoked meats), along with ice-cold drafts - including dark beer - on tap.
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Barreado
In a lush setting west of Barra, this rustic spot serves fresh Brazilian seafood with a wildly eclectic twist. Meals are prepared in the wood-burning oven, and pumpkin is the serving vehicle of choice. You can order it filled with rich delicacies like shrimp with catupiry (a kind of cheese), scampi, or lobster and mango. For those who'd rather save the pumpkins for Halloween, vatapá and roast meats are also excellent choices.
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Bazzar
Set on a peaceful, tree-lined street, this nicely designed restaurant serves a wide variety of cuisine, making it a good spot if you're not sure what you're in the mood for, but want something dazzling. Top choices are grilled namorado with whole-grain rice, citrus and pesto, and lamb with polenta and mushrooms. There's a smaller branch hidden on the second floor of Ipanema's Livraria da Travessa (2249 4977; Rua Visconde de Pirajá 572, Ipanema).
