Best Restaurants in Brazil 2026

Feijoada

Brazil's national dish is a slow-cooked black bean stew with a variety of pork cuts (ears, feet, ribs, sausage) served with rice, collard greens (couve), farofa (toasted manioc flour), and orange slices. Traditionally eaten on Saturdays with cold beer.

Where to try: Any traditional Brazilian restaurant or 'restaurante por quilo' on Saturdays

Price: $20-50

Acarajé

Crispy black-eyed pea fritters deep-fried in dendê palm oil and filled with vatapá (spiced bread-shrimp paste), caruru (okra), and dried shrimp. A street food tradition brought by Yoruba enslaved people and now UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Where to try: Baianas in white dress at street stalls in Salvador, especially in Rio Vermelho and Pelourinho

Price: $5-12

Moqueca

Seafood stew simmered in coconut milk, dendê palm oil, tomatoes, onions, and coriander, cooked slowly in a clay pot. The Bahian version uses palm oil while the Capixaba (Espírito Santo) version uses annatto oil and no coconut milk.

Where to try: Yemanjá restaurant (Salvador), any Bahian restaurant nationwide

Price: $30-70

Churrasco

Brazilian barbecue from the gaúcho tradition of Rio Grande do Sul where prime cuts of beef (picanha, costela, fraldinha) are slow-cooked on long sword-like skewers over wood fire and seasoned only with coarse salt. Rodízio style means unlimited meats for a fixed price.

Where to try: Porcão Rio's (Rio), Fogo de Chão (multiple cities), any churrascaria

Price: $30-80 rodízio

Pão de Queijo

Irresistible cheese bread balls made from polvilho (manioc starch) and Minas Gerais cheese with a chewy interior and crispy exterior. Eaten as breakfast or snack with cafezinho, they are ubiquitous and universally loved across Brazil.

Where to try: Any bakery (padaria), airport, petrol station, or street vendor nationwide

Price: $1-4

Tacacá

Amazon's signature soup made with tucupi (fermented yellow cassava broth), dried shrimp, jambu herb (causes mouth numbness), and tapioca starch. Served hot in gourd cups by street vendors (tacazeiras) in Pará and Amazonas states.

Where to try: Street vendors in Belém and Manaus, Ver-o-Peso market

Price: $5-10

D.O.M.

Chef Alex Atala's flagship restaurant pioneered using Amazonian ingredients in haute cuisine. Ranked among World's 50 Best Restaurants, D.O.M. offers tasting menus showcasing Brazil's biodiversity with indigenous ingredients and modern techniques.

R. Barao de Capanema, 549 - Jardins, Sao Paulo, SP 01411-011

CT Boucherie

Chef Claude Troisgros blends French techniques with Brazilian ingredients in this beloved Rio bistro. Excellent wine list and consistently high-quality dishes make it a local favorite for relaxed upscale dining.

R. Dias Ferreira, 636 - Leblon, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22431-050

Cervantes

Rio's most famous sandwich shop serves massive late-night sandwiches since 1953. The signature 'Cervantes Special' with steak, pineapple, cheese, and ham draws crowds until 4 AM.

Av. Prado Junior, 335 - Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22011-040

Acarajé da Dinha

Salvador's most famous acarajé vendor serves crispy black-eyed pea fritters filled with vatapá, shrimp, and spicy sauce. Found at her stall in Rio Vermelho, a local institution for over 30 years.

Largo de Santana - Rio Vermelho, Salvador, BA

Confeitaria Colombo

Rio's most opulent café since 1894 features Belle Époque mirrors, stained glass, and marble. Afternoon tea service includes pastries and sandwiches in this architectural masterpiece in Centro.

R. Gonçalves Dias, 32 - Centro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 20050-030

Mee

Michelin-starred restaurant at Copacabana Palace offers exquisite Asian cuisine with Brazilian influences. Elegant dining room overlooking the pool serves artfully presented dishes combining Japanese, Thai, and Chinese techniques.

Av. Atlantica, 1702 - Copacabana Palace, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22021-001

Consulado Mineiro

Authentic cuisine from Minas Gerais state served in rustic setting. Generous portions of comfort food including tutu de feijão, pork ribs, and traditional cheese bread make this a São Paulo institution.

Praça Benedito Calixto, 74 - Pinheiros, Sao Paulo, SP 05406-040

Lanches da Cidade

São Paulo chain famous for X-Tudo burgers piled high with everything including egg, bacon, cheese, ham, and more. Late-night favorite with locations across the city serving hearty portions.

R. Oscar Freire, 603 - Jardins, Sao Paulo, SP 01426-001

Pastel

Deep-fried pastry with crispy wonton-thin dough filled with meat, cheese, shrimp, or hearts of palm. Served piping hot from large woks at market stalls, Feira da Liberdade (São Paulo Sundays), and street carts nationwide. The quintessential Brazilian market snack.

Find it at: Mercado Municipal São Paulo, Liberdade Sunday Fair, local markets nationwide

Coxinha

Tear-drop shaped croquette of shredded chicken encased in a golden dough crust, Brazil's most iconic salgado (savory snack). Every bakery and snack bar sells them, with Minas Gerais claiming the best versions using catupiry cream cheese.

Find it at: Any bakery (padaria) or lanchonete nationwide

Tapioca Crepes

Gluten-free crepes made from hydrated tapioca starch on a hot griddle with sweet or savory fillings - from fresh coconut and guava to chicken and cheese. Northeastern Brazilian breakfast tradition now found nationwide.

Find it at: Beach vendors in Rio and Northeast Brazil, farmer's markets

Churros recheados

Crispy fried dough tubes filled with doce de leite (milk caramel), dulce de leche, or chocolate and rolled in cinnamon sugar. Available at street stalls, parks, and festivals throughout Brazil.

Find it at: Parque Ibirapuera (São Paulo), beach boardwalks, fairs

Empada

Individual savory pies with shortcrust pastry shells filled with chicken, shrimp, hearts of palm, or cod. Slightly different from empanadas - the Brazilian version has a richer dough and is baked, not fried.

Find it at: Bakeries and padarias nationwide, Mercado Municipal São Paulo

Mercado Municipal de São Paulo (Mercadão)

São Paulo's magnificent neo-Gothic covered market houses 300 permanent stalls selling imported delicacies, Brazilian artisanal products, and the famous mortadella sandwich. The stained glass windows depicting agricultural scenes are a work of art.

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Sunday 6:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Ver-o-Peso Market, Belém

The Americas' oldest open-air market dates to 1688 and sprawls along the Belém waterfront with Amazon fish, exotic fruits (cupuaçu, bacuri, açaí), medicinal herbs, and artisan crafts. The cast-iron market hall was imported from England in 1901.

Hours: Daily 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM (best in early morning)

Mercado Modelo, Salvador

Salvador's landmark 19th-century customs house market sells Afro-Brazilian crafts, Candomblé ritual items, lace, and traditional Bahian food. The building was a customs house where enslaved people were once held before auction.

Hours: Monday-Saturday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM