The Best Restaurant in The South, Brazil

Background Illustration for Restaurants

Churrasco (slow-grilled and -roasted meat), one of the most famous foods of Brazil, originated in Rio Grande do Sul. But the cuisine is eclectic here in cowboy country, and rice and beans sit on southern tables beside Italian and German dishes, thanks to the South's many European immigrants. Look for barreado, a dish from coastal Paraná made by stewing beef, bacon, potatoes, and spices for hours in a clay pot made airtight with moistened manioc flour. Café colonial is the elaborate 5 pm tea—with breads, pies, and German kuchen—popular among the Germans in the South.

Constantino Café

$$$ | Moinhos de Vento
The real draw at this informal eatery is the setting, in a converted colonial house on one of the city’s liveliest streets. Wind your way through a warren of cozy rooms, or just head straight to the lush, green garden out back, where candles add a romantic glow at night. The menu—Mediterranean with an Asian touch—won’t win awards for imagination, but dishes are well presented and tasty nonetheless.