The best restaurants Brazil

A sophisticated and contemporary restaurant whose gastronomic basis is the typical Peruvian cuisine. Precisely prepared fish, duck leg with rice cooked in beer and of course different kinds of ceviches. The menu served at lunchtime during the week allows you to choose from the menu starter, main course and dessert. The pescado al azafrán, grilled fish with rocoto sauce, is one of the most popular dishes. A mix of desserts, Crocante de Banana or the Dulce Brasil, a maracuja cream with a cold mango soup. To know!

For 30 years, Tordesilhas has been a restaurant that honors the terroir, simplicity and quality of products and dishes. The menu features traditional Brazilian dishes, always with a personal touch from chef Mara Salles. The menu changes regularly, but regional dishes and desserts made with tropical fruits take pride of place. There are also a few specialties of Belém cuisine. Try tacaca or pirarucu with tucupi. The trio of açaí, cupuaçu and tapioca ice creams also come straight from the Amazon rainforest.

Opened in June 2018 in the historic center, Iza Morena Bistrô is run by the friendly Iza, a local figure well known to the inhabitants of the old center. Here, you can eat a variety of typical Maranhão cuisine, by the kilo at lunchtime (the dishes on offer vary daily). In the evenings, you can sample dishes from the à la carte menu, while sipping a super caipirinha, the secret of which is in the owner's hands. Grilled fish and shrimp, picanha, carne de sol and moqueça are all on the menu, accompanied by skilfully prepared local vegetables. Fair prices and a popular atmosphere.

Jericoacoara is no exception. An Italian table and travelers will be delighted. Roma Restaurante & Pizzaria is Jericoacoara's Italian address. The large pizzas are very well made and would satisfy Neapolitans (they're gigantic). The pastas (try the seafood ones) and other traditional Italian dishes are not to be outdone. They are successful and tasty, for fairly reasonable prices. Takeaway option.

Tambaqui de Banda is a Manaus institution. It's a popular local address for tourists and locals alike. You can sit and drink a fruit juice or eat on the terrace, facing the majestic Amazonas Theatre. Generous portions of fish are served at very reasonable prices. Tambaqui, a large Amazonian fish, is the star here, served grilled. Upstairs, cooled by air conditioning, you can satiate yourself while admiring the permanent exhibition of works by local artist Rui Machado.

In this restaurant set in a cool little vegetable garden, a little away from the centre (No quintal literally translates as "in the garden"), one comes for the country atmosphere, with its friendly red and white napkins, and for the quality of the products. The decoration is elegant for this charming table. The service could not be friendlier and the cuisine is traditional, successful and beautifully presented. We recommend, among others, the lobster and the pineapple juice with ginger and capim santo (local herb). To know absolutely.

Here, the focus is on organic food. A mini-buffet of Brazilian cuisine, healthy and natural, served in a warm wooden décor. A large terrace with plenty of wooden tables surrounds the restaurant, inviting you to sample local specialties, soups and salads, as well as meat and fish dishes for non-vegetarians. There are also around twenty fruit cocktails and just a few desserts (we recommend the maracuja mousse). Best visited for lunch, as it's a bit empty in the evening. Vegan and gluten-free.

This cosy little cafe is located in one of the romantic central streets of the old town of Paraty. The decoration is both simple and sophisticated, the terracotta tilesblend well with the wooden decoration of this shop. In the Pingado café, you will be offered excellent local coffees including a very original one made with cachaça, whipped cream and ginger jelly. If the menu of the coffees puts well in the honor what made the richness of this region of Brazil, the menu of the sandwiches is also interesting.

Pelourinho is full of great places to eat. The Maria Mata Mouro restaurant is a place to discover, an oasis in a busy city center. This restaurant, located in the heart of the Pelourinho, enjoys an excellent reputation that is well deserved. With its inventive, traditional cuisine and mouth-watering dessert cart, it offers a very pleasant setting (in an old building, tastefully decorated and with a pretty little patio ideal for marriage proposals). An excellent address for gourmets, who will be welcomed by multilingual staff. Live music in the evening.

The name of Mangai restaurant will not be unknown to travellers who have been to the Nordeste. And for good reason! This small chain of restaurants was born in João Pessoa and has built up a solid reputation. It has managed to conquer Brasilia. Its "by the kilo" buffet offers good, rich and varied Nordeste cuisine. The great classics of Sertaneja cuisine are presented here in versions that are both tasty and original. The setting is spacious and the terrace with a view of the lake and the JK bridge is equipped with several hammocks.

You can't go to Salvador without tasting its acarajés, one of the most emblematic specialties. The "Cira" offers one of the most traditional and famous acarajés of the city. The Bahian Cira has almost 50 years of experience in the preparation of local delicacies. Today, a team of 35 people help her prepare the 5,000 acarajés sold each month. Given the success, her daughter and granddaughter have opened other kiosks, one in Rio Vermelho, undoubtedly the best known, with its queue at weekends, and the other in Lauro Freitas.

In the tropical paradise of Ilha Grande, we go to the Canoa Café Lounge not only for its location. The decor matches the surroundings and the cuisine is refined. Everything is a pleasure for the senses. The camarao crumble, the falafel, the vegan dishes, right up to the homemade dessert, the Canoa crumble. Enjoying a caipirinha or a Jorge Amado cocktail, made with local cachaça, passion fruit and lime, while watching the sun go down, is an unforgettable moment. The pleasant, professional service can be (very) time-consuming.

Chef Alex Atala, considered one of the world's top ten chefs, has made D.O.M. est one of São Paulo's most prestigious restaurants. His contemporary fusion cuisine, inspired by French, Italian and Oriental cuisine, subtly highlights the richness of Brazilian produce. The chef takes great pleasure in going to the source to learn more about his ingredients, which come from the Amazonian biodiversity, and to be in symbiosis with the producers. A true culinary adventure for the taste buds, at a price.

For many Soteropolitanos and tourists used to the "Black Rome", this grill is the best churrascaria in Salvador. As in many churrascarias, you'll enjoy the rodízio, a round of 24 different kinds of meat served as much as you like by twirling waiters in a well-regulated ballet, but also the rich buffet of salads, seafood and hot dishes, which offers around 80 options as well as quality sushi. The waiters pass through the dining room, serving quality meat at every turn if you wish.

Thiago Castanho is one of Brazil's hottest chefs. The young Castanho innovates because he has drawn the inspiration for his cuisine from Amazonian products sold at the Ver-o-Peso market. He exploits the gustatory and nutritional qualities of forest products. For the restaurant's customers, the chef offers fish-based dishes, purified and cooked with great care. His tucunaré (fish), accompanied by shrimps, is delicious, and for dessert, the banana crème brûlée variation or the bacuri (local fruit) tiramisu are a must-try.

Wanchako is a Peruvian restaurant run by the Bert family since 1994. The decor, like the cuisine, is simple and tasteful. The cuisine of the house is a national reference and surprises with its delicate, refined flavors. Try the fish, lobster or seafood ceviches offered à la carte. Fresh fish and seafood from the sea dominate the menu, but you'll also find meat dishes such as sautéed lomo and Peruvian duck. A must-visit address in Maceió.

Sirià is a pleasant restaurant in Alter do Chão. The warm-hearted Bethania welcomes you to her shady terrace overlooking a pleasant little garden. Her menu is simple and vegetarian (vegan option available). The dish on the slate changes daily, but the plates are always hearty, healthy and full of flavor. Bethania puts a lot of heart into her cooking, carefully selecting ingredients and preparing them with precision. Excellent desserts and perfect coffee. A precious and beautiful address.

Do you walk into a Candomblé temple or a restaurant? You are at Carmem Virgínia's, a true celebrity in the neighborhood as well as an inspired chef, she has converted this house into a Brazilian soul food restaurant. Coming to Carmem's is both a pleasant dining experience and a quasi-mystical one: you taste homemade African-inspired preparations, with ingredients chosen and cooked with love, such asacarajé, vatapá or moqueca, to be accompanied by coconut water. An unusual and restorative stopover.

This establishment is a must for those who want to taste a refined and revisited cuisine. At Remanso do Bosque, the prestigious chef Thiago Castanho shares the kitchen with his brother Felipe. Here, they leave the classics of Amazonian cuisine and the family's traditional recipes behind and try out new ones created by themselves. Of course, the local ingredients are always in the picture, but with a personal touch! Not to mention that the location is most pleasant, right across the street from the Botanical Gardens.

This is one of the most traditional and renowned houses, the dishes are prepared for two and several people can order two or three kinds of meat. The local differs from the traditional churrascarias. At Barranco, you can choose your table among the different rooms, the atmosphere is that of a house with a covered terrace. The place is always full, you have to get there early on the weekend. On the menu, meat of course: picanha, lombo, costela... We choose the side dishes separately and the waiter goes around with a cart offering the salads.

In the pleasant Carmo district, in the heart of Salvador's historic center, artist Paulo Vaz has opened his studio as a meeting place for his friends. It's like stepping into an old-fashioned café, with an instant feeling of conviviality. The view of the bay from the terrace is magical. The smell of coffee wafts through the place. The menu offers light dishes: salads, sandwiches, quiches, pasta, soups... and plenty of coffees, teas and homemade juices. Friendly cats sleep on the chairs. A good sign!

The Lua & Mar restaurant offers a simple, pleasant setting. Garden tables are laid out on the sand on Canto beach. The restaurant specializes in fish and seafood, served in the shade of almond trees at lunchtime and by candlelight in the evening. You can listen to the lapping of the waves as you savor well-crafted dishes. The bobó de camarao (shrimp) and the fish or shrimp moqueca, two Bahian dishes, are two marvels on the menu. The caipirinhas are said to be the best on the island! Expensive but good.

With its cobblestones on its front, reminiscent of the orla of Rio de Janeiro, and its brick walls, the torre da pizza has a convivial and traditional side that is not contradicted by the presentation of its menu. This pizzeria is a good option for small budgets in the centre, as it has reasonable prices and the pizzas are prepared with love (but it takes time): fine dough, homemade tomato sauce, and the menu offers other dishes that are not too expensive. There are a few tables in the pleasant street for lunch or dinner outside.

Le Pelô Bistrô is a very good restaurant serving Brazilian and North-Eastern specialties, inspired by French gastronomy. It also offers international fusion dishes. Set in the flower-filled backyard of the charming Casa do Amarelindo hotel, the service is as good as it gets. In addition to pasta and salad dishes, and traditional Brazilian fare such as the classic moqueca de camarao or bobo de camarao, the menu is refined and regularly renewed. Gourmet" menu for 2 people.

The SENAC is a veritable institution in many places in Brazil, where chefs have gained international fame. Like the one in Salvador de Bahia, the SENAC in Sao Luis is housed in a place worthy of its reputation. In a beautiful colonial house, the restaurant of the hotel school: a zealous welcome, a long buffet of specialities of the region, includingarroz de cuxae, the local dish made of rice, sesame and small shrimps. Afterwards, we'll have a drink on the first floor while listening to a good pianist.

One of the city's most interesting addresses is housed in an old colonial defense building with a majestic entrance. This is the Senac Hotel School, and service is provided by the students of this school, which is very important in Brazil, as it trains many cooks throughout the country. So you can enjoy succulent regional dishes. The large buffet is certainly the best option for tasting Bahian specialities, as it is made up of around 40 typical dishes and you can eat as much as you like. Live entertainment on certain evenings.

Another island restaurant honored by New York Times food critics. One of the best tables in town for its Italian specialties, in a family, bucolic and intimate setting (only 7 tables) with a beautiful view of the lagoon. The chef Rodolfo Luiz Gualtiere particularly honours the regions of Calabria and Veneto with his gastronomic references. Fresh pasta, salads, risottos, fish and meat finely prepared Mediterranean style, excellent desserts such as homemade tiramisu.

Casa de Pedra is an almost perfect address in Jeri. It is a "sorvetaria" (ice cream shop) but the options offered are in fact numerous and all worth a visit. In addition to delicious homemade ice creams, the house offers small dishes, tapiocas and sandwiches, always at low prices. French tourists will be surprised by the presentation of the crepes, which are open on the plate and not folded. Burger lovers will find excellent homemade sandwiches. The setting is also very pleasant and the service cordial.

Café Gourmet is one of those little neighborhood restaurants that we love, still untouched by mass tourism. A small, attractively priced restaurant in the heart of Pelourinho, still authentic, which has unfortunately become quite rare! The menu is simple, but the dishes are good. The moqueca, typical of Salvador, is appetizing. Meat dishes (filet mignon, "carne do sol") are also well served and renowned for their value for money. During the day, you can come in for a coffee and relax in this typically Bahian atmosphere.

The Manoel e Juaquim restaurants are now part of the Copacabana landscape. In this botequim that faces the orla , regulars and tourists mingle. Portuguese tradition obliges, one will try the cod croquettes, the fried manioc with cheese or one will sustenance of the copious house picanha , washed down with an amber chopp of Brahma. The dishes are generous, in the image of the spirit of the house which treats each guest with respect and sympathy. The service is professional and familial, which is not always the case in high season in Copacabana.

Marius Degustare is a restaurant not to be missed in this wonderful city. It's a far cry from the sleek design of the Lasai and its almost surgical cuisine. Here, in a decor that gives the impression of entering a pirate's lair, the restaurant offers a gargantuan buffet featuring noble products, especially seafood such as lobster, oysters, crab? The service is top-of-the-range and rich in colour. It's quite simple, the Marius is unanimously acclaimed. Of course the note is salty too...

When you come to Brazil, the lure of the churrascaria will surely be felt! In these large restaurants for carnivores, all (or almost all) cuts of meat turn on the spit to the delight of meat lovers. On top of this, a diverse buffet of side dishes, including the classic rice and red beans, as well as other more elaborate dishes (gratins, dishes in sauce, fries, salads) will finish off your meal. Depending on how hungry you are, opt for the rodizio (all-you-can-eat), or choose what you want on your plate and weigh it at the checkout.

A portinha" restaurants are now present in all three tourist towns in southern Bahia, Porto Seguro, Arraia d'ajuda and Trancoso. The Abrasel guide named this group and its Arraial d'ajuda restaurant Brazil's "best kilo" in 2018. The restaurant boasts traditional Bahian home cooking. There are over 150 options on offer from Tuesday to Sunday, including excellent desserts. A varied buffet by the kilo and à la carte dishes in the evening. The large wood-fired stove maintains a traditional feel. Live music some evenings.

Sophisticated setting, white tablecloths and jazzy musical background, this restaurant is definitely one of the best in Paraty, the atmosphere is very romantic and sophisticated. The restaurant is specialized in typical regional caiçara cuisine. And it is undeniably worth the trip! We will appreciate the octopus or the fish marinated with mango, its purple onions and its coconut sauce. The meat is not in rest. For dessert, the cooked banana with its scoop of ice cream of doce de leite and crushed peanuts is a must. The plate is delicious and the note is salty.

The Lua Cheia restaurant is another establishment that offers a good and inexpensive buffet lunch. Vegetarians are welcome here, which is not always the case in this land of farmers and milk producers that gave rise to so much "milk" in the "café au lait republic". There is a lot of greenery and fruit, but the establishment is also known for its churrasco. You can't leave without tasting the famous cheese and goiabada sorbet. An address to remember for big appetites.

Belo Horizonte has the charming Café com Letras, while Diamantina has Espaço B-Livraria & Café. This space is a very pleasant café-library. Here you can find a few snacks, while leafing through books or listening to pleasant music. Tourists, locals and youngsters with a hippy or bobo streak through the place, re-discovering the world over a beer. The mix of food for the mind and body is bound to be appreciated. Some interesting dishes.

For juice lovers, here's a must-have in Rio! The chain has chosen to set up its stalls in many areas of the southern zone. The Bibi Sucos de Leblon is a place where you can eat for cheap in a rather expensive area. One can also nibble hamburgers, sandwiches and Brazilian sweets. The portions are generous. Many Brazilians come for the vegetarian dishes of Bibi Sucos. The salads are very good and the acai juices are not to be outdone. Many addresses (Copacabana, Jardim Botânico...).

At the edge of the lake, in a pleasant setting. The Bargaço is a restaurant of seafood and traditional bahianaise cuisine in Brasília, but at high prices.

A "guesthouse" in the middle of Santa Teresa. The chef Ana Castilho welcomes you in her house and garden. Perched on top of a hill, the restaurant offers a romantic setting with a splendid view of the wonderful city. The proposed cuisine is a Brazilian cuisine revisited: grilled palm heart, grilled fish with orange sauce (and its rice with coconut milk), grilled lamb and its couscous... The Aprazivel is certainly one of the good addresses of Santa Teresa, pleasant, chic...and expensive. Reservation recommended for the weekend.

All honour to all! Sabor da Vila was one of the first restaurants to open in Praia do Forte. Chef Alex Souza offers local cuisine with the famous moqueca. The taste is certainly on the plate, but the aesthetics of the dishes are also a pure pleasure. Coconuts and pineapples serve as plates, and seafood is given pride of place in dishes that are both simple and beautifully crafted, all hallmarks of this piano master. The tables of regulars and the delighted looks on the faces of those who are just discovering the restaurant are unmistakable!

Another address not to be missed in Lençois. The "conzinha aberta" offers a good and varied cuisine with inventive recipes of Italian and Thai dishes. The chef is a culinary author-creator who never stops innovating, as with his "spaghetti of shrimps and cocoa". The dishes are prepared in front of the customers. But the term slow does not apply to the pace of the restaurant, which works according to the localvore philosophy, valuing local ingredients. A policy of sustainability is guaranteed in the operation of the establishment.

This superb hotel-restaurant, which overlooks the river of the same name, offers the typical barreado, a regional dish from the cuisine of the herdsmen who regularly crossed the region. You can also eat good fish dishes (Milanese style fish). Ideally located 600 metres from the bus station and 200 metres from the Serra verde train station, the restaurant is an ideal "stopover" during a visit to Morretes.

With its wooden front and interior, Aglio e olio is not an intimate and sophisticated restaurant. Once inside, the tone is set. The smells speak for themselves. It's an Italian restaurant that doesn't look like much, located in the center of Penedo, but it serves some of the best pasta we've ever tasted in Brazil! The penne al'arrabiata or a la napolitana are a real success! A small wine list that is also nice and cheap. An address not to be missed!

Mentioning Argentina inevitably brings to mind the idea of meat, churrasco and the sacrosanct parrilada. The restaurant "El Argentino" is no exception to the rule. We are certainly in the center of Canoa Quebrada, at the seaside, but the Argentino proposes on its menu to eat several kinds of meat. The parriladas "argentinas", of the "chef" and of the sea are very generously served and can satisfy 3 to 4 people. The 1/2 portions will be enough for two. Good atmosphere and some wines to accompany your dish, long live the porteño style at the beach!

The story of Entre Amigos began in the 1990s when the two partners bought a kiosk on the beach in Boa Viagem and started serving kebabs. Today, they own two restaurants that serve tasty, regional food and are popular with the locals. The bar is also very lively. The friendly place and hearty dishes make it a good option in town. The dishes are prepared with originality, the flavors are subtle and delicate Finally, the view from the terrace is charming.

A small restaurant that seems lost at the end of a cul-de-sac, the Dom Mario restaurant offers quality cuisine. All day, from noon to night, the Dom Mario restaurant serves signature dishes. Fish with maracuja sauce, filet mignon (of beef) with gorgonzola or pepper sauce, barbecued fish and shrimp... these are the dishes most often served here. The other feature is the generosity of the dishes. The portions are almost worthy of Pantagruel! It's a bit pricey, but well worth it.

For many years Sabor da Terra has been offering its cuisine to locals and tourists who do not want to spend too much without sacrificing the quality of the contents of the plate. In this restaurant by the kilo at the entrance to the old town, you will find a buffet that may lack variety, but is certainly of high quality at a very affordable price compared to those in the centre. Good minute grilled meats, ready meals, vegetables, pasta, rice... a good Brazilian cuisine without pretension. More and more guests are going there!

Founded in 1958, Curitiba's central market is certainly the most pleasant place to shop like a true curitibense. The "belly of Curitiba" is certainly not very big, but there is a good coffee shop (with several national varieties to taste or take away), stalls and a few restaurants on site. You can buy wine, cheese, "ethnic" products and medicinal herbs. On the first floor is the organic products area, with a restaurant. It is the meeting place for people from all walks of life in the city.

The Mercado Municipal or Mercadao has been mentioned as one of the places you must see in São Paulo. This venerable market offers an endless variety of stalls and restaurants, such as the popular "Hocca" or the "Brasileirinho". It is impossible to leave the mercadão without trying the big mortadella sandwich (a bit greasy) or the cod pastel . The bars/restaurants are located upstairs and everywhere the fillings are always generous!