5 Best Restaurants in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

With nearly a thousand restaurants, Rio's dining choices are broad, from low-key Middle Eastern cafés to elegant contemporary eateries with award-winning kitchens and first-class service. The succulent offerings in the churrascarias (restaurants specializing in grilled meats) can be mesmerizing for meat lovers—especially the places that serve rodízio-style (grilled meat on skewers is continually brought to your table—until you can eat no more). Hotel restaurants often serve the national dish, feijoada (a hearty stew of black beans and pork), on Saturday—sometimes on Friday, too. Wash it down with a chopp (the local draft beer; pronounced "shop") or a caipirinha (sugarcane rum, lime, and sugar).

Adega Pérola

$$ | Copacabana

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.

Cipriani

$$$$ | Copacabana

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. A contender for the most formal restaurant in Rio, it's a serious special treat to feast on fabulous fresh pasta and sip a Cipriani (champagne muddled with fresh peach juice).

D'Amici

$$$$ | Leme

A world away from the touristy restaurants that line Copacabana's beachfront, this refined Italian restaurant is easily overlooked but well worth seeking out. The menu celebrates Italy's diverse regional cuisines, including wonderful homemade pastas, quality meats, and delicious desserts. The knowledgeable staff can advise you about appropriate wine pairings—helpful, as the list is extensive.

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Restaurante Shirley

$$$$ | Leme

Traditional Spanish seafood casseroles are a strong suit at this small restaurant on a shady street, which has been attracting locals for more than 70 years; the waiters, clad in white suits, add to the nostalgic 70's atmosphere. A line snakes around the block at peak hours, but it's worth the wait to find a table: the food, served in generous portions big enough to share, is terrific.

Venga Chiringuito

$$$ | Copacabana

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.

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

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