2 Best Restaurants in Petropolis, Side Trips from Rio

It's off the beaten track—ask a local for directions—and only open on weekends, but this rustic, riverside restaurant is really something special. Trutas (trout) is what you'll find on the menu—trout, trout, and more trout served fresh from the river in many imaginative ways: as appetizers mashed into a pâté or baked in cassava-dough pastry, and as entrées grilled or cooked with a choice of almond, mustard, or orange sauce. The restaurant seats only 30, so reservations via WhatsApp are a must.

A classic steak house in the heart of Petrópolis’s historic center, Majórica has been a huge hit with meat lovers since it opened in 1962. Every cut is cooked to perfection and served with flair by attentive waitstaff, and there are excellent fish dishes and sides, too. There’s a decent wine list, although it may be even more tempting to opt for one of the very well-made caipirinhas or caipiroscas.