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The food here is nothing if not eclectic. Expect to find sushi bars, Italian restaurants, and German biergartens sitting alongside restaurants selling typical Brazilian cuisine. Coastal towns serve a large selection of fresh seafood, and most have a local specialty that's worth trying. Beachfront restaurants, especially the ubiquitous baracas (kiosks), can be a pleasant surprise and most will bring food and drink right up to your chosen spot on the sands.
Paraty and Búzios have excellent restaurants serving international cuisine. During high season they fill up beginning at 10 pm and may not close until after sunrise. Restaurants in Petrópolis and Teresópolis serve European cuisine and comida mineira, the hearty, meaty fare from Minas Gerais. Generally, dinner starts at seven and restaurants close around midnight.
To be on the safe side, don't buy seafood from venders strolling along the beach. Be especially careful about the oysters in Búzios and Cabo Frio, which may not be as fresh as the vendor claims.
Don’t be mistaken by its humble setting and location: Dom Mario is a favorite among locals and often ranked among the most-recommended places in Ilha Grande. They present generous dishes that can serve up to two people. It is your chance to discover the best passion fruit caipirinha in town, among other original flavors.
It was one of the restaurants that consolidated Buzio's reputation as a gastronomic destination and has remained a reference since opening in 2016. Set on the spectacular terrace of the boutique hotel Casas Brancas with sunset views across the bay, expect Michelin-level cooking using the freshest locally sourced ingredients and a curated selection of Brazil's leading vineyards.
A traditional pé na areia (beach bar) with a sophisticated twist. Bonito Bar is the perfect place for having lunch or dinner---or just spend the afternoon drinking beer or a jaca fruit caipirinha, their signature drink. The restaurant uses fresh ingredients to create a new version of classic seafood dishes.
Often cited as one of the best restaurants in Búzios, French-inspired Cigalon is an elegant establishment with a veranda overlooking the beach. Though the waiters are bow-tied and the tables covered with crisp linens and lighted by flickering candles, the place still has an unpretentious feel.
Carefully prepared Tuscan and Sicilian dishes are at the fore at this charming candlelit spot set off Paraty's main square. Evening live music performances lend a touch of festivity to the proceedings, and the covered outdoor space means that diners can enjoy meals alfresco even when the famously torrential Paraty rains start to pour.
Overlooking beautiful Praia Brava, relaxed but sophisticated Rocka is one of Búzios's gastronomic highlights as it focuses on superbly fresh, locally sourced seafood that's combined with seasonal fruit, vegetables, and herbs to wonderful effect. A favorite with surfers, come well before lunch so you can spend the day lounging on sun beds or arrive just before sunset when locals stop by for cocktails.
This trendy, laid-back restaurant charms with its hand-painted interiors, alfresco courtyard, and affordable prices for its generously sized Thai dishes. In the summer months, live music and great cocktails make this a fun place to spend an evening.
Seafood is always excellent at this long-standing favorite on Paraty's dining scene, and it's a great place to try giant shrimp when they are in season. The bustling restaurant—usually packed with tourists—is in an elegant colonial house decorated with cachaça labels (the caipirinhas here are another strong suit) and 19th-century pictures of the city. The name of the place comes from another of its specialties: banana da terra (plantain), which is incorporated into many dishes, among them grilled fish with garlic butter, herbs, plantains, and rice.
Owner Alfredo and chef Roque welcome locals like old friends at this great-value gastro bar, which specializes in high-class cocktails, pizzas, and tasty tapas. With a beautiful view over Manguinhos beach, it’s one of the best spots in town to catch the sunset and stay for a relaxed dinner. It’s almost always crowded.
A pancake house might seem an unlikely meeting point for partiers, but this Belgian-owned crêperie is indeed the hangout of choice for many hip young things in Búzios. Locals and tourists alike flock to the street-side tables after dark to soak up the scene and listen to live DJ sets while tucking into their choice of over 60 savory and sweet fillings.
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.
Take a walk through the center of Búzios and you might think you’ve suddenly landed in Argentina thanks to the large number of Spanish speakers who have adopted Búzios as their home. Of all the parillas serving Argentina’s traditional barbecued steak, Don Juan is easily the best, as its perfectly grilled cuts of prime beef can be washed down with a glass of Malbec from the well-stocked cellar while you take in a live tango show.
Expect fresh, well-prepared seafood and weekly live music during high season at this longtime favorite, which is often cited as the best restaurant in the village of Abraão. Stroll straight from the beach still wearing your Havaianas to try Dona Cidinha’s specialty, fish with half-ripe bananas, or the famous moqueca, which many islanders claim is the best in Rio de Janeiro State.
With dazzling views over the bay and out across the mountains, the intimate restaurant at boutique hotel Abracadabara offers impeccable service and exquisitely presented dishes. Enjoy the sunset while sipping signature cocktails and dining on gourmet salads and the freshest local seafood.
Inside the pousada of the same name, this restaurant serves local seafood prepared using Italian cooking techniques. After dark, you can dine alfresco on the beach by candlelight, or just pop in for a cocktail and nibbles from the bar.
On the flagstones of Ilha Grande’s main square, this simple restaurant serves up more than four dozen types of pies, from simple margheritas to exotic seafood combinations or dessert pies; salads and other dishes are available at lunchtime. Besides the pizzas, they also have a buffet with many options. This is a great spot for evening meals on Friday and Saturday nights, when live bands play in the square.
Near the water in a quiet part of town, this Mediterranean--inspired restaurant is a great place for a romantic dinner, with candlelit tables and a good wine list. On chilly days, heat lamps warm the café tables out front, while evenings are enlivened by music from local musicians (which comes with an additional cover charge).
