Planning a trip is about so much more than booking plane tickets to your destination, especially when your destination is the largest country in South America. You don’t need to go to a specific place to find the best restaurants in Brazil, but major cities such as Sรฃo Paulo and Rio de Janeiro will give you the best of all worlds in regards to great food.
Also, if you would like to learn more about Brazil, later read our complete Guide to Brazil. Now, letโs get back into it.
Brazilโs dining scene is buzzing with sustainable eateries gaining traction. Restaurants now spotlight locally sourced ingredients, like Amazonian fish and organic manioc, appealing to eco-conscious foodies. Many spots offer interactive experiences too, such as chef-led foraging tours or live cooking demos. This shift reflects a broader trend toward authenticity and environmental awareness in Brazilian cuisine.
To help you find the best restaurants in Brazil, I’ve checked everything from TripAdvisor to local blogs and you’ve arrived at a complete article so let us be on our way to finding good food. Brazil has 17 restaurants among the 53 best restaurants in South America as of last year, so let’s start our tour through the best restaurants in Brazil.
Best Restaurants in Brazil
Mani (Jardins Paulistas, Sรฃo Paulo)
We start our list of best restaurants in Brazil with one of my bucket list items, Mani. Co-founded by Daniel Redondo, a chef from Catalonia, and Helena Rizzo, the world’s best chef from 2014 and one of three judges in Brazil’s version of Masterchef.
Mani‘s Kitchen takes Brazilian food to the next level with its modern take on classic dishes and desserts with unexpected ingredients.
The best thing about this Sao Paulo gem is not even the menu, it’s how we can have it upon arriving at Mani. When making a reservation, you can choose to have a traditional three-course meal with an appetizer, an entree, and dessert; your other option is the tasting menu with smaller courses, it’s the most popular option! And you can always pick and choose from all the incredible options.
Manu (Batel, Curitiba)
Continuing down to Southern Brazil before staying in the Rio – Sao Paulo axis, let’s make a quick stop in Curitiba. Manu is easily one of the best restaurants in Brazil mostly because of the chef, Manoela Buffara.
Elected the best chef of South America in 2022 by the 50 Best Academy, she puts constant effort into crafting a unique tasting menu. It takes inspiration from history. Hers, her family’s, and her team’s.
But be warned! Don’t get overly attached to the menu when making a reservation here, Manu uses sustainably sourced and local ingredients. What does that mean? It means dining here is always a surprise because the menu can change at a moment’s notice. Even famous chefs like Alex Atala come here for this dining experience.
Evvai (Pinheiros, Sรฃo Paulo)
Now we’re back in Sรฃo Paulo with most of the best restaurants in Brazil! They’re all here because it really is easier to make it in a big city. Even if the market gets a little saturated, Evvai carved its own space with a unique and creative take on Italian food.
In his high-cuisine restaurant, Chef Luiz Filipe Souza explores his origins in Latin America along with cultural exchanges born out of periods living in Italy.
I know most people love Italian dishes but you’ve never had anything like Evvai. But given it is in one of the best neighborhoods in town, added to the restaurant’s growing popularity, it’ll be hard to find space if you just walk in. What I like to do whenever going to a new place is look up their website for a peek at the menu and if I like it, my reservation is a few clicks away.
Nelita (Pinheiros, Sรฃo Paulo)
In this kitchen one hundred percent run by women, Chef Tassia Magalhรฃes puts the soul of Latin America into a new interpretation of Italy’s tradition. The restaurant itself is absolutely charming with exposed brickwork framing their open kitchen, giving you front-row seating to watch your own food being made. Nelita is ready to welcome you with three different experiences!
Your first option as usual is enjoying the A la carte menu, with many dishes to be paired with Brazilian cocktails. My top recommendation is always to go for the tasting menu, which is only available for dinner here at Nelita since it has eleven amazing courses.
And if you are coming over with family or friends, maybe you could consider renting a private room for the most unique experience.
Best Restaurants in Brazil
Oteque (Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro)
If you are looking for something to do on Carioca Saturday nights but want to stay on a more lowkey vibe, then consider going to my favorite neighborhood in town. Botafogo is perfect for you to have a calm day at the beach, enjoy street fairs then head to Oteque for a great culinary experience. This award-winning restaurant is a little different from others.
Let me explain! This place also offers only a tasting menu but they have a huge commitment to the local producers, which in turn means you will never eat the same thing twice here. Their eight-course menu can vary seasonally according to which products are available, and also can vary on a daily basis according to the chef! Oteque only opens for dinner so don’t forget to make a reservation.
Lasai (Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro)
Lasai, a restaurant that celebrates the diversity of Rio de Janeiro, is commanded by Chef Rafa Costa e Silva and his wife, Malena Cardiel. Their goal is to create a completely new culinary adventure! Rafa, who runs the kitchen, makes dishes with a focus on vegetables and greens but never sets aside the freshest seafood and tender meat.
What makes Lasai’s food truly great is that the restaurant has two vegetable gardens in town. Starting here, food will be on its way directly to the kitchen and your plate. Because of this, Lasai is constantly growing in popularity!
People love to stop by whenever they’re in town for a taste of the ever-changing tasting menu. But this place only accepts new clients with a reservation, so head over to their site!
Best Restaurants in Brazil
A Casa do Porco (Downtown Sรฃo Paulo)
Going away from fine dining for a beat, let’s make a quick stop to one of the best bars ever in my humble opinion. A Casa do Porco, the Pig’s House in English, is a bar that celebrates Brazil’s Country Cuisine. This place wants to welcome everyone so you can either make a reservation or join the line for a table.
However, Sรฃo Paulo is the biggest city in South America so you will have plenty to do. My advice is for you to hit their ‘Janela de Comida Rรกpida’ for great affordable food before continuing on your exploration, you can even get a cup of draft beer to go. With vegan, vegetarian, and meat dishes starting at fifteen reais, this is a must on your itinerary.
Rio Scenarium (Downtown Rio de Janeiro)
There are a few places in Rio I recommend for people hoping to truly experience Brazil’s culture. Rio Scenarium is easily number one on this list because of two things. Number one is their amazing feijoada, which also happens to be a vegan version so everyone can try this delicious dish. Reason number two is the live music.
A huge line forms every Saturday for people hoping for a spot in their saloon, mixing up with people just enjoying the Lavradio fair. To avoid standing for a long time under the sun, I recommend getting a reservation beforehand! You won’t regret making the effort, since the old building is filled with odds and ends to look at.
Bonus: Confeitaria Colombo (Downtown Rio de Janeiro)
As a bonus on this list, I’ve added not a restaurant but a bakery. Confeitaria Colombo was founded in 1894 on Gonรงalves Dias Street, a spot in the very heart of Rio de Janeiro’s downtown area. It is such a significant place that City Hall declared it a cultural and historical patrimony. So there’s no way you can miss it, even if it’s a quick stop on a day of exploring.
Don’t worry! You will also be able to find savory dishes on the menu for a complete meal if it’s what you’re looking for. But take it from a friend, you should never leave a traditional bakery without trying Brazilian coffee.
Because these are the best restaurants in Brazil, these also can be the longest queues in Brazil. So my biggest tip, as usual, is to plan ahead. Once we have a great place chosen for your Brazilian adventure, we also need to find a perfect place to try authentic Brazilian cuisine! But most popular restaurants will book out way in advance.
As I mentioned before, most of the best restaurants in Brazil are divided between Rio and Sao Paulo. So in case you’re like me and won’t give up on having the best food when traveling, especially if it is your first time in Brazil. These major cities are easy to navigate by both ride-share apps and public transit systems.
You want to book your restaurants as soon as your hotel reservations are made. And whenever it is possible, book them straight through official channels instead of third-party apps. Nowadays, each Brazilian restaurant has a phone number to reach out to over WhatsApp. Just a few messages and the best Brazilian restaurant will be waiting for you.
