6 Best Restaurants in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro

The beach club located at Posto 6 on Copacabana beach brings a bit of the Mediterranean atmosphere to Rio de Janeiro. Locals and visitors can enjoy the space that offers all meals, from breakfast to post-beach drinks. The highlights are the drinks that reinvent classics with Brazilian elements and dishes with fish and seafood.

One of the most authentic botequim (traditional bar) experiences in Rio is this hole-in-the-wall kitchen serving up tasty Portuguese-style tapas to shared tables and a long deli-bar where regulars crowd after dark. While the staff's English is limited, the service and general atmosphere—vintage prints and liters of wine lining the walls—is so warm and welcoming that you will barely notice. Be prepared for a wait in the evenings if you want a table, or head to the bar and order directly from the counter.

The most lavish of Copacabana Palace's three restaurants is this homage to Northern Italian cooking, set overlooking the enormous swimming pool and replete in soft lighting, velvet chairs, and impeccable staff. This contender for the most formal restaurant in Rio has changed their menu into a tasting menu with a vegan option. 

Cat lovers and coffee lovers will find their meeting point here. Tiny Cat Café has food and drinks on its menu that are reminiscent of feline friends. For digital nomads, the café offers good Wi-Fi.

This contemporary Spanish chiringuito is always packed, thanks to its vibrant vibe and prime beachfront location overlooking Copacabana's Posto 5. Opt for one of the alfresco tables and feast on top-quality tapas, plates of high-class charcuterie and rich seafood rices washed down with big jugs of tropical fruit cleriquot (a South American champagne punch); there are sister locations in Leblon and Ipanema.