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The 11 Hottest New Restaurants in Rio de Janeiro

Where to eat in Brazil's dynamic beachside city

by Rafael Tonon
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Venga Chiringuito
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by Rafael Tonon

The Olympics have come and gone, but there are plenty of new restaurants and bars to track in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil-based Eater contributor Rafael Tonon has graciously offered up his picks for the buzziest openings of the past 12 months.

Among his selections are several botecos — Cariocas' term for bars with great food — ranging from a Japanese izakaya (Pabu) to a beachside seafood destination (Quiosque Riba). Tonon notes that "Botafogo definitely established itself as one of the coolest neighborhoods in town to eat" (the Slow Bakery, South Ferro, Hocus Pocus DNA), while "Copacabana, one of the most traditional neighborhoods in the city, is also undergoing an interesting revamp" (Venga Chiringuito).

Looking for the essentials? Head to the 38. Want to stick to cheap eats? There's a guide for that, too. Eater's also got you covered when it comes to coffee and cocktails. But for the newest and hottest restaurants, presented in geographical order, here's the first-ever Eater Heatmap to Rio.

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. CoLAB

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R. Fernandes Guimarães, 66, Rio de Janeiro
RJ 22290-000, Brazil
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A mixture of a cafe and bar, CoLAB is a collaborative space, serving products made by local entrepreneurs, such as kombuchas, teas, and beers — which are available on tap. But there are also dishes from around the world, such as sandwiches, curries, falafel, huevos rancheros, and sweet pastries, like the homemade cinnamon roll. Come evening, the Brooklynesque space takes on the personality of a bar, with cocktails and snack food.
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2. Fica Café

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Rua Fernandes Guimarães 91, casa 7/103, Rio de Janeiro
RJ, Brazil
+55 21 99732-6337
+55 21 99732-6337
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On an alley with an art gallery and a beauty salon, Fica Café is a modern coffee shop that serves cups made from a variety of beans and using different preparation methods (Aeropress and pour over are a couple options). Homemade cookies, sandwiches, focaccia, and salads are served for an anytime meal. Try the grilled cheese (made with sourdough bread) and the avocado bowl, with tomato, onions, arugula, and a fried egg.
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3. South Ferro

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R. Arnaldo Quintela, 23, Rio de Janeiro
RJ 22280-070, Brazil
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From the owners of Ferro e Farinha, a modern pizzeria in the Catete neighborhood, South Ferro is a new Botafogo venue where ex-New York pizzaiolo Sei Shiroma shows off his abilities. His long-fermented pizza dough made him famous in Rio, but here Shiroma also prepares cookies, cakes, brunches, and even quick meals for lunch and dinner.
Instagram

4. Hocus Pocus DNA

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R. Dezenove de Fevereiro, 186, Lj. B, Rio de Janeiro
RJ 22280-030, Brazil
+55 21 3452-3377
+55 21 3452-3377
Visit Website
Hocus Pocus started as a small brewing operation and gained a following through appearances on the beer lists of some of the trendiest restaurants and bars in town. Recently, the founders decided to open their own place, and chose Botafogo for this brewpub and gastrobar. In a rustic room, six taps are exclusively dedicated to the brand’s beers — but they also serve other labels. You'll find everything from Helles lager to Belgian strong golden ale, and the bar also offers creative seasonal recipes, such as bitterballen — sausage-fried dumplings with bechamel sauce — and the beef tongue croquette sandwich, served in a bun with mustard.
Facebook

5. The Slow Bakery

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R. S. João Batista, 93, Rio de Janeiro
RJ 22270-030, Brazil
+55 21 3563-8638
+55 21 3563-8638
Visit Website
After gaining fame in the city for their slow-fermented bread, bakers Rafael Brito Pereira and Lud Espíndola decided to open a place where people could find their freshly made sourdoughs, ciabattas, and baguettes. In an industrial space in the hip neighborhood of Botafogo, they run the Slow Bakery, where, along with loaves, the duo offers sandwiches and tartines (such as the one with goat cheese and roasted tomatoes). The well-made cups of coffee are a good reason to sit and wait for the next batch of bread to come out of the oven.

6. Venga Chiringuito

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Av. Atlântica, 3880 - Copacabana
Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil
+55 21 3264-9806
+55 21 3264-9806
Visit Website
Common in Spain, a chiringuito is a beachside food stand that serves tapas and drinks to beachgoers. That’s the idea behind this spot, located in Copacabana beach. The menu pairs well with its shoreline setting: think octopus carpaccio, fried shrimp, and tuna and beet tartare. There are also some paellas. To complete the Spanish experience, order a pitcher of sangria; you can take it with you to your bathing spot and return later.
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7. Quiosque Riba

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Av. Delfim Moreira
Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil
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Riba emerged as a boteco in Leblon (a neighborhood boasting many of them) to serve good food and frosty glasses of tap beer — just as locals usually drink it. Recently, the brand opened two new venues, one at Ipanema (more similar to a regular restaurant) and this beachside food stand at Leblon Beach. Under the supervision of chef David Connell, a former sous chef at Chicago's three-Michelin-starred Grace, the menu serves lobster sandwiches and raw oysters, plus caipirinhas and fancy Champagne.
Facebook

8. Azur

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Av. Delfim Moreira
Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil
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After running many trendy spots in town (such as Irajá Gastrô and Formidable Bistro), chef Pedro Artagão docked at Leblon Beach to dedicate himself to seafood recipes. At Azur, he offers a kind of salad bar with fresh creations, such as octopus in vinaigrette and burrata with eggplant. The a la carte menu offers codfish rice, seafood spaghetti, and Brazilian moqueca (a fish stew made with coconut milk and manioc flour). The restaurant also counts on its bar to serve beers and cocktails (like the one with gin and slices of cashew), and boasts a diverse wine list.
Facebook

9. Pabu Izakaya

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R. Humberto de Campos, 827, Rio de Janeiro
RJ 22430-190, Brazil
+55 21 3738-0416
+55 21 3738-0416
Visit Website
The first Japanese boteco in the city, Pabu serves hot dishes — and some sushi — to a hip crowd gathered around a party-centric, u-shaped counter bar. The menu nails classics like pork gyoza dumplings, and keep an eye out for the deep-fried calamari rings with kimchi sauce and the braised gizzards with mushrooms, nira (garlic chives), and soy sauce. The sushi chefs also prepare perfect pieces of the tuna gunkan and sea bass usuzukuri, which pair well with the sake list.
Facebook

10. Garoa Bar Lounge

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R. Dias Ferreira, 50, Rio de Janeiro
RJ 22431-050, Brazil
+55 21 3591-7617
+55 21 3591-7617
Visit Website
Gin-based cocktails are having a moment in Brazil, and the opening of a branch of this hip gin bar from Santiago de Compostela, Spain, in Rio is proof. Garoa focuses on versions of the gin and tonic, using dozens of gin varieties to prepare the famous cocktail — among others. The food menu skews raw, with tartares, ceviches, and punheta de bacalhau — a typical Portuguese salad with codfish, onion, and olives.
Instagram

11. Pipo

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Estr. da Gávea, 899 - São Conrado, Rio de Janeiro - RJ
22610-001, Brazil
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Pipo is the more casual venue from chef Felipe Bronze, who is known for his work at Oro, one of the best restaurants in town. After closing the original Pipo in Leblon, Bronze brought the concept back with a new address at Fashion Mall. The room has a sophisticated atmosphere, but the menu, despite some novelties, keeps many of the chef’s great creations, such as the fried oyster sandwich (with lettuce, purple onion, and homemade mayo) and feijoada stew with collard greens foam and pork rinds.
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1. CoLAB

R. Fernandes Guimarães, 66, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22290-000, Brazil
Facebook
A mixture of a cafe and bar, CoLAB is a collaborative space, serving products made by local entrepreneurs, such as kombuchas, teas, and beers — which are available on tap. But there are also dishes from around the world, such as sandwiches, curries, falafel, huevos rancheros, and sweet pastries, like the homemade cinnamon roll. Come evening, the Brooklynesque space takes on the personality of a bar, with cocktails and snack food.
R. Fernandes Guimarães, 66, Rio de Janeiro
RJ 22290-000, Brazil
Visit Website

2. Fica Café

Rua Fernandes Guimarães 91, casa 7/103, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Facebook
On an alley with an art gallery and a beauty salon, Fica Café is a modern coffee shop that serves cups made from a variety of beans and using different preparation methods (Aeropress and pour over are a couple options). Homemade cookies, sandwiches, focaccia, and salads are served for an anytime meal. Try the grilled cheese (made with sourdough bread) and the avocado bowl, with tomato, onions, arugula, and a fried egg.
Rua Fernandes Guimarães 91, casa 7/103, Rio de Janeiro
RJ, Brazil
+55 21 99732-6337
Visit Website

3. South Ferro

R. Arnaldo Quintela, 23, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22280-070, Brazil
Instagram
From the owners of Ferro e Farinha, a modern pizzeria in the Catete neighborhood, South Ferro is a new Botafogo venue where ex-New York pizzaiolo Sei Shiroma shows off his abilities. His long-fermented pizza dough made him famous in Rio, but here Shiroma also prepares cookies, cakes, brunches, and even quick meals for lunch and dinner.
R. Arnaldo Quintela, 23, Rio de Janeiro
RJ 22280-070, Brazil
Visit Website

4. Hocus Pocus DNA

R. Dezenove de Fevereiro, 186, Lj. B, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22280-030, Brazil
Facebook
Hocus Pocus started as a small brewing operation and gained a following through appearances on the beer lists of some of the trendiest restaurants and bars in town. Recently, the founders decided to open their own place, and chose Botafogo for this brewpub and gastrobar. In a rustic room, six taps are exclusively dedicated to the brand’s beers — but they also serve other labels. You'll find everything from Helles lager to Belgian strong golden ale, and the bar also offers creative seasonal recipes, such as bitterballen — sausage-fried dumplings with bechamel sauce — and the beef tongue croquette sandwich, served in a bun with mustard.
R. Dezenove de Fevereiro, 186, Lj. B, Rio de Janeiro
RJ 22280-030, Brazil
+55 21 3452-3377
Visit Website

5. The Slow Bakery

R. S. João Batista, 93, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22270-030, Brazil
After gaining fame in the city for their slow-fermented bread, bakers Rafael Brito Pereira and Lud Espíndola decided to open a place where people could find their freshly made sourdoughs, ciabattas, and baguettes. In an industrial space in the hip neighborhood of Botafogo, they run the Slow Bakery, where, along with loaves, the duo offers sandwiches and tartines (such as the one with goat cheese and roasted tomatoes). The well-made cups of coffee are a good reason to sit and wait for the next batch of bread to come out of the oven.
R. S. João Batista, 93, Rio de Janeiro
RJ 22270-030, Brazil
+55 21 3563-8638
Visit Website

6. Venga Chiringuito

Av. Atlântica, 3880 - Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil
Facebook
Common in Spain, a chiringuito is a beachside food stand that serves tapas and drinks to beachgoers. That’s the idea behind this spot, located in Copacabana beach. The menu pairs well with its shoreline setting: think octopus carpaccio, fried shrimp, and tuna and beet tartare. There are also some paellas. To complete the Spanish experience, order a pitcher of sangria; you can take it with you to your bathing spot and return later.
Av. Atlântica, 3880 - Copacabana
Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil
+55 21 3264-9806
Visit Website

7. Quiosque Riba

Av. Delfim Moreira, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil
Facebook
Riba emerged as a boteco in Leblon (a neighborhood boasting many of them) to serve good food and frosty glasses of tap beer — just as locals usually drink it. Recently, the brand opened two new venues, one at Ipanema (more similar to a regular restaurant) and this beachside food stand at Leblon Beach. Under the supervision of chef David Connell, a former sous chef at Chicago's three-Michelin-starred Grace, the menu serves lobster sandwiches and raw oysters, plus caipirinhas and fancy Champagne.
Av. Delfim Moreira
Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil
Visit Website

8. Azur

Av. Delfim Moreira, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil
Facebook
After running many trendy spots in town (such as Irajá Gastrô and Formidable Bistro), chef Pedro Artagão docked at Leblon Beach to dedicate himself to seafood recipes. At Azur, he offers a kind of salad bar with fresh creations, such as octopus in vinaigrette and burrata with eggplant. The a la carte menu offers codfish rice, seafood spaghetti, and Brazilian moqueca (a fish stew made with coconut milk and manioc flour). The restaurant also counts on its bar to serve beers and cocktails (like the one with gin and slices of cashew), and boasts a diverse wine list.
Av. Delfim Moreira
Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil
Visit Website

9. Pabu Izakaya

R. Humberto de Campos, 827, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22430-190, Brazil
Facebook
The first Japanese boteco in the city, Pabu serves hot dishes — and some sushi — to a hip crowd gathered around a party-centric, u-shaped counter bar. The menu nails classics like pork gyoza dumplings, and keep an eye out for the deep-fried calamari rings with kimchi sauce and the braised gizzards with mushrooms, nira (garlic chives), and soy sauce. The sushi chefs also prepare perfect pieces of the tuna gunkan and sea bass usuzukuri, which pair well with the sake list.
R. Humberto de Campos, 827, Rio de Janeiro
RJ 22430-190, Brazil
+55 21 3738-0416
Visit Website

10. Garoa Bar Lounge

R. Dias Ferreira, 50, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22431-050, Brazil
Instagram
Gin-based cocktails are having a moment in Brazil, and the opening of a branch of this hip gin bar from Santiago de Compostela, Spain, in Rio is proof. Garoa focuses on versions of the gin and tonic, using dozens of gin varieties to prepare the famous cocktail — among others. The food menu skews raw, with tartares, ceviches, and punheta de bacalhau — a typical Portuguese salad with codfish, onion, and olives.
R. Dias Ferreira, 50, Rio de Janeiro
RJ 22431-050, Brazil
+55 21 3591-7617
Visit Website

11. Pipo

Estr. da Gávea, 899 - São Conrado, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22610-001, Brazil
Facebook
Pipo is the more casual venue from chef Felipe Bronze, who is known for his work at Oro, one of the best restaurants in town. After closing the original Pipo in Leblon, Bronze brought the concept back with a new address at Fashion Mall. The room has a sophisticated atmosphere, but the menu, despite some novelties, keeps many of the chef’s great creations, such as the fried oyster sandwich (with lettuce, purple onion, and homemade mayo) and feijoada stew with collard greens foam and pork rinds.
Estr. da Gávea, 899 - São Conrado, Rio de Janeiro - RJ
22610-001, Brazil
Visit Website

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