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Brasília enjoys what is generally regarded as one of the best restaurant scenes in Brazil, behind only the much larger cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The city has by far the highest per capita income in the country, and in recent years this affluence has been reflected in the rapidly expanding range of dining options. Brasília may be relatively small, but nowhere else in the country can you find such a variety of fine regional and international restaurants and cheerful local bars and eateries all in close proximity to one another.
One of the most popular fine-dining options in town, this churrascaria (steak house) is one of the best of its kind. The sleek ambience of this spacious restaurant adds to the allure. It's famous for its rodízio service, in which waiters bring various types of meat on the spit to your table, where they'll carve off as much as you like. The prix-fixe meal includes a large and varied salad bar, but it's the beef that draws the crowds.
This attractively located pizzeria, situated right by the futuristic Ponte JK on the shores of Paranoá Lake, is a surprisingly good value for such a fashionable spot. Diners can choose from a selection of wood-fired pizzas—try the four-flavor sinfonia di sapori, or opt for the buffet of pastas and salads. At lunchtime, take advantage of the set meals with an open salad buffet, reasonably priced by this city's standards.
If you're a bibliophile or a fan of the arts, you might enjoy the frequent book parties and art exhibits at this restaurant. On weekdays the lunch buffet is very popular with the business crowd. On weekends people flock here for the feijoada (meat stew with black beans). Among the regular entrées, the shrimp risotto is one of the most popular. There are five other locations in Brasília, but the original stands out because of its greenery-filled verandas.
Live Brazilian music, from bossa nova to contemporary, is a nightly feature at this restaurant. But the comida mineira (food from the state of Minas Gerais) is the best reason to come. One of the most popular dishes is the costelinha ao Véio Chico (fried pork ribs with cassava). At lunch, you can help yourself from a large buffet for a set price. The owners run a popular lounge next door, Bar do Feitiço.
This longtime favorite is the place to go for German cuisine. The laid-back atmosphere and no-frills decor draw those looking for authentic food and a great selection of imported beer and wine. Savor the rollmops (rolled thinly cut herring fillets) while you wait for your entrée. Good choices include the Eisbein (pig's leg with mashed potatoes) or Ente mit Blaukraut und Apfelpurée (duck cooked in wine served with red cabbage and applesauce).
Since opening in 1966, this small but cozy restaurant has been the mainstay of fine dining à la française in the capital, and has numbered Brazilian presidents among its guests. Incredible as it may seem, the friendly owner and chef is a Brazilian who promised the original French owners to keep the original fare and ambience. His resolution still pays off: try the steak au poivre (with a green peppercorn and cream sauce).
One of the largest restaurants you may ever eat in, Mangai specializes in cuisine from Brazil's Northeast and has seating for up to 900 people—you still may have to wait for a table. Located near the Ponte JK, Mangai charges R$59.90 for a kilo of food, which you serve up yourself from a vast buffet at the back of the dining hall. Try the carne de sol com nata (sun-dried meat in cream) or the tasty shrimp dish gororoba de camarão.
The kitschy decor is one of the main attractions of this restaurant—bulldog statuettes, miniature porcelain dolls, used vinyl LPs, and other antiques cover the walls and hang from the ceiling. The chef-owner, Mara Alcamim, is always on hand and regularly checks to make sure patrons have enjoyed the food. Favorite dishes include the intriguingly named "sexy shrimp" (they're with a sauce of Brie, champagne, and caviar, accompanied by a strawberry-and-sage risotto).
The quiet cantina ambience and fantastic cuisine, closely overseen by well-known chef and owner Ana Toscana, make you feel as if you're in Italy. If you're not too concerned about your weight, try the agnello della nonna (roasted lamb shank).
