The best restaurants Porto Alegre

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.

Good Polish cuisine, even if it offers fewer varieties than the good Italian tables. Potato omelet, goulasch and net in white wine. Quality cooking and quality.

If it weren't for the araucaria forests, you'd think you were in a few Bangkok restaurants. In the Koh Pee Pee restaurant, Thai cuisine is elevated to the level of culinary art. In a room decorated with oriental motifs and photos of the country, the conger with red curry sauce, the fried pasta with shrimp will allow a delicate gustatory approach of the kingdom of Siam. From 8 persons, the restaurant can propose a personalized menu. The menu offers many Thai specialties subtly revisited

Cuisine in northern Italy. For example: Stuffed pasta with shrimps, black truffles in the port and basil… An excellent address. Book Friday and Saturday.

One of the best restaurants in Porto Alegre and throughout Brazil for almost 20 years. The influence is Mediterranean and Provençal, and the touch is that of French chef Gérard Durand: fish with curry sauce and mango chutney, lamb with almonds, duck confit; whether you're "land" or "sea", there's something for everyone... Homesick French diners can enjoy frogs à la Bateau ivre. The chef has adopted the "open kitchen" concept to share his culinary art from the piano to the plate, passing on his passion in the process.

Good regional cuisine.

One of the most famous (starry) churrascarias of the city, closed on Sunday. The specialties are the beef rib and the lamb picanha. Good and not too expensive. Count 25 réais for a piece of lamb over one kilo and 20 réais the rib rib.

Rodizio and impressive meat variety.

Situated in the heart of the public market since 1889, the Gambrinus with its old-fashioned charm is a mecca for Portuguese gastronomy. The decor is indeed that of a tavern in old Lisbon, even if the patronymic Gambrinus honours the mythical king of Flanders, symbol of beer lovers. The cuisine is varied and of high quality. You can taste the famous bacalhau, Portuguese style, with a choice of several recipes. Excellent fish dishes in general. The menus offered vary according to the day of the week.

Eclectic cuisine, good German dishes.

Here's a restaurant to try if you're looking for a good, cheap, creative lunchtime table. In 2013, chefs Leonardo Magni and Liliana Andriola opened the Mandarinier restaurant, located in the Cidade Baixa district of Porto Alegre. The slate here offers seasonal and market cuisine, since the menu (cover, starter, main course and dessert) is one price, composed on the urge and variable day after day. You can find the weekly menus on the restaurant's Facebook page. They use food from small organic producers

In the chic Moinhos de Vento district, this French gourmet burger restaurant will delight those looking for a good, inexpensive table for a quick lunch or dinner. Le Grand Burger's services are those of a fine dining establishment, starting with the service. Each burger is precisely described by the waiters. You can drink an excellent strawberry maté. The desserts are not to be outdone. The crème brûlée is very tasty. The freshly ground coffee is light and delicious. Lunchtime special on a choice of 4 burgers.

The inhabitants of the gaucha capital don't just eat meat prepared in churrasco. Porto Alegre is a forward-thinking city with many vegetarian restaurants. The Ocidente restaurant is a good one, offering an original vegetarian dish of the day with several side dishes every lunchtime. A very good option for a low price. The marmitex costs R$35 (R$30 for students), and the menu changes daily. In the evening, the establishment becomes a popular meeting point for live music and DJs.

A popular restaurant in keeping with Porto Alegre's "social" spirit, the "Tudo Pelo Social" is a simple place with renowned food. Founded in 1988, this 300-seat venue serves the country's staples: fillet steak with French fries, egg and salad. Generous portions. At the lunch buffet, for a small price (R$24), you can choose from a dozen hot dishes, a few salads and a dessert. The traditional "alaminuta", a dish of meat, French fries and salad, will cost you R$44. A culinary and social experience.

In a sumptuous setting, the Bah offers a revisited gaucha gastronomy. The dishes are very fine. We'll taste the original and fragrant maté farofa. Meat, risottos and seafood make up the menu. Also a la carte, a six-course tasting menu accompanied by six glasses of wine (R$300). At lunchtime during the week there is also the possibility to opt for the executivo menu with starter, main course and dessert and a glass of wine (R$ 60). To know the most typical pampas desserts we recommend the trio, an assortment of three verrines.

Roda de Carreta is the churrascaria of the Centre for Gauchas Traditions (TRQ), which aims at the radiation of local culture. While the servers move by offering 14 types of meat, we take advantage of the folk spectacle. Guests can also enjoy the central buffet with salads and hot dishes. Good value for money.

The hot dog is a real local institution and the Confeiteria has done its specialty for 50 years. We eat on the thumb pizza, doughnuts, pastry and cachorro quente in a place steeped in history. An address to know.

Behind a simple front, reminiscent of the workshops of popular Paris, the restaurant l'Atelier offers its culinary art in a jazzy atmosphere. Seafood pasta, fettucine filet mignon, a real gastronomic address at affordable prices. 37 kinds of pasta dishes are offered. It's hard not to find happiness. Be careful with the buffet of starters (R$ 12.5 per 100 grams, i.e. 125 reais per kilo), which can make the bill go up!

In this shop in the very chic Moinho de vento district, where the portraits of Brigitte Bardot and Audrey Hepburn are enthroned, owner Ana Klein has chosen to tackle the difficult art of baking. It is clear that the challenge has been successfully met. We will be able to taste the manioc bread (aipim), the French bread (R$ 30 per kilo). In addition to the traditional pain au chocolat to accompany the house espresso, Ana also offers excellent cookies (R$ 10). Those who are more "salty" can try the chicken and cheese empanada.