From casual beachside spots dishing up local snacks to fine-dining restaurants serving gourmet delights and traditional all-you-can-eat Brazilian churrascarias, Rio de Janeiro is an incredible city to eat out in. Whether you want something simple you can grab on the go or you want to spend your entire evening being delighted by bite-sized treasures, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for here.
You’ve probably only got a short time to spend in Rio and you don’t want to waste your limited dining chances on anything mediocre. To help make sure you have the gourmet gastronomic getaway you deserve, take our advice and stick to these 12 incredible places to eat while you’re in the city.
As an added bonus, we’ve even included our recommendations of the best thing to order in each restaurant!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).
1. Classic Beach Club Urca
If you want your meal to come with a side of incredible views, make a beeline for Classic Beach Club Urca. You’ll have to pay for a Sugarloaf Mountain cable car ticket to dine here, but the food, atmosphere, and dramatic panorama make it definitely worth it.
This sensational restaurant is located on Morro Cara de Cão, the mountain behind Sugarloaf, and rewards hungry diners with some of the best views in the city. On your right you’ll see the towering Sugarloaf Mountain and on your left unobstructed views that stretch along Copacabana Beach and beyond.
The menu features a small number of creative breakfast dishes, as well as burgers, salads, and local snacks as the day moves on.
Order: Fillet mignon with truffled potatoes. This hearty, gourmet dish smells so amazing that you’ll start drooling before it’s even left the kitchen.
2. Assador
Feeling hungry? Then head straight for Assador. This upmarket all-you-can-eat Brazilian buffet is sure to be worlds away from any other buffet you’ve been to. The premise is simple: you’re given a plastic card that’s green on one side and red on the other.
As long as the green side is facing upward, smartly dressed servers will continue to bring you ever-more delicious and succulent cuts of meat until you flip your card to the red side. You’ll be offered everything from delicate lamb ribs to sensational tomahawk steaks, as well as more sides and salads than you could ever think of.
This high-end restaurant is perched on the water’s edge, so try to snag a table on the outside terrace for the best views. The service can feel a little overwhelming, but try to pace yourself and remember — you don’t have to say yes to every dish!
Order: Chicken hearts presented on an impressive sword-like skewer. They’re an adventurous option, but they taste like the most delicious roasted chicken thigh you’ve ever had in your life!
3. La Finestra
Tucked away inside the Portobay Hotel, La Finestra is a beautiful, contemporary restaurant that dishes up light, flavor-packed international fare. You’ll be presented with freshly baked bread, paté of the day, and rich, creamy butter shortly after being seated to get you ready for the main show. Don’t fill up! Because the menu is so tempting you’ll want an appetizer, main, and dessert.
Cold, refreshing carpaccios and warm, comforting soups kick off the menu, followed by elegant pastas and risottos, wonderfully fresh fish and seafood, and divine meat and poultry dishes. Whatever you order, the presentation is reliably superb.
Reserve a table by the window and you’ll be treated to dazzling views of the palm tree-lined Copacabana Beach while you dine.
Order: Salmon tartare with lightly toasted sesame seeds, mustard seed pickle, a mixed green salad, sour cream, and a basket of golden toast. The complex combination of flavors and textures is excellent.
4. Teva
A lot of restaurants in Rio de Janeiro focus on high-end cuts of meat. If you’re craving something plant-based, make plans to visit Teva. This creative vegan restaurant aims to transform the way people think about food through their sustainable cooking practices, epicurean plant-based menu, and impressive organic wine selection.
The decor is a striking contrast of old and new trends, of organic and industrial styles that beautifully reflects the offerings of the menu. Dishes change seasonally, so you know that whatever you’re ordering is at its absolute best.
Here you’ll find much more than simple salads. Plates like Mexican enchiladas with refried beans and lentils, seitan cutlets with a rich demi-glace, and the signature burger made with a house-made mushroom patty will satisfy even the most determined carnivore.
Order: Mixed barbecue. A staple on the menu, this colossal dish features plant-based sausage, seitan, mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions flame-grilled and served with a myriad of sides.
5. Quiosque Arrastapé
Copacabana Beach is lined with laid-back restaurants serving casual beach fare. In fact, there are so many cool dining options along the promenade that it can feel almost impossible to choose just one. So take our recommendation and head straight for Quiosque Arrastapé.
Set about half way along the golden sands, this restaurant has an irresistible mellow vibe, created by funky music, friendly service, and some of the best cocktails you’ll find in Copacabana. The fruity caipirinhas are amazing!
The food is nothing fancy — think burgers, breaded shrimp, chicken wings, and kebabs. But it really hits the spot after a day on the beach. There are a few Brazilian options, too, if you’re looking for something more local. Just make sure you don’t over-order — the portions are absolutely huge!
Order: Garlic and oil shrimp for two. The shrimp are plump, juicy, and wonderfully garlicky. They come with a fresh salad, broccoli rice, and a tangy mustard sauce.
6. Churrascaria Palace
If you’re traveling as a group and everyone wants something different, make a reservation for Churrascaria Palace. Here you can enjoy a classic Brazilian buffet with 40 types of prime cuts of meat. But that’s not all. The impressively extensive buffet also includes a giant salad bar, expertly-made sushi, piping hot seafood, and every type of side dish you could ever want.
This traditional Brazilian restaurant has been around since 1951 and has even been recognized as a Carioca Cultural Heritage Site. It has a glamorous Bossa Nova vibe that instantly transports you back to Rio’s Golden Years as soon as you enter.
Unlike other Brazilian all-you-can-eat restaurants, Churrascaria Palace stretches beyond beef, lamb, and chicken. On their huge menu, you’ll also find ostrich, duck, buffalo, and quail, some of which are only served upon request.
Order: Butterfly picanha. This unique cut was invented in Churrascaria Palace in the 1980s and is unbelievably tender and flavorful.
7. Empanadas Dos Hermanos
For the best empanadas in Rio de Janeiro, swing by Empanadas Dos Hermanos. Found just a few blocks back from Ipanema Beach, this lowkey joint is ideally located, so you can grab a few freshly made Argentine-style empanadas on your way to the beach.
Here you’ll find all the traditional types of empanadas, from classic ground beef and onion to spinach and ricotta. If you’re looking for something a little more exciting, there are plenty of special options, too, like shrimp with gooey cheese and spicy ground beef loaded with chilies. There are even dessert empanada flavors if you can’t get enough of the Argentinian treat!
Not in the mood for empanadas? Empanadas Dos Hermanos also serves delicious house-made pizzas available in two flavors per pizza.
Order: Romeo and Juliet empanada. A large, flaky empanada stuffed with guava and mozzarella cheese. The flavor combination sounds unusual, but it tastes incredible!
8. Joaquina
Joaquina is the place to go when you want the bohemian vibe of a beachside kiosk with the alluring food of a high-end restaurant. Set on the eastern end of Copacabana Beach, this gorgeous restaurant has a protected outdoor terrace so you can enjoy the cool sea breeze while avoiding the intense midday sun.
Here you can choose from a gourmet selection of creative Brazilian cuisine. Traditional dishes like eight-hour shredded beef with rice and creamy shrimp stroganoff rub shoulders with crunchy codfish fritters and house bruschetta on sourdough toast topped with sundried tomatoes. Pair your dish with a freshly-squeezed juice or a fruity cocktail and you’ll be in heaven!
If you’re on a budget, visit at lunchtime and you’ll be treated to a heavily discounted two-course executive menu.
Order: “Petisco do Coronel”. The “Colonel’s Appetizer”, this signature dish is made up of layers of fried organic cassava, parmesan cheese, shredded beef, and bechamel sauce.
9. Parla! Trattoria
For authentic Italian food in Rio de Janeiro, it’s got to be Parla! Trattoria. The menu is bursting with iconic Italian dishes, from Caesar salad and cacio e pepe pasta to lasagne and Neapolitan-style pizzas. There’s even a burrata bar that offers rich, creamy burrata paired with various epicurean sides.
No matter how tempting the appetizers and entrées are, try not to fill up too much. The tiramisu is phenomenal and you’ll seriously be missing out if you don’t order it.
As you’d expect from a great Italian restaurant, the wine offering is incredible. If you’re not drinking, their seasonal fruit juices, house soda, and house iced tea are delicious.
Order: “Ossobuco alla Milanese con Risotto allo Zafferano”. One of the best Milanese dishes, this staple is made from slow-roasted osso buco served with creamy saffron risotto.
10. Gurumê Rio Sul: Restaurante Japonês Contemporâneo
For the best Japanese food in Rio de Janeiro, it’s got to be Gurumê Rio Sul: Restaurante Japonês Contemporâneo. Set inside the RioSul Shopping Center, the location isn’t the best, but the sublime food and excellent service more than make up for it.
The menu is absolutely brimming with delicacies, with plenty of hot and cold options to choose from. The hot choices include the likes of hearty filet mignon ramen bowls, grilled octopus with sweet potato puree, and crunchy popcorn shrimp. Cold options cover all kinds of epicurean sushi and sashimi, from delicate slices of tuna belly dressed in a red wine reduction to crunchy shrimp tempura rolls and nigiris topped with truffle oil and scallops.
There are loads of amazing vegetarian options, too, like beetroot rice rolls stuffed with vegan goat cheese and unagi sushi topped with smoked eggplant marinated in agave honey.
Order: Gurumê Combo. An incredible selection of six sashimi, ten sushi, and four rolls prepared freshly by the chef just for you.
11. Restaurante Marius Degustare
Listed in Patricia Shultz’s 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, Restaurante Marius Degustare is unlike any restaurant you’ve ever been to before. The dining room looks more like a quirky contemporary art gallery than a place to eat, with everything from guitars, umbrellas, and ship portholes to motorcycle helmets, maracas, and hand-painted plates decorating the space.
Here you can choose whatever takes your fancy from an extensive buffet that winds its way around the restaurant. Freshly-shucked oysters, delicate pieces of sushi, juicy giant shrimp, and all kinds of decadent salads are provided to kick off your evening. But the best is yet to come!
Throughout your visit, servers will come over to your table with plates laden with all kinds of moreish cuts of meat, fish, and seafood until you beg them to stop.
Order: Wild boar ribs. They’re beautifully tender and have the most amazing sweet, nutty flavor.
12. Fogo de Chão
Located just steps away from the sand in front of Sugarloaf Mountain, Fogo de Chão offers a sensational Brazilian barbecue experience. This upmarket dining spot prides itself on using exclusively the finest cuts of meat and slowly roasting them until their natural flavors shine through and the texture becomes melt-in-your-mouth.
Like most Brazilian steakhouses, there’s a generous cold buffet in the center of the restaurant loaded up with salads, seafood, cold cuts, and cheeses. But the real reason hungry diners come here is for the juicy and delicious meats that make their way around the room.
From picanha, premium beef ribs, and sausages to lamb leg, chicken drumsticks, and chorizo steak, everything is cooked perfectly — so much so that you’ll want to try it all!
Order: Wagyu New York Strip. You have to pay extra for this premium cut which is large enough to serve four people. But the added expense is worth it for the chance to savor the velvety-soft meat, enhanced by the natural sweetness of the marbled fat.
