6 Best Restaurants in The Northeast, Brazil

Background Illustration for Restaurants

The Northeast has little of the hustle and bustle you'll find in the southern cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Residents enjoy a relaxed lifestyle, so in restaurants you'll find that casual attire is the norm. The many batidas (tropical fruit cocktails) are the highlights of the local cuisine, but many restaurants serve foods from other parts of Brazil. You'll also have many other options, including Italian, Dutch, and French restaurants set up by expats who never left. Dinner begins around 8 pm. Most hotels include breakfast in the cost of your room. Restaurants not in hotels are usually not open for breakfast.

Coco Bambu Frutos do Mar

$$$$ | Meireles Fodor's Choice

Lovers of seafood should look no further than this elegant spot overlooking the beach, which serves prawns in all imaginable forms. Its popularity has reached such heights that there are now 12 Coco Bambus across Brazil. Start with the giant king prawns encrusted in coconut and served with mango chutney, and then follow that up with grilled lobster with Sicilian lemon risotto. Portions are often big enough for two. The spacious restaurant has a number of different areas for dining, from the ample open-air terrace to an air-conditioned salon

Rola Peixe

$ Fodor's Choice
Fantastic seafood and tapas are the specialties at this family-run, laid-back spot. While the decor may be unpretentious, the Basque owners ensure that the service and the quality of dishes, like octopus carpaccio, tuna tartare, and grilled robalo, are flawless. For non–fish eaters, the daily changing menu offers several options of meat, pasta, and salad.
Seafood Fodor's Choice Family $ Dinner
Av. Baia dos Golfinho, Praia da Pipa, Brazil
084-9157–7354
Restaurant Details
Closed Wed. No lunch

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Bargaço

$$$$ | Pina

For those looking for an authentic taste of Bahia, this pleasant restaurant serves up golden moquecas baianas (fish cooked with onion, tomatoes, peppers, parsley, and coconut milk) and flavorful caju caipirinhas (cocktails made with cashew fruit). Service can be slow and the prices are high, so make sure you aren't in a hurry or on a budget when you come here.

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Camarões Potiguar

$$$
Locals and visitors alike rate this classic seafood restaurant as one of the best dining options in town. The house speciality is seafood, with fresh shrimps prepared in an impressive number of ways (try the shrimp cooked in pumpkin or shrimp fondue) and served in portions big enough for two. Be prepared to wait for a table if you haven't made a reservation, or head for happy hour of fresh fruit caipirinhas and tasty pasteis de camarão (shrimp pasties). Although there are now four branches of this family institution, this converted house is the chicest.

Ecologiku's

$$$$

This small restaurant is known for its seafood, especially lobster. If you can't decide what to order, the sinfonia ecologiku is a sampling of every type of seafood on the menu. Ask your pousada to call ahead and the restaurant will send a transfer to collect you, since finding this tucked-away establishment can be a challenge.

Seafood $$$$ Lunch Dinner
Estrada Velha do Sueste, Fernando de Noronha, 53990-000, Brazil
081-3619–0031
Restaurant Details
Credit cards accepted

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Mergulhão

$$$$

This contemporary restaurant serves fresh seafood with attentive service. With deck chairs, a breezy terrace, and beautiful views over the port during sunset, this is a great spot for a romantic date.