The best restaurants Brazil

Quintana Café is a traditional, welcoming Curitiba establishment that reflects the people of Paraná's capital. Spearheading local cultural eco-gastronomy. With poems and books scattered around the house, the chef and owner pays homage to gaucho poet Mario Quintana. At the central buffet, the influences are diverse. Mediterranean, Northern European, local and Asian cuisine, depending on the day of the week. Ingredients are organic, fresh and local.

The Jobi bar has been a very popular address in the Cariocas since 1956... Its red and green front and the red and white checkered tablecloths are part of the "landscape" of the traditional botequins of Rio. The Jobi is the link between the Rio of yesterday and today. The bohemian spirit lives on in a friendly atmosphere. The wait is sometimes a little long, but the cod croquettes and seafood soup are worth the trip. People also come here for the iced beer, the best in Rio for some "fans".

Since 2002, the Balada Mix chain has opened more than 20 shops in Rio de Janeiro. The one in Ipanema is one of the most pleasant. In a beautiful white house, one block from Ipanema beach, you can enjoy a mango or acai juice or a more substantial dish in a pleasant and calm setting, ideal before or after the orla... or afterwards. The cuisine is simple and healthy at the same time. This is the general trend at Ipanema, but here the combination of location, service and value for money certainly makes it a place to get to know.

Opposite the São Bento monastery, which gave it its name(mosteiro means monastery in Portuguese), this Portuguese-inspired restaurant, run by José Temporao, has been offering excellent fish dishes (including the delicious Mosteiro cod) or shellfish (octopus in saffron rice) for almost half a century. There are of course the famous Portuguese pasteis. The quality of the cuisine and service is rightly recognised by many food critics and even more guests.

In a small shop with "tangy candy" colours and a decoration that the owners describe as "rustic-provençal", the good smell of the well-prepared small dishes inevitably captures the passing gourmets or regulars of the place. Salmon tartar, warm brie with apricots on toast, or simply melons with ham. There is a choice between simplicity and slightly more sophisticated dishes. A "Santa Fit" menu has been elaborated by chef Carol Figueiredo for those who want to eat healthy and light.

A casual Resto-pizzeria attended mainly by a gay clientele. You can enjoy a beer or a caipirinha while admiring the beach. 

The Samburà restaurant is a good little seafood restaurant with a good reputation in the Angra region. You can enjoy grilled fish or octopus with a cold beer in a relaxing jazzy atmosphere. This rather out-of-the-way restaurant is frequented by locals in the low season, but the quality of its food is recognized by the many national tourists who flock here in the high season. Variations on fish (moqueca de cavalo), squid and shrimp (moqueca de camarao) are all quite successful.

At the risk of repeating ourselves, O Pescador is no longer a seafood restaurant. An Italian chef now serves... Italian food. According to transalpine friends on Ilha Grande, this is without doubt the best pizzeria on the island. Dishes are generously served for two. The setting is pleasant, right on the beach. The decor is warm and inviting. The change of culinary destination is certainly a success. We're never disappointed with the dishes on offer. Definitely worth a visit.

Restaurant Poro has moved across the street to its new quarters, but the quality of the food hasn't changed. The view from the terrace is enchanting at night, embracing the Bay of Tous les Saints. In addition to excellent cocktails (such as the "oeil du tigre", invented by the chef), the cuisine at the bar is innovative, varied and tasty. Special, creative menus are regularly offered (such as for Valentine's Day). The chef systematically offers vegan dishes to open up his establishment to all gourmets.

In the heart of Pelourinho, on Maciel de Baixo Street, Uaua has been serving North-Eastern specialties for decades... and that in itself is a guarantee of quality. The décor is reminiscent of the austere lands of the North East. Yet it's a pleasure to come here, because the dishes perfectly convey the sincerity of Nordeste cuisine and its inhabitants. You can of course try the typical Bahian dishes, but specialties like carne do sol or carne verde are excellent, and the manioc fries are like no other.

As its name suggests, Artes e Sabores is a place where gastronomy and the arts meet. In fact, art is present on the premises, as Artes e Sabores is housed in the former Lençois cinema. The various indoor and outdoor spaces are all cosy and pleasant. The cuisine is inspired by Japanese cuisine of the highest quality (the yakissoba is exquisite), but international dishes are also on offer. The strawberry coulis filon mignon is a must-try. A wonderful discovery!

Japeto is a recently established bar-restaurant, a little outside the traditional area surrounding Praça São Sebastião. On weekends, this blue-fronted establishment, with its friendly atmosphere, comes alive to the sound of DJs and well-crafted bands. Amazonian dishes are on offer, of course, but also Brazilian fare such as feijoada on weekends, at very affordable prices. Beer is served ice cold, as is traditional in Brazil, and Japeto is no exception.

Often, the observant visitor, whether Brazilian or French, is quick to point out the lack of visibility of indigenous culture in Brazilian and Amazonian metropolises in particular, or its "folklorization". The Biatuwi restaurant is the exception that proves the rule. It's a true gastronomic experience based on the culture of the Sateré-mawé and Tukano ethnic groups. Tasting insects, of course, but also excellent indigenous-style sambaqui. A very simple and welcoming place, reflecting the culture of the local tribes.

Quarar restô & café is a small, unpretentious restaurant serving quality dishes. Cream of vegetable soup, quiche, salad, palmito sandwiches... Small dishes typical of the region (carne do sol, shrimps with aïpim purée...). Here again, vegetarians and vegans are not forgotten (aïpim purée with mushrooms and salad). The desserts are tempting: sorbet or dulce de leche and walnut tarts). In short, this is the place to be if you're feeling peckish or peckish in the afternoon!

In a slightly busy and very welcoming 14-table setting, reminiscent of Marius Degustare in Rio, the Prudente 242 restaurant is as good as it is aesthetically pleasing. It's true that you feel like you're walking into an antique store. Here, it's the rich mineira cuisine that takes pride of place. Tutu mineiro, pork chop with goiaba sauce, homemade rice with garlic... Great classics revisited with brio. If you finish your meal with the sweet trio, you'll feel like you're in paradise, especially if you've enjoyed the various cocktails in moderation. Worth knowing.

If café da manha is a Brazilian tradition, the brunch craze hasn't escaped Minas Gerais either. Right in the heart of the small town of Tiradentes, Morada Brunch is a cosy, well-decorated and welcoming place. The many sweet and savoury dishes are prepared with the constant aim of offering maximum pleasure to guests. A daring rocambole (a traditional Tiradentes pastry) with goiaba jam and cheese is a must. Vegetarians will also find excellent mushroom lasagne.

You can't come to Salvador de Bahia without tasting the traditional acarajés, derived from African culinary traditions. Of course, not everyone likes this red bean fritter fried in palm oil or dendê. If you're curious, don't miss the Dinha stand on largo do Santana. You can usually spot the long queue in front of this stall, where ladies dressed in the traditional white Bahian costume are bustling about, derived from the traditional garb of the lands of the Gulf of Guinea from which their ancestors were uprooted.

For one hundred and twenty-five years, this delicatessen(mercearia godinho, casa de bacalahau e empadas in the language of Camoes) has been delighting Paulists. In addition to the dried bacalhau, the house is famous for its empadas. This small salty snack with shortcrust pastry is filled with béchamel sauce and cod, among other variations. You have to try it! The Paulists and Brazilian culinary magazines are not mistaken. They have been honouring it regularly for decades. The empada with shrimp in white sauce or with garlic are to be discovered.

Certainly one of Belo Horizonte's many gastronomic temples. In this large, friendly establishment, you can "compose" your dish by choosing certain "options". The menu also includes grilled meats and filet mignon. Risotto is the house specialty. The "policy" at the heart of the project is to seek out quality food and balanced dishes. A place to know, for sure! Delivery service is also available.

Le Glouton is a culinary address that enriches the offer of Belo Horizonte. The young chef Leonardo Paixão, aptly named, studied in French cooking schools and then trained in the kitchen of Taste-Vin, with chef Rodrigo Fonseca, another enthusiast of the "French touch" in cooking. The cuisine is of great finesse and originality. You can see the cooks practicing their art in the kitchen. Beyond the quality, the quality-price ratio is to be underlined. You can't go there without a reservation and a deposit is required.

Panela de Barro has earned itself a reputation as one of Boipeba's finest restaurants, and it has to be said that this reputation is well-founded. The restaurant itself is rather simple, giving the impression of entering a family kitchen, but it's the cooking and service that win the accolades. The seafood is very well served and the spaghetti is excellent, but it's perhaps the mixed moqueca with shrimp, fish and banana that has made this Bahian island restaurant famous. Excellent "comida caseira". A must-try!

It feels like another mineiro "rancho", the one in Mariana, a city dear to our guide Kenio Maximiliano Azevedo. The Rancho is a typical mineiro restaurant. At noon, the buffet offers a wide variety of regional dishes, cooked on wood fire, of good quality. The whole is simple, rustic and friendly. In short, a vario mineiro. When one stops in Serro, in general, stage of any journey to the hidden beauty that is Diamantina, the Rancho makes it possible to appreciate a very good local kitchen while impregnating oneself of the places.

On the mezzanine of this beautiful and large warehouse (which refuses to be a supermarket) dedicated to delicatessen products, selected meats, dairy products and fresh fruit and vegetables, there is a restaurant offering healthy and tasty cuisine. The buffet formula with various salads and seeds is very practical and good value for money. Meat lovers can include a grill in their formula. Some dishes are also available à la carte. On Sunday mornings, you can indulge in the whole-wheat pancakes with bananas.

This yellow-walled restaurant is an institution in Bonito, as it is known for its tasty and simple cuisine. We come to Juanita, the eponymous hostess, for her house specialty: pacu (local fish) grilled or a la plancha(chapa), but also for her tasty caiman. The caiman is raised in fazendas dedicated to the breeding of this crocodilian. The different species are protected in their natural environment and any predation is severely punished. The places and the welcome are always very pleasant.

Good Japanese cuisine is offered in this small restaurant. Lovers of Japanese cuisine will have the opportunity to eat by the kilo here. There is a great variety of yakisoba, teppanyaki, temaki, also proposed in the original form of rodizio, where the waiters pass by constantly presenting dishes. Gourmets of Japanese cuisine will find here interesting products for a good quality/price ratio. It is also possible to get delivery in the entire southern area (up to 73 pieces for combination dishes!).

The Pérgula is one of the three restaurants located in the wonderful Belmond Copacabana Palace. The majesty of the place and the quality of the food will perhaps justify that you break your piggy bank to be able to enjoy a breakfast or a lunch buffet in this mythical place. If there is an undeniable Italian touch, the cuisine can be described as international. From the "copperto", the tone is set: chestnut bread, cassava chips, artichoke pickle... Meat, fish, vegetarian dishes. Everything is delicate. At the weekend, it's feijoada and brunch!

Originally from São Paulo, the other pizza capital of the world, Pizzaria Bráz is one of the best in Rio. In this traditional setting in the Jardim Botânico district, the great Italian classics are the basis of the menu, but many variations are offered, from the classic award-winning caprese to the basic Neapolitan... or theimigrante. The wine list allows to highlight the flavours of the place. For dessert, the traditional panettone and tiramisus will satisfy the specialists.

Like the confeitaria das familias, the churrascaria Ervin is a traditional house of grill specialities in the city centre. It's a good option for eating good meat at very affordable prices. Some dishes are prepared for two or three people, others are individual. The choice is certainly more limited than in some churrascarias, but the four types of meat on offer are undoubtedly among the best in Curitiba. The PF does not advocate the consumption of meat, but meat lovers will find their way around.

The restaurant works in the green setting of the Astral da Ilha. Seafood, light dishes, sushi, sashimis, original fruit juices and cocktails make up the map.

This restaurant occupies a beautiful colonial house from the 19th century. Villeiros is both a good "kilo" and a restaurant where a varied and well-prepared mineira food graces the guests' table. The atmosphere of the place is very pleasant. The decoration of the rooms, but also of the plates is pleasant and refined. The food is noble and prepared with care. The shrimp pasta is as good as well presented. The cakes are renowned in the region. Something to satiate yourself while waiting for the Maria Fumaça.

Bar do Alexandre is a beach bar-restaurant with its feet in the water. It's a beautiful, tranquil spot, facing a crystal-clear, azure sea. You can wait in peace for the "por do sol". In the afternoon, the sounds of local bands lull the guests to sleep. The moquecas are as good as in Salvador de Bahia. Petiscos and beer, frozen as they should be, have a special flavor here. Sitting back in comfortable chairs or deckchairs, you're never in a hurry to leave. The staff are very attentive.

The Praça Popular has become a reference point for Cuiabà's nightlife and for the quality and diversity of its restaurants. Haru has established itself as one of the best Japanese restaurants in a city with a large Japanese community. The long waiting line on weekends attests to the quality of the products and the creativity of the chefs who work there. Here too, beyond the sushi, there is a subtle mix of Japanese dishes and regional cuisine. The Japanese ceviches are excellent. Worth knowing.

Le Lélis is an establishment that honors the Pantanal through its decor (photos and naturalized animals, including a pirarucu) and above all through its menu (jacarè sausage, mojica de pintado). Lélis is one of the best fish restaurants in Cuiabà and certainly deserves its reputation. The rodizios allow you to sample some of the region's many tasty fish varieties. The main dining room is modern and simple, with no frills. The service is professional. An impressive wine list... A gastronomic delight.

It's hard to miss this vast building. The former arsenal of Cuiabá, a magnificent yellow building in the Franco-Lusitanian style, now converted into SESCs (socio-cultural centres spread throughout the country), offers a pleasant cultural and gastronomic fair every Thursday, the "bulixo". The stalls offer excellent food in a family and festive atmosphere. You can also find handicrafts and typical products. You can spend pleasant moments in the bar of the SESC, sipping a fruit juice. An excellent place to know.

This blue house of industrial architecture, a veritable oasis tucked away on a little street in Secretário, has established itself as one of Petrópolis' finest restaurants. Here, in addition to the quality of the produce, it's above all the fixed-price formula (starter, main course, dessert) and salads that attracts gourmets from all over Brazil. The kitchen is generously supplied by the in-house vegetable garden. Tomato velouté with cashew nuts and mint, mushroom vatapà, coconut rice and low-cooked pork... A relatively reasonable price for the quality on offer.

Skandinavia refers of course to the Finnish colony in the city. For more than 15 years, this sandwich shop has been a rallying point for all those who are hungry. You won't find any Scandinavian specialities here, it's a classic sandwich shop. It is certainly the best sandwiches of the city which are proposed there. Traditionally, the portions are generous. A sandwich is equivalent to a meal! Sure, the place is simple, but the Three Steps or the Don Rodrigo will get you back on your feet.

Bistrô das Meninas is a French-inspired restaurant. It's an original adventure, part restaurant, part café in a library. Originally, the owners ran a pastry shop. Today, artisan bread "à la française" still features prominently in sandwiches and other compositions, but the offer has expanded. You can try local trout with mushroom sauce, sandwiches (Thai-style chicken with Moroccan couscous, meat risotto with manioc...). One of those places that delights both taste buds and soul.

The Cantinho Valeria Fernandes is a paradise for some gourmets. This picturesque place is indeed famous for its salted doughnuts. There are said to be more than 100, no, more than 150 varieties. For those who will definitely be charmed by the salty pleasures of this beautiful table, you can take some souvenirs with you. In the restaurant's shop, you can also find jams and compotes. Ideal for a small gourmet stopover. A little expensive perhaps.

This bakery-pastry shop is all about breads and cakes. There are more than twenty kinds of bread. If you are homesick, go there. Madeleines worthy of a pastry grandmother, croissants, baguettes that look like baguettes, bread with olives, foccacias. It's a compromise between a quality bakery and a French-inspired pastry. Breakfast and mini-brunch are an opportunity to taste sweet and savoury dishes as well as excellent small sandwiches.

In her restaurant-gallery, the Farinatta Bistrô & arte, chef Eloisa Ramos offers an inventive and creative menu. She takes pleasure in coming to explain the menu directly to her guests. Behind the names of mysterious dishes - gnocchi à la présidente, agneau profane, osso buco fin du monde -, we discover a delicious and surprising plate, and, at this level of gastronomy, a beautiful aesthetic sophistication. The wine list will allow you to best appreciate these corpus delicti de la gourmandise. The best gnocchis of the region for sure.

The Galeria is a great discovery of PF on Buzios since... 2014. This restaurant, located in the beautiful Insólito Boutique Hotel, offers varied cuisine in a French-Brazilian fusion style. The chef Marcelo works with as much happiness fish, seafood and meats. Here, the appetizer will be the breathtaking view of the Ferradura beach. The team of waiters around chef Rodrigo is very professional. A hanging garden on the sea... To discover absolutely if you can afford it, because at Buzios as elsewhere quality has a price.

For 3 years now, this former store founded in 1854 has been transformed, much to the delight of the bohemian Santa Teresa district, into a bar and pousada that has quickly made a name for itself in the sun. The traditional coverings have been preserved, and the mix of old and new has been perfectly adapted to the spirit of the place. Modern cocktails alternate with traditional cooked dishes or beautifully crafted caipirinhas. The "spirit of Santa Teresa" is guaranteed, with good ao vivo music on certain evenings.

Casa da Nati is a good option in Praia do Forte. One of the best proofs of this is that since our first visits in the first decade of the 2000s, there are still just as many diners who come in search of simple, quality food. You can find good quality local food. You can eat by the kilo or à la carte. The atmosphere is relaxed, and you're served with a smile. Soft music lulls diners to sleep. A very good vegan moqueca will delight those looking for appetizing non-meat dishes.

Opened in 2017, this restaurant-bar has quickly established itself as an essential part of Foz's gastronomy. In a sober and elegant setting of brick and wood, people often come here to taste the meat. The picanha and T-Bone are in the spotlight and meat lovers are in favour of the Bendito, but vegetarians and fish lovers (try the bacalhau) will find their happiness here. The Saturday feijoada, buffets, accompanied by cocktails with or without alcohol, Argentinean or Italian beers or wines complete a varied offer of quality.

For those who are tired of fish, necessarily very present on the seaside menus, here is an excellent meat restaurant where the traditional carne de sol is cooked with inventiveness (more than 20 different recipes). As a starter, we recommend theescondidinho do picui, a casserole version of the carne de sol covered with a manioc puree au gratin. For a main course, try the jerimum arretado, cubed meat served inside a large pumpkin, all served with a cream sauce. You won't be disappointed!

The Divina Gula, over the years, thanks to the work has become a reference as well as an institution in Maceió. This restaurant offers regional specialties from Minas Gerais and Nordestas. In a very rich menu, we recommend the picanha (noble piece of beef) with macaxeira (fried manioc), the carne do sol with tutu mineriro or the grilled beef with broccoli. Of course, seafood is not forgotten, like the curry-pineapple shrimp. In the evening, the restaurant also offers a bar atmosphere on its large, lively terrace.

Located between the airport and the beach, Miguel's is an Aracaju classic that has been welcoming guests since 1980. The 4 Rodas guide has awarded it several times for the quality of its cuisine. It offers good local cuisine, the menu varies between meat and fish dishes. Try the chef's suggestion: carne de sol, a traditional regional dish made with sun-dried beef filet. More classically, you can try surubim, a typical fish from the São Francisco River, or a picanha in the Argentine style.

The Mama Pereira restaurant and pizzeria is a pleasant institution located in the eponymous pousada. The menu offers interesting dishes, including the house specialties of octopus rice, seafood dishes made with fresh local products, but also pizzas. Meat and chicken dishes are also offered on the menu, always with subtle and relevant flavours. You can also have the great breakfast offered by the house. The restaurant and the pousada are located in the centre of Japaratinga, on the beach.

The speciality is lobster (you would have guessed it...), but you can also enjoy a wide range of regional and international dishes. The restaurant is located in the Villa Pantai hostel, in a very pleasant and cosy setting. The menu is rich and varied. Try the house's signature dish: fish on 'telha' with rice and coconut. A pure pleasure. The menu is so rich in flavour and diversity that it is difficult to choose a dish. The service is professional and friendly. A success from starter to dessert.

You can find regional food and typical Nordeste atmosphere in the hotel restaurant of the same name. The Bitingui Praia restaurant and hotel was built in 1990. This complex stretches along a 200 meter long beach and is surrounded by natural pools and beautiful coral reefs, the Bitingui Praia restaurante is far away from the commercial tourism of Brazil and seems to watch over one of the best kept secrets of nature in Brazil.