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.

Sort by: 6 Recommendations {{numTotalPoiResults}} {{ (numTotalPoiResults===1)?'Recommendation':'Recommendations' }} 0 Recommendations
CLEAR ALL Area Search CLEAR ALL
Loading...
  • 1. 74 Restaurant

    $$$$ | Centro

    A culinary playground of talented Argentine chef Gustovo Rinkevich—who also now runs Rocka Beach Lounge & Restaurant—this innovative restaurant has upped the gourmet stakes in Búzios since opening in 2016. Set on the spectacular terrace of the boutique hotel Casas Brancas with sunset views across the bay, expect Michelin-level cooking using the freshest locally sourced ingredients and a curated selection of Brazil’s leading vineyards.

    Rua Morro do Humaitá 10, Búzios, Rio de Janeiro, 28950-000, Brazil
    22-2623--1458

    Known For

    • Mushroom ravioli with raw scallops
    • Saffron-infused gin
    • Baby lobster stew
  • 2. Rocka Beach Lounge & Restaurant

    $$$$ | Brava

    Overlooking beautiful Praia Brava, relaxed but sophisticated Rocka is one of Búzios's gastronomic highlights as it focuses on superbly fresh, locally sourced seafood that's combined with seasonal fruit, vegetables, and herbs to wonderful effect. A favorite with surfers, come well before lunch so you can spend the day lounging on sun beds or arrive just before sunset when locals stop by for cocktails.

    Praia Brava 13, Búzios, Rio de Janeiro, 28950–000, Brazil
    22-2623–6159

    Known For

    • Spectacular seafood including the freshest oysters
    • Boho-chic vibe
    • Lounging on giant white sun beds or raffia mats on the grass lawn that rolls down to the beach

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner, Reservations essential
  • 3. Trutas do Rocio

    $$ | Rocio

    It's off the beaten track—ask a local for directions—and only open on weekends, but this rustic, riverside restaurant is really something special. "Trutas" means trout and that's what you'll find on the menu—trout, trout, and more trout served fresh from the river in many imaginative ways: as appetizers mashed into a pâté or baked in cassava-dough pastry, and as entrées grilled or cooked with a choice of almond, mustard, or orange sauce. The restaurant seats only 22, so reservations are a must. On sunny afternoons, the food is served alfresco.

    Estrada da Vargem Grande 6333, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, 25725–620, Brazil
    24-2291–5623

    Known For

    • Reservations only
    • Atmopsheric alfresco setting
    • Unique riverside location

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.--Thurs.; no dinner., Reservations essential
  • 4. Lua e Mar

    $$ | Abraão

    Expect fresh, well-prepared seafood and weekly live music during high season at this longtime favorite, which is often cited as the best restaurant in the village of Abraão. Stroll straight from the beach still wearing your Havaianas to try Dona Cidinha's specialty, fish with half-ripe bananas, or the famous moqueca , which many islanders claim is the best in Rio de Janeiro State.

    Praia do Canto, Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, 23968-000, Brazil
    24-3361–5113

    Known For

    • Beachfront location
    • Baked fish with banana
    • Generous portion

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Wed., Credit cards accepted
  • 5. O Pescador

    $$ | Abraão

    Inside the pousada of the same name, this restaurant serves local seafood prepared using Italian cooking techniques. After dark, you can dine alfresco on the beach by candlelight, or just pop in for a cocktail and nibbles from the bar.

    Rua da Praia 647, Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, 23968–000, Brazil
    24-3361–5114

    Known For

    • Seafood risotto
    • Fresh grilled fish (types vary according to season) bought directly from local fishermen
    • Romantic atmosphere

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
  • Recommended Fodor’s Video

  • 6. 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

No Restaurants Results

Please try a broader search, or expore these popular suggestions:

There are no results for {{ strDestName}} Restaurants in the searched map area with the above filters. Please try a different area on the map, or broaden your search with these popular suggestions:

Recommended Fodor’s Video