3 Best Restaurants in Side Trips from Rio, Brazil

Reviews Updated by

Luana Ferreira

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.

Trutas do Rocio

$$ | Rocio Fodor's Choice

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.

Jardin

$$ | Abraão

When you finally tire of eating grilled fish and rich moqueca stews, head to this contemporary dinner-only spot that specializes in fresh salads and vegetarian options crafted from locally sourced ingredients, alongside the more innovative daily fish dishes and hamburgers. The cozy, home-like setting—just three tables set on a veranda that's a 15-minute walk into the forest from Praia da Júlia—gives diners the chance to connect with Ilha Grande's natural beauty; a guided walk along the trails each way is included in dinner.

O Pescador

$$ | Abraão

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.

Side Trips from Rio

Side Trips from Rio

Reviews Updated by

Recommended Fodor's Video

Follow Us

Thank you for your interest!