34 Best Restaurants in The South, Brazil

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Reviews Updated by

K
Allan Kelin

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.

Schwarzwald (Bar do Alemão)

$$ | Setor Histórico

The city's most popular German bar–restaurant, Schwarzwald has carved a name for itself with great draft beer, including some imported brands and local bocks (German-style dark beers). Highly recommended entrées are the house version of eisbein (pig's leg served with mashed potatoes), kassler (beef fillet with a cream sauce), and duck with red cabbage. The restaurant is somewhat small and packed with tables, but there's plenty of space on the sidewalk in front.

Tempero da Bahia

$$

If you're not traveling as far as Salvador and the state of Bahia, you can at least check out its flavors at this busy restaurant. It specializes in northeastern fare like moqueca (a rich seafood stew made with coconut milk and palm oil). The version here is unusual for mixing prawns with local river fish. Spicy pan-fried sole and salmon are lighter options. The flavors aren't quite so subtle at the all-you-can-eat seafood buffets served several times a week. At R$80, it certainly pulls in crowds.

Tigre Asiático

$$$
Adding a touch of glamour to the casual surf vibe of Praia do Rosa, Tigre Asiático is one worth dressing up for. Sumptuous wooden carvings and Buddhas from Bali, lanterns and drapes all add to the opulence. Low tables and Japanese tatami mats are a novel choice for the supple-limbed. Skip the sushi and order one of the Indonesian or Thai curries, with spice levels toned down to suit the Brazilian palate.

Recommended Fodor's Video

Urucum

$$$$
The soft orange glow of lanterns sets a sultry tone by night at this top-end dining option in Praia do Rosa. Named after a bright red seed that’s used as a natural colorant, the restaurant’s focus is Brazilian cuisine, and in particular the hearty seafood stew, moqueca.. Whether you order yours with fish, shellfish, or extra spice, the moquecas more than feed two, and are served bubbling in clay pots, along with rice, farofa (toasted manioc flour), and pirão (a spicy seafood stock thickened with manioc flour). For dessert, don’t miss the creamy tapioca with frozen açaí.