Where to Eat in Rio de Janeiro: My Favorite Local Spots

Wondering where to eat in Rio de Janeiro, but don’t want a basic tourist list? I’ve got you!

After spending 3 months learning Portuguese, making friends, and immersing myself in the local culture in Rio, my list won’t be telling you to hit the best Churrasco spots in the city.

Churrasco is delicious, yes. But that can’t be ALL you eat the whole trip, right?

While we’re on the topic of local vs. touristy things, I won’t be including the famous Confeitaria Colombo here. Yes, you can go there to take pictures because it is gorgeous, but those pastries? There are better places.

Instead, I’ll introduce you to the oldest bakery in Rio, which is NOT Confeitaria Colombo, by the way. My favorite Northeastern food cart in Ipanema is also included, as well as a local-favorite dinner joint in Flamengo!

Local Places to Eat in Rio de Janeiro (Tried and Loved)

This list comes mainly from my experience living like a local in Rio de Janeiro.

While there are a plethora of fancy bars you can go to as a tourist, a lot of them serve mainly the views and less authentic food. So you won’t find those types of places here.

I’ve included a few high-end Churrasco spots and restaurants towards the end of this list. Those places, I found their food genuinely delicious and high-quality.

Baked Padaria (Breakfast and Bakery)

• Prince Range: $R10-45
• Location: R. Visc. de Pirajá, 183 – Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22410-001
• Opening Hours: 6:30 AM – 10:00 PM

My absolute favorite shop for breakfast bites and pastries. I think it’s the best in town, even better than Confeitaria Colombo, and I will die on this hill.

It first caught my attention on my first walk around the neighborhood when I arrived, thanks to its stylish brunch-spot-style windows.

But I first decided to walk in because one of my language teachers told me they make the best Brigadeiros, and they do!

What to Order: Picadinho Carioca, Brigadeiro, Brigadeiro de Pistache, Pão de Queijo, Empadas

Casa Cavé (Breakfast and Bakery)

• Price Range: $R11-68
• Location: R. Sete de Setembro, 133 – Centro, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20050-006
• Opening Hours: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM (Closed on Sundays)

Don’t believe it when Google tells you Confeitaria Colombo (1894) is the oldest bakery in Rio because Casa Cavé beat it by 34 years (1860).

Just around a corner and across the street from the overhyped bakery, Casa Cavé offers you a much more peaceful experience, with equally good pastries.

I especially love having their hot chocolate with a Pastel de Carne. Their menu is packed with a massive selection of local bites (70% of which I couldn’t get to within 3 months 💀), so take your pick!

What to Order: Chocolate Quente, Empada de Camarão, Pastel de Carne, Bem Casado

Tacacá do Norte (Local Lunch and Dinner)

• Price Range: $R12-90
• Location: R. Barão do Flamengo 35 R – Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22220-080
• Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM

I’m freakin’ obsessed with this place. First heard of it from one of my teachers.

Serving delicacies from the Amazon and Northeastern regions, you’ll find a lot of unusual (but delicious) dishes here. I especially love the Tacacá and Vatapá.

You’ll see their snack bar first while heading east towards the beach on Barão do Flamengo. Walk a few doors down to find the restaurant.

What to Order: Tacacá, Vatapá, Arroz de Pato, Cupuaçu (drink)

Torre do Barão (Local Lunch and Dinner)

• Price Range: $R15-155
• Address: R. Vinícius de Moraes, 146 – Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22441-010
• Hours of Operation: 11:00 – 1:00 AM

This was where everyone from my school and their mothers went to have drinks and watch soccer matches. Their classic Caipirinha was the best out of all the ones I tried.

If you try Feijoada only once on your trip, make it here. Their Filé de Peixe with broccoli rice and mashed potatoes is also delicious.

The vibe is very local here since it’s not a place that would catch most foreigners’ attention.

What to Order: Classic Caipirinha, Filé do Peixe, Feijoada, Strogonoff de Carne, Picadinho

Acarajé de Ipanema (Street Food)

• Price Range: $R10-20
• Location: R. Joana Angélica, 109 – Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22420-030
• Opening Hours: 1:00 – 8:00 PM (Closed on Fridays)

My favorite food tent in Ipanema! I have a love-hate relationship with it because it took me almost a month to find them. The trick is this: Don’t show up right at 1 PM. Show up from 4 PM onward.

For insanely cheap, just ONE Acarajé will fill your soul like nothing else. You can ask them to pile extra chilis on top for an extra kick if you like spicy food, but don’t expect it to be “spicy.”

What to Order: Acarajé com Vatapá

Ferro e Farinha (Local Lunch and Dinner)

• Price Range: $R50-70
• Location: R. Maria Quitéria, 107 – Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22410-040
• Opening Hours: 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM

I’m usually a stickler about keeping a specific cuisine pure, but this place, with all its unusual toppings, stole my heart.

The quality is up to par with the pizzas you’ll get in Italy, of course, but you’ll also get some sweeter variations that suit the Brazilian taste buds.

I was skeptical of the Picnic Apimentado, a cheese pizza with spicy honey (yup, honey) at first. It is now one of my favorite pizzas to get here.

They have a few branches in various neighborhoods of Rio. I’ve been to the ones in Botafogo and Ipanema. The menus are identical, and the quality is stable.

What to Order: Picnic Apimentado, Rocket Queen, Vamos Baby

Carretão (High-End Restaurant)

• Price Range: $R140-150
• Location: R. Visc. de Pirajá, 112 – Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22410-003
• Opening Hours: 11:30 AM – 11:00 PM

This is an all-you-can-eat buffet place, with the all-you-can-eat items being Brazilian steaks. Did I convince you? Did I?

It is just as amazing as it sounds! In fact, rodízios (buffet places) like this one are the most popular places to get Churrasco for locals. Because good investment, wouldn’t you agree?

For $R140 on weekdays and $R150 on weekends, you can have all the sushi and salads you want from the bar, as well as various cuts of steaks served right to your table.

They’re all cooked to perfection, so there’s no going wrong with trying everything.

What to Order: Picanha. Always Picanha.

Zazá Bistrô Tropical (High-End Restaurant)

• Price Range: $R70-170
• Location: R. Joana Angélica, 40 – Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22420-030
• Opening Hours: 12:00 PM – 12:30 AM

I had never tried such an expensive plate of Arroz de Pato before coming here, but the taste and ambiance made up for the price.

The interior decorations are top-notch, even inside the bathrooms, with great quotes plastered along the walls. It’s a good place to have your last dinner in the city just for the vibe.

The appetizers and desserts are about half the price range I listed, starting at $R35.

What to Order: Arroz de Pato, Moqueca Caiçara, Manga Maravilha

Garota de Ipanema (High-End Restaurant)

• Price Range: $R65-180
• Location: R. Vinícius de Moraes, 49 – Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22411-010
• Opening Hours: 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM

The hype about this restaurant is that Antônio and Vinicius wrote the original Girl From Ipanema song here. But that is not all, so don’t you take one photo and just walk away!

Although one of the pricier restaurants in Rio, I seriously think you should have at least one meal here. Make it a special occasion, if you will.

Their Picanha set comes with enough food for 2-3 people, rice included. The sea bass (Badejo à Belle Meunière) was also delicious.

What to Order: Estrogonoff de Filé Mignon, Badejo à Belle Meunière, Picanha à Brasileira

ViaSete (High-End Restaurant, Celiac-Friendly)

• Price Range: $R80-130
• Location: Rua Garcia d’Avila, 125 – Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22421-010
• Opening Hours: 12:00 – 11:00 PM

Not necessarily a “Brazilian” Brazilian place, but I think they incorporate local ingredients and flavors into their dishes very well.

The servings are a bit small, so prepare to order a full dish and a salad if you’re hungry. The ambiance is sleek and modern with amazing service.

The first time I went, I had this delicious lamb chop that disappeared by the time I went back. If it’s there again when you go, I highly recommend it.

What to Order: Risoto de Camarão com Alho Poró, Nova Salada da Horta

Bacio di Latte (Ice Cream and Desserts)

• Price Range: $R19-40
• Location: R. Visc. de Pirajá, 206 – Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22410-000
• Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Not Brazilian, but Brazilians love it, so why not?

This gelato place has multiple branches, but I’m recommending the one I always go to in Ipanema. The store is more spacious than other branches, and is also in a safer neighborhood.

Their gelato’s delicious, especially the signature flavor, Bacio di Latte. I also recommend buying their crispy Pistachio butter to try with your morning toast at home.

They always have special menus where they offer EVERYTHING in that flavor. I enjoyed their Pistachio brownies and Pistachio lattes more times than I could count.

What to Order: Bacio di Latte, Macadâmia, Bella Pistacchio Crocante (Product)

Casa Hoba (Ice Cream and Desserts)

• Price Range: $12-50
• Location: R. Fernandes Guimarães, 49 – Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22290-000
• Opening Hours: 12:00 – 10:00 PM

All their ice cream is made of cashew milk, but still somehow perfectly creamy and delicious.

They have this strange flavor called Blue Matcha, but it’s not matcha. Although it surprised me at first, it grew on me and became my favorite thing to get on their menu.

Their cookies are also great.

What to Order: Matcha Azúl, Vanilla, Paçoca (peanut)

Average Cost of Dining in Rio

While there are places you can eat out for less than in Brazil, it is quite affordable compared to the US. You just have to remember that although the prices look friendly, the cost will accumulate if all you do is eat out.

The danger of cheap food is that you end up spending more money by the end of the trip.

• Street Food & Budget: US$2-8
• Regular Restaurants: US$5-20
• High-End Dining: US$20-80

The massive price range for regular and high-end meals is mostly because of Churrasco. While a simple plate of rice with Moqueca is only US$5-6, a serving of Picanha can start at US$13. START.

Want to Try a Lot at Once? Join This Food Tour!

This food tour has solid tasting options if you have less time to explore than I did. It’s hard to splurge on all of these places within a few days, know what I mean? You could end up way too full or way too poor. 😅

I have yet to see another food tour in Rio that offers more eccentric northern dishes like Tacacá. This seems to be the only one for now, which makes it the best option in my books.

Follow My 4-Day Itinerary for Rio!

Got more days in Rio than most people? I’ve designed an itinerary that helps you immerse yourself in the local culture in four days.

Yes, you get to see Christ the Redeemer and chill on Ipanema Beach, but I also include hidden gems that may surprise you!

Alternatively, you can also browse my list of affordable things I enjoyed doing during the three months I spent living there.

Where to Stay in Rio de Janeiro

Use the map below to browse for hotels and rentals in Rio de Janeiro, if you don’t want to stay where I recommend. Keep in mind that I advise against staying near Centro, Santa Teresa, Lapa, or Copacabana.

Traveling to Rio de Janeiro

I hate how “famously dangerous” Brazil is when I never felt that terrible throughout three months of my stay there. Was the danger real? Yes. But you just have to know how things work.

Learn what to do to navigate the risks and stay safe before you go, and for extra bonus with the locals, read up on some of their cultural points.

Here are some basics to get you started on safety.

• Have a copy of your important documents (passport and any travel documents) saved on your phone and other devices, just in case they get stolen.
• Dress down. This city is not for showing off your riches on the street.
• Avoid taking long walks alone. Even in the safest countries in the world, it takes crossing ONE street to feel the difference between a safe neighborhood and a less safe one in the city.
• If you get robbed, do NOT fight the assailant, as you don’t know whether or not they have a weapon. Give them what they want and immediately report the incident to the police.

Other Helpful Travel Resources for Brazil

• Make sure you protect your trip with a travel insurance.
• Get this eSIM for local data without giving up your number.
• Must-have Apps: Google Maps, Uber, WhatsApp

As a bonus, grab a copy below of the template I created and personally use to plan my own trips. It’s completely free for you!

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