Restaurants in The North
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Xicara da Silva
Plenty of people say this popular restaurant prepares the city's best pizza and pasta, and you won't find any arguments to the contrary here. With artful and comfortable dining areas indoors and on a raised patio, the atmosphere is just as appealing. For something smaller, try the quiche. Squeezed into a small leafy lot near the huge Lider Z mall.
reviewed
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Ristorante Fiorentina
The pasta, fresh meats, sangria and homemade desserts are all first-rate, even at the per-kilo lunch buffet, but bring some extra moolah to cover your meal. The dining area features the obligatory Italian restaurant red-and-white checkered tablecloths; the upstairs area mixes things up a bit with blue and white checkers.
reviewed
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Churrascaria Búfalo
There’s no better place in Manaus for rodizio, an all-you-can-eat meat extravaganza in which a cadre of tuxedoed waiters bring skewer after skewer of sizzling meat right to your table, accompanied by a full salad and pasta bar. There’s no chance of leaving here hungry.
reviewed
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Open-Air Food Court
A busy open-air food court occupies part of the long narrow park between the split lanes of Av Capitan Garcez. A slew of mom-and-pop restaurants have tables set up under a high awning, serving cheap tasty Brazilian fare. There's occasionally live music, but the lively, family-friendly ambiance is the real draw here.
At the top end of the same park are a restaurant quartet: a pizza joint, upscale Italian restaurant, midrange churrascaria, and Bob's, the ubiquitous fast-food burger chain. They occupy top and bottom floors of identical side-by-side buildings, and are open for lunch and dinner. Take your pick!
reviewed
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Lá em Casa
A little-known fact is that this Belém institution is in fact two restaurants side by side, neither of them called Lá em Casa. That's the old name, but the owners haven't bothered to take down the sign, and besides, you'll only get funny looks asking for the real names: ‘Vero-o-Pesinho' (per kilo R$29; open for lunch, closed Saturday) has a tasty self-serve spread in a casual bistro-like setting, while ‘O Outro' (mains R$16 to R$50; open for lunch Sunday only) is a formal glass-walled restaurant with international fare and expert service.
reviewed
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Cafeteria do Largo
This unassuming boutique eatery specializes in all-natural tapas-style appetizers, and they may well be the most creative and well-prepared edibles anywhere in Manaus. Most are distinctly Amazonian, like smoked pirarucú pâté with açaí (berry-like fruit) rolls or a miniature log cabin made of tender palm hearts. The caipirinhas are stellar, and the setting – a scattering of outdoor stainless-steel tables opposite Teatro Amazonas – is hard to beat.
reviewed
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Kibe da Irene
Though pretty much devoid of character, the friendly service and cheap tasty fare make this a great choice for travelers on a budget. At lunchtime, fill up on a prato feito for just R$5.50, or drop in anytime for fresh-made lanches, most R$2 apiece or less. The namesake kibes are a bit tough, but the rest, including breaded chicken legs and bolinhas (fried cheese balls) is plenty good. Look for a narrow stairway off the street.
reviewed
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Boteco das Onze
Part of Casa das Onze Janelas gallery, this classy joint is one of the city’s best restaurant-bars for lunch, dinner and beyond. You can sit in either the dining room with modern art on the walls, or on the breezy back patio overlooking the river. Meals include moqueca de filhote, a tasty stew prepared with catfish, shrimp and lobster. There’s live music virtually every night (cover R$6 to R$10), and plenty of good beer and drinks to choose from.
reviewed
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H
Mundo dos Sucos
Next door to Casa do Pensador, Mundo dos Sucos is indeed a ‘world of juices,’ with page after page of fresh fruity creations served in plastic cups. There’s a world of hot tasty sandwiches, too, with various combinations of chicken, hamburger, sausage, cheese, and egg, or, for the hopelessly indecisive, tudo (everything). Still widely known by its former name, ‘Africa House,’ which remains painted in huge letters above the door.
reviewed
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Santo Antonio
One of Belém’s best and coolest eateries, this café-bakery-restaurant has a large selection of sandwiches and hot meals, and a spacious artsy interior with tile-topped tables and bossa nova tunes. Create your own ’wich from made-today breads and tasty meats and cheese (R$8 to R$12) or order from the menu: the open-face francesinha sandwiches are to die for, with hot meat and melted cheese on a French roll.
reviewed
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Restaurante Giratório
She’s starting to creak and groan a bit, but the revolving restaurant atop the Taj Majal hotel still offers unbeatable views and better-than-average meals. Snag a table just upstream from the view of Teatro Amazonas so you’re sure to get at least two passes. The menu is a bit pricey, but not outrageously so; try the filet mignon or tucanaré in cupuaçu (a tart, tropical fruit) sauce.
reviewed
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Scarola Pizzaria
Good food, good service and good chope (draft beer) make for a varied clientele, from backpackers back from jungle trips to professionals pontificating on the latest opera performance. The affordable lunch spread has all the standards, including fresh grilled meats, while pizza and beer are the dinner of choice. One of the few places around that’s open late, even on Sunday.
reviewed
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Dom Britto
A cool sleek interior and expertly prepared dishes make this a popular spot with professionals and guests at nearby upscale hotels. Though it’s more expensive than other per-kilo places – but not by much – the mellow ambience and always-on air-conditioning can be just the respite you need in the middle of a long hot day. The Sunday spread is even fancier, and costs $35 per kg.
reviewed
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Do Campo
This new restaurant's R$10 all-you-can-eat lunch buffet – not per kilo – is one of the best deals in town, especially considering the quality of the spread, including grilled meats, stewed veggies and pasta. Knock on wood it's a permanent feature, but even if the prices go up, the classy setting and lively nighttime bar would still make this a worthy stop.
reviewed
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Cosanostra Caffé
The dim lighting and unmarked entrance lend a certain Goodfellas ambience, and Frank Sinatra happened to be playing when we visited, but the beefy guys at the bar are mostly businesspeople on a break. Lunch specials include a main dish, side dish and soda for R$10, or order larger plates off the menu. The bar is open late, and there’s live music after 11pm.
reviewed
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Casa D’Italia
The rodízio (smorgasbord) concept works perfectly well for Italian food: instead of skewers of meat, waiters rotate by with dishes of lasagna, pastas with red or cream sauces, and of course pizza of all sorts, including chocolate and banana pizzas for dessert. It’s all-you-can-eat, but don’t get greedy: you pay extra if you leave anything on your plate.
reviewed
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Farol da Ilha
Back to its original name after a brief spell as ‘La Oca,’ this waterfront restaurant has always had first-rate fish meals to match its outstanding river and island vistas. Most dishes serve two people, and are priced accordingly. Single dishes aren’t much of a value; solo travelers can order cheaper chicken dishes or just come here for drinks and the view.
reviewed
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Tia Maria
It's hard not to stop at the sight of the chairs here, whose shaggy, multicolored upholstering makes them look like pom-poms, or the Fry Guys from the '70s McDonald's commercials. And once you stop, you may as well pop in for a piece of pie, which comes in a dozen or so varieties. Better yet, come here for dessert after Italian dinner across the street.
reviewed
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Q
Peixada Ver O Rio
You can indeed 'see the river' from this open-air eatery, as the name promises. Fish is the specialty, served in a dozen different ways. Most dishes are designed for two people, but you can request a half-portion. Even so, prices are a bit steep - budget travelers might consider eating somewhere cheaper and migrating here for the beer and the breeze.
reviewed
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R
Skina dos Sucos
Stake out some counter space at this busy eatery, where you can order snacks and sandwiches to go along with sucos (fresh juices) made from Amazonian fruits, including guaraná (a tropical berry thought to have numerous medicinal properties), cupuaçú (sweet cousin of the cacao fruit) and graviola (custard apple).
reviewed
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Delicias Caseiras
Budget travelers rejoice: for just R$6, you can pile as much grub on your plate as humanly and physically possible. Alas, some of the specialty items are doled out by hairnetted ladies behind the warming trays, but portions are still generous and they often include some less-common options like tongue and chicken patties. Air-con is intermittent.
reviewed
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Restaurante Mandarim
The Mandarim has been serving quality affordable Chinese food for more than three decades, always with a low-key atmosphere and style. The per-kilo spread includes Chinese staples like egg rolls, chop suey, and sweet-and-sour pork, plus a smattering of other Asian and Brazilian items, like sushi, shrimp tempura and of course rice and beans.
reviewed
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K’Delícias IV
One of the few eateries open on Sunday, its extensive and smartly displayed spread makes this one of the center’s best per-kilo spots, and with air-con blasting, one of the most comfortable too. The original K’Delícias I (lunch Monday to Saturday) is smaller but better located, on Rua 28 de Setembro 276 just off Av Presidente Vargas.
reviewed
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Trapiche Restaurante
This would be just another typical restaurant if it weren’t on the end of a long pier sticking into the Amazon River. Dishes are large enough for two (mostly fish with a few meat and chicken options) and come with a terrific view – during the rainy season you can watch storm clouds march up and down the river.
reviewed
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Arte com Peixe
‘Art with Fish’ may be a bit of a stretch, but the dishes here are still pretty damn good, with friendly service and an ideal location opposite Teatro Amazonas to boot. Large plates of pirarucú and tambaquí are served up grilled, fried or in a spicy escabeche, the house specialty.
reviewed
