Side Trips from Rio Restaurants

The food here is nothing if not eclectic. Coastal towns serve a large selection of fresh seafood, and most have a local specialty that's worth trying. Beachfront restaurants, especially the ubiquitous baracas (kiosks), can be a pleasant surprise. Paraty and Búzios have an excellent range of international restaurants. During high season they fill up beginning at 10 PM and may not close until after sunrise. Restaurants in Petrópolis, Teresópolis, and Novo Friburgo serve European cuisine and comida mineira, the hearty fare from Minas Gerais. Dinner starts at seven and restaurants generally close around midnight.