Rio De Janeiro Food-Restaurants

Rio De Janeiro Food-Restaurants information

Traditional

A Garota de Ipanema *** Rua Vinícius de Moraes 49a, Ipanema Tel: +55 (0)21-2522-0340 Always crowded with tourists and locals, this is the place where Tom Jobim and his lyricist partner, Vinícius, sat and watched that Girl from Ipanema go by. There are now six other 'Garota' restaurants around town. Extensive menu of national dishes, many big enough to share, as well as pizzas and pastas. Good draught beer. Casa da Feijoada ** Rua Prudente de Morais 10B, Ipanema Tel: +55 (21)-2247-2776 Serves the most traditional of Brazilian dishes, feijoada, a pork and black bean stew served up with manioc flour, shredded kale, rice and sliced oranges.It is said that a caipirinha, a sugarcane cocktail made with crushed limes, helps digest this rib-sticking meal. The set meal costs BRL30, and includes aperitif, appetiser and dessert. Plataforma I *** Rua Adalberto Ferreira 32, Leblon Tel: +55 (0)21-2274-4022 Tom Jobim was a regular here; hence the Bar do Tom upstairs. This is considered one of Rio's best churrasco (barbecue) restaurants and a meat lover's dream. If you opt for the rodízio you will face an army of waiters bringing choice cuts of beef, chicken, sausage and mozzarella on long skewers.

Regional

Confeitaria Colombo/Restorante Cristóvão (tea and pastry**)-(restaurant lunch***) Rua Gonçalves Dias 32, Centro Tel: +55 (0)21-2232-2300 Hardly a thing has changed since this grande dame of a café first opened in 1894. It still exudes an air of elegant colonialism. The enormous Belgian mirrors in jacaranda wood frames, the Italian marble benches and the exquisite blue, green and yellow stained glass are all still here, as are the waiters in their starched uniforms. The tearoom serves superb pastries and coffee on the ground floor; and fine buffet lunches are on offer at the upstairs restaurant. Yorubá *** Rua Arnaldo Quintela 94, Botafogo Tel: +55 (0)21-2541-9387 The African slaves that came to Brazil heavily influenced Bahian cuisine. Seafood, spices and coconut milk form the basis of many of the dishes, with dendê oil and malagueta chillies added for flavour. The acarajé appetisers, bean fritters with dried shrimp and chillies, and the moqueca, a seafood stew, are highly recommended. Á Mineira ** Rua Visconde Silva 152, Ipanema Tel: +55 (0)21-2535-2835 The cuisine from the state of Minas Gerais is famous for its bean dish, Tutu à Mineira, chicken with okra, polenta, roast pork and a selection of cheeses. Some of the dishes simmer over a wood burning fire as you help yourself, buffet-style. Very homey in atmosphere this is a place to linger over a long lunch. Bar do Arnaudo *** Rua Almirante Alexandrino 316, Santa Teresa Tel: +55 (0)21-2252-7246 A favourite with locals, Arnaudo's offers typical north-eastern dishes of sun-dried meats, cassava fries and goat stew, and it all comes in very generous portions.

Themed

Fellini */** Rua General Urquiza 104, Leblon - Tel: +55 (0)21-2511-3600/2259-6230 A popular, family-owned restaurant that serves food by the weight. It has a range of over 50 dishes and a reputation for freshness. Dishes include seafood, meats, homemade pastas, salads and sushi. For dessert there's fresh fruit and creamy puddings.

Italian

Alho e óleo *** Rua Buarque de Macedo 13, Flamengo Tel: +55 (0)21-2558-3345/2225-3418 This cosy restaurant offers an extensive menu of pastas, risottos and seafood as well as daily specials. Some of the portions are extremely generous, so be sure to ask "dá pra dois?" meaning, "is it enough for two?", the staff won't mind you sharing.

Bakery/Tearoom

Chaika * Rua Visconde de Pirajá 321a, Ipanema Tel: +55 (0)21-2267-3838 A great stop for a sandwich and a fresh juice but, be warned, these are not sandwiches in the normal sense of the word. They feature such combinations as steak and banana - surprisingly well judged. There are also wonderful sugary cakes and pastries to round off as well as a range of ice-creams, teas and coffees.

Bars

Order a caipirinha cocktail or a frosty beer, kick back and enjoy watching Brazilians at play. They're a gregarious people and their sense of enjoyment is contagious. It's no surprise then that Rio is teeming with bars, clubs and botecos, local bistro-style bars. The only difficulty you'll face is choosing where to go. The area around Lagoa is rather more sophisticated while the younger crowd heads to Leblon or Ipanema. There are bars catering to tourists where the locals like to drink and there are neighbourhood botecos that see a steady stream of tourists. Not every area is safe to wander at night, so it's advisable to know where you're going. The Programa section of Friday's Jornal do Brasil lists live music around the city so you can choose a venue in advance. Famous artists are often in town, but the unknowns that play at the smaller bars can blow you away with their talent. Brazilians rarely drink without snacking and a snack here can extend as far as a prime cut of beef served on a sizzling hotplate with tomato salad and farofa so there's often a fine line between what constitutes a bar and a restaurant. There are a good number of expat British pub-style hangouts, if that's what you fancy, and you won't struggle to find one especially on the fringes of the Santa Teresa district. Often the more traditional establishments are livelier and have more to offer however. Whatever your choice, the beer will be cold, the food will be plentiful and the company will be good. Nightlife in Rio starts late and can be a good way to see the sunrise. Academia da Cachaça Rua Conde Bernadotte 26, Loja G, Leblon Tel: +55 (0)21-2239-1542 Specialising in cachaça, the sugarcane spirit that packs a punch. Flavoured cachaças, cachaça cocktails and the ubiquitous caipirinha with crushed lime and sugar are all begging to be drunk. This is the sort of place that's hard to leave, at least without staggering. Vinícius Piano Bar Rua Vinícius de Moraes 39, Ipanema Tel: +55 (0)21-2523-4757 Across the street from Garota de Ipanema, this bar often sees the restaurant crowd heading here for more of the Bossa experience. Live music every night. The main show starts at 23h00 and the supporting show at 21h00. There's a cover charge of between BRL5 and BRL25 depending on how famous the artiste is. Sindicato do Chopp Av. Atlântica 514, Copacabana Tel: +55 (0)21-2541-3133 This lively bar gives the chance to see Cariocas winding down after work and revving up for the evening. The draught beer, chopp, is icy cold and the service is good. Rio folk recently voted it best Choppería. Chiko's Bar Av. Epitácio Pessoa, Lagoa Tel: +55 (0)21-2523-3514 If a favourite artist is playing then it's worth coming for the music, otherwise the snobby attitudes and prices can be off-putting. Check the list before entering. Lord Jim Rua Paul Redfern 63 Tel: +55 (0)21-2259-3047 If you're after a British-style pub, then this is your place. Live music, darts and British beer attract expats and, perhaps surprisingly, tourists. Bar Bracarense Rua José Linhares 85, Leblon Tel: +55 (0)21-2294-3549 An eternal favourite with Cariocas, the focus here is the home-style food, but the booze keeps flowing and people tend to hang around after eating to soak up the lively atmosphere.