Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
We've compiled the best of the best in Ipanema and Leblon - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Inspired by Japan's informal izakayas, this intimate spot combines first-class sashimi with more traditional hot Japanese dishes—grab a seat at the bar that loops around the center of the restaurant or the handful of tables outside. Good-value prices, an extensive sake menu, delicious food, and the laid-back vibe make it a reliable neighborhood favorite for just about everyone.
Hidden away on the second floor of the unassuming apart-hotel Ipanema Beach Star, this low-key vegan lunch spot and sister spa (Maria Bonita) is a real find, not just for the quality of the all-you-can-eat buffet, but also for the reasonable prices. The daily changing menu is crafted from ingredients sourced from the restaurant’s organic farm, while friendly staff deliver complimentary detox juices and digestion shots to your table.
While hundreds of places in Rio serve the antioxidant-rich acai berry bowls, few are more authentic than this Amazonian restaurant, which prizes the purity of its superfood pulp that's sourced straight from Para and delivered sugar and additive-free. The ultimate beach snack or light meal, add banana, sprinkle on granola, or go for the full Amazonian set menu to experience an authentic feast of flavors you’ve likely never tried before.
Rio fairly bursts with pizza places, but this upmarket chain's Ipanema branch emerges at the top of the list. Wood-fired, thin-crust pizzas are made with imported Italian flour, and the toppings—from wild mushrooms and handmade buffalo mozzarella to wafer-thin Parma ham and fresh tuna—are of the highest quality. There are branches in Jardim Botânico, Barra da Tijuca, Copacabana, and the beach resort of Búzios.
Restaurants traditionally serve feijoada, Brazil's savory national dish, on Saturday, but here the huge pots of the substantial stew simmer every day; it's a great option for groups or when you are particularly hungry. The menu also features options such as baked chicken, shrimp in coconut milk, grilled trout, and filet mignon. The caipirinhas are made not only with lime but also with tangerine, passion fruit, pineapple, strawberry, or kiwi.
Vegan restaurants are a growing trend in body-conscious Rio, but few are as established and well-loved as the Vegetarian Social Club. The all-you-can-eat organic lunch buffet includes tasty and wholesome soups, whole-grain rice, colorful salads, and many soy-based dishes, while dining in the evening is à la carte.
