Side Trips from Rio Restaurants

The food here is nothing if not eclectic. Expect to find sushi bars, Italian restaurants, and German biergartens sitting alongside restaurants selling typical Brazilian cuisine. 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 and most will bring food and drink right up to your chosen spot on the sands.

Paraty and Búzios have excellent restaurants serving international cuisine. During high season they fill up beginning at 10 pm and may not close until after sunrise. Restaurants in Petrópolis and Teresópolis serve European cuisine and comida mineira, the hearty, meaty fare from Minas Gerais. Generally, dinner starts at seven and restaurants close around midnight.

To be on the safe side, don't buy seafood from venders strolling along the beach. Be especially careful about the oysters in Búzios and Cabo Frio, which may not be as fresh as the vendor claims.

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  • 1. Punto Divino

    $$$ | Centro Histórico

    Carefully prepared Tuscan and Sicilian dishes are at the fore at this charming candlelit spot set off Paraty's main square. Evening live-music performances lend a touch of festivity to the proceedings, and the covered outdoor space means that diners can enjoy meals alfresco even when the famously torrential Paraty rains start to pour.

    Rua Marechal Deodoro 129, Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, 23970–000, Brazil
    22-99879--3941

    Known For

    • Fresh and tasty salads
    • Crisp, generously topped pizzas here are the best in town
    • Romantic atmopshere

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch
  • 2. Thai Brasil

    $ | Centro Histórico

    This trendy, laid-back restaurant charms with its hand-painted interiors, alfresco courtyard, and affordable prices for its generously sized Thai dishes. In the summer months, live music and great cocktails make this a fun place to spend an evening.

    Rua do Comercio 308A, Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, 23970-000, Brazil
    24-3371--2760

    Known For

    • Green papaya salad
    • Mojitos
    • Japanese squid with nirá
  • 3. Banana da Terra

    $$$$ | Centro Histórico

    Seafood is always excellent at this long-standing favorite on Paraty's dining scene, and it's a great place to try giant shrimp when they are in season. The bustling restaurant—usually packed with tourists—is in an elegant colonial house decorated with cachaça labels (the caipirinhas here are another strong suit) and 19th-century pictures of the city. The name of the place comes from another of its specialties: banana da terra (plantain), which is incorporated into many dishes, among them grilled fish with garlic butter, herbs, plantains, and rice.

    Rua Doutor Samuel Costa 198, Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, 23970–000, Brazil
    24-3371–1725

    Known For

    • Grilled fish with plantains
    • Giant shrimp
    • Lovely atmosphere

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch Wed. and Thurs. Closed Tues., Credit cards accepted
  • 4. Refúgio

    $$$ | Centro Histórico

    Near the water in a quiet part of town, this seafood restaurant is a great place for a romantic dinner, with candlelit tables and a good wine list. On chilly days, heat lamps warm the café tables out front, while evenings are enlivened by music from local musicians (which comes with an additional cover charge).

    Praça da Bandeira, Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, 23970–000, Brazil
    24-3371–2447

    Known For

    • Attentive service
    • Good cocktails
    • Cheesy rice balls

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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