Quito
Traditional Ecuadorian cuisine is given a contemporary twist at this sophisticated new restaurant. Dishes from across the country are prepared with fresh,…
Must-see restaurants in South America
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…
Goiás
They had a good idea here: take the traditional Brazilian bar-restaurant, focus on upmarket food, but keep quantities big and the chope (draft beer)…
Lima
This casual ceviche and seafood bar combines masterful cooking and playful rapport for the win. Watching the prep cooks from your bar stool, order…
São Paulo
It's expensive; we probably shouldn't even include it, but the experience at Bahian beauty Bá's 'secret' underground restaurant in her own home is just…
Cajamarca
Every city needs a Cascanuez, a place where you can go at 4pm for your tea or merienda (afternoon snack) and have a bow-tied waiter serve you a hot drink…
Amazonas
One of the Amazon's best restaurants, Flor do Luar sits on a floating pontoon on the Rio Negro and serves fabulous food and cold beers. The specialty is…
South Coast
The best dining option in town is this inviting air-conditioned place specializing in grilled meats. The seco de pollo (passion-fruit chicken) is…
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…
Santa Cruz & Gran Chiquitania
Gaze at Finca La Víspera’s organic garden from its sunny, alfresco cafe and see kitchen staff running up and down to pick your salad fresh from the ground…
Fortaleza
One of Brazil's most famous ice cream shops, though with a terribly misleading name: there are actually 150 flavors here, including caipirinha (made with…
Capurganá & Sapzurro
Scour the coast and you won't find better seafood – or a warmer welcome – than at Josefina's. Her medium-sized pargo (red snapper) practically fills the…
Cafayate
A lovely bistro, half a block off Cafayate's main plaza. The Buenos Aires–trained chef sources ingredients (and wines) carefully and crafts a menu with…
Iquitos
There are great eats at Iquitos’ markets, particularly the Belén mercado where a menú, including jugo especial (jungle juice) costs S5. Look out for…
Rio Grande do Sul
Unlike many of the trattorias in the region, Mamma focuses on quality, not quantity, and is a mainstay in Vale dos Vinhedos. The owner, a former…
Puerto Varas
This is the spot in Puerto Varas for devout carnivores to delight in seriously outstanding slabs of perfectly grilled beef. You won't find any obnoxious…
São Paulo
Brazilian-Italian-American pizzaiolo Andre Guidon imports everything humanly possible from Italy – and this small, family-run affair epitomizes the…
Paraná
In her own home a few blocks behind the historic district, Norma cooks up real-deal barreado (meat stew) true to its original recipe (simmered for 24…
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,…
Mato Grosso & Mato Grosso do Sul
Head past the pride of wooden lions to find fantastic takes on regional cuisine: perfectly grilled picanha with a full entourage of sides, rice slow…
Riohacha
The cool interior of this polished place exerts a magnetic force on hungry walk-by traffic. While the name's a little misleading (there's not much gourmet…
Belo Horizonte
This intimate brick-walled bistro with candlelit back patio is one of Belo's most romantic addresses. Award-winning chef Leonardo Paixão peppers his menu…
Central Highlands
With one stylish opening, Daylo has whirled Tarma's eating scene from the culinary-wasteland category up into refined dining. Food in this intimately…
Mar del Plata
This dreamy little cafe in Los Troncos is like a portal into the brain of artist, designer and baker Maria Bertone. She has crafted or painted everything…
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…
Santa Catarina
Hidden down a pothole-ridden track that will surely have you believing you are marching to your demise, you'll find Tais running the show at this…
São Paulo
Sushi superman Keisuke Egashira speaks broken Portuguese, arriving a few years back after 23 years at Tokyo's Sushi-Kan. This uneventfully simple, raw…
Minas Gerais
At this edge-of-town hideaway, run by the same family for nearly two decades, everything is lovingly homemade – roast chicken, pork cheeks, artisanal…
Montevideo
Tucked into a beautifully restored Cordón home, Escaramuza impresses on many levels. Cross the threshold to discover one of Montevideo's most attractive…
Iquique
A surprising find in Iquique, Santorini serves up a huge menu of authentic Greek fare, best enjoyed in the bougainvillea-draped back patio. Aside from…
Leticia
The pinnacle of culinary sophistication in Leticia, this cool, creative space serves casabes (mini-pizzas made from yuca instead of flour) with…
Belo Horizonte
Run by the affable Dona Nelsa, this long-standing local institution 15km northwest of Belo Horizonte is renowned for its fabulous comida mineira (typical…
Salvador
The best Bahian buffet in town. The cooking school SENAC spreads a tempting array of regional dishes, including several varieties of seafood, moqueca …
Ilhabela
On the island's south end, this award-winning seafooder is most famous for its top-end shrimp dishes, but you can't go wrong with anything you encounter…
Belém
One of the best places in Belém to eat, no matter what you're hungry for. The bustling complex has almost a dozen restaurants, most with indoor and…
Manaus
However you get your tambaqui (perhaps the tastiest of all Amazonian fish) prepared here – stewed, grilled, ribs – the execution is perfect. They serve…
San Telmo
After studying in Milan, Paris and Barcelona, chef Leandro Cristóbal took the helm at this renowned San Telmo bistro. Start with tapas, then delve into…
Elqui Valley
Two blocks east of the plaza, Chivato Negro has a bohemian, vintage vibe with a spacious patio hidden in back. There's a wide-ranging menu of sandwiches,…
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)…
Minas Gerais
Mariana’s best por-kilo place offers a sumptuous buffet of mineira cuisine – from freshly grilled meat to feijão tropeiro (beans mixed with toasted manioc…
