3 Best Restaurants in Porto Alegre, The South

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We've compiled the best of the best in Porto Alegre - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.

Floriano Spiess Cozinha de Autor

$$$$ | Boa Vista
On a leafy square in an upscale suburb, this place serves contemporary cuisine at its most creative. The eponymous chef offers a tasting menu (which must be booked the day before) of small, stunning dishes that are loaded with flavor. The dazzle and glitz extends to the space—all grays and blacks with mirrors and LED tube lights, with a well-dressed clientele. À la carte options are also available, and the wine list is extensive, albeit with few Brazilian options.

Galpão Crioulo

$$$$ | Centro

One of Porto Alegre's largest churrascarias, Galpão Crioulo serves traditional espeto-corrido—a prix-fixe, never-ending rotation of tender roasted and grilled meats brought to the table, accompanied by a salad buffet. If a full espeto-corrido sounds too much, ask for the miniespeto (a small sampler skewer of all meats). Another option is the comidas campeiras (countryside food) buffet, with plenty of dishes featuring rice, beans, and squash. You can also try chimarrão (a maté tea) at a tasting booth where the staff demonstrates the traditional way to drink it. Gaúcho musical performances take place in the evening.

NB Steak

$$$$ | Floresta
An upmarket version of a traditional all-you-can-eat (rodízio) churrascaria, NB Steak has replaced the ubiquitous churrascaria salad buffet with a menu of made-to-order salads, and a sequence of delicious side dishes (crispy polenta chips, grilled palm heart, and tempura vegetables to name a few) to accompany the succulent cuts of beef, pork, lamb, and chicken that circulating waiters slice straight onto your plate. To drink, the wine list is vast and, for the most part, pricey.

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