Everywhere I Ate (And Drank) In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

I wasn’t sure what to expect when it came to dining in Brazil. What I was met with once there, however, was a lovely surprise of delicious food, most notably, the best fruit I’ve ever had in my life. Cuisine in Brazil also won’t break the bank, with most meals falling under $10. I spent 5 days in Rio de Janeiro, and here’s everything I ate and drank.

For A Restaurant With Views: Terras Brasilia

I found most of the food I ate in Rio to be good, but I hadn’t been blown away by anything I had eaten. Insert Terras Brasilia. I was looking for a way to kill time before heading to Christ the Redeemer, and I found this cute spot right on the beach. Well, I found it, and at least 100 other people also found it. There was a long line to get in, but I was starving and there wasn’t much else around, so I decided to wait. I am so very glad I did! I asked the waiter what the best thing to get was, and what the most “traditionally Brazilian dish” on the menu was, and he guided me to a plate of shrimp, tapioca crackers, salsa, and a curry bean dip. Of course, I had to pair it with a passion fruit caipirinha. This was by far the best thing I ate during my duration of dining in Brazil. My waiter did not speak English, but he went on Google Translate to instruct me how to eat it: “first cracker, then beans, then shrimp, then salsa.”

For Upscale Dining: Térèze

Since Brazil is so affordable as a destination, you might as well treat yourself to one fancy meal. The country of Brazil hosts 146 Michelin-star restaurants, and a few of them can be found in Rio. On my first night there, I opted for Térèze, located in the Santa Teresa Hotel in the upscale Santa Teresa neighborhood. The location is stunning, with the restaurant being perched high up on a hill, overlooking the entire city. I highly recommend grabbing a table by the window and dining during sunset. I tried a mango caipirinha, a Brazilian cheese plate (by far, the funkiest cheese plate I’ve ever had), and a pasta dish since I had steak for lunch that day. I will say, the pasta was good, but I regret not ordering meat. The meal came to somewhere around $40. Overall, I don’t think this meal was worth it, because I ate better for much less money elsewhere. Perhaps I just ordered the wrong thing.

For Casual Dining: Portella Bar e Restaurant

I went to Portella Bar e Restaurant after exploring Christ the Redeemer during the day. While it was not the best meal I had in Rio, I got a plate of fish, rice, fries, and some hot sauces to try. Spoiler alert, hot sauces in Brazil are not spicy at all! This restaurant was good for the setting, as the interior was adorned with old liquor and wine bottles hanging from the ceilings. The food leaves much to be desired, however. On the plus side, there was a young female singer performing the night I dined here, and she was great. The neighborhood of Santa Teresa is one of the most beautiful in Rio, and this is a good spot for an affordable meal in an otherwise ritzy neighborhood.

For Breakfast: Book A Hotel With Breakfast Included, And Take Full Advantage

It’s essentially a requirement for me to find a hotel with breakfast included. Not only does it save me money in the long run, but I cannot function without a serious dosage of caffeine every morning, so if breakfast is included, I know finding a good cup of Joe immediately upon waking up won’t be an issue. Both hotels I stayed at in Rio, Hotel Carioca and Hotel Bandeirantes, had breakfast included. Hotel Carioca left much to be desired, but I ate fresh fruit and had coffee each morning which was a great way to start my day. Hotel Bandeirantes, on the other hand, had a wide selection of cured meats and cheeses, pastries, and more. I highly suggest just overdosing on fruit: the bananas in Brazil are super tart and sweet, and I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to eat a banana anywhere else.

For Lunch: Osbar

I really hit the jackpot with my first lunch in Rio. I was by the famous stairs of Escadaria Selarón on my first morning in Brazil, and I randomly roamed around when trying to find a spot for lunch. I stumbled upon Osbar, a tiny, somewhat hidden gem with an unsuspecting storefront. I walked in, and when I saw that the price of filet was $12, I knew I had to try it. Within minutes, out came a plate of cassava fries, perfectly cooked medium rare steak, a typical tomato-red onion salsa, feijoda (black bean and meat stew), rice, and farofa. Overall, the meal was extremely filling, affordable, and tasty, and I’d highly recommend this spot for a quick, casual lunch.

For Steak: La Copa

I was spending the day on Copacabana Beach, and it started to downpour rain. Despite initially waiting for it to pass, the rain continued to intensify, so I gave up and ran for cover. Luckily for me, this is when I discovered La Copa, a tiny steakhouse that seats maybe 12 people total. It was fairly early (around 5PM), so the place was empty. I ordered short rib with grilled vegetables. They also seemed to be known for their wine, but I didn’t feel like indulging in booze (a rarity!). For those looking for a good wine list, though, La Copa is it.

For Cocktails: Explorer Bar

After finally completing my feat of seeing all 7 wonders of the world by myself, I needed to celebrate. I met a lovely couple who was headed toward Santa Teresa, and when I realized finding a taxi would be difficult out of Christ the Redeemer, we agreed to ride the bus together, and then share a cab to Santa Teresa. I got dropped off at Explorer Bar, because it’s advertised as a bar for those who love to explore. Considering I had just completed seeing 7/7 world wonders, this felt appropriate. I ordered one cocktail during happy hour, which was a lemon-Sicilian style drink with hints of vanilla. It was delicious! For $5, it was pricier than other spots in Rio, but it was a nice little spot to sip a drink and relish in my recent accomplishments.

For Açai Bowls: Literally Anywhere!

Acai bowls just hit different in Brazil. They’re often made with sweetened condensed milk, granola, fresh fruit, coconut, and more. My biggest regret when eating in Brazil was not getting more açai bowls. They are sold everywhere, and I foolishly limited myself to one a day. Don’t do this. Eat 20 a day. They’re so, so, so good, and I promise, as soon as you’re back home (wherever home is for you), you will immediately crave a Brazilian açai bowl.

Late-Night Pastries & Empanadas: Bom de Copa

I tried to stick to my guns and “not go out after dark” in Rio de Janeiro, but on my last night there, just down the road from Hotel Bandeirantes, there was a place I had passed earlier in the day that apparently had great empanadas. When my stomach was grumbling, I risked it and went for a walk around 8PM anyway. I am very glad I did. I enjoyed one queso empanada and a beef pastry encased with a thick-bread exterior. I didn’t take any photos of the empanadas they served, and though I didn’t order a drink, I did see they have an “Antarctica” beer that I would’ve tried if it wasn’t 22 oz.