Travel
Rio de Janeiro travel guide: The best places for breakfast, lunch and afternoon drinks
The editors at ELLE Brasil share their favourite spots to go out for brunch, lunch, drinks and more.
by : ELLE Canada- Jun 25th, 2014

Breakfast at Confeitaria Colombo.
The ELLE Brasil editors are:
Susana Barbosa – Editor in Chief & Fashion Director, ELLE Brasil
Ines Néspoli – Creative Director, ELLE Brasil
Renata Piza – Managing Editor, ELLE Brasil
Eliana Sanchez – Managing Editor, ELLE Brasil
Nana Caetano – Culture & Lifestyle Editor, ELLE Brasil
Chantal Sordi – Fashion Features Editor, ELLE Brasil
Marcell Maia – Assistant Fashion Editor, ELLE Brasil
FOR A LOCAL BREAKFAST
CIRANDHINA
Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana – 719, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22050- 002
55 21 2548-2135 / 55 21 2548-6862
€
Cirandhina is a local restaurant in Copacabana that sells pastries, cakes and other delicacies in the front area. In the back, you’ll find a dining room for more leisurely meals. If you’re looking for a place to enjoy a typical Brazilian breakfast with the locals, Cirandhina is the place to go. The full breakfast comes with waffles, papaya, biscuits, toasted bread with butter, coffee and orange juice. And as the portions are quite generous, it’s sure to leave you satiated until well past lunchtime.
“Cirandhina has Old-style kitsch glamour.” -Nana Caetano, Culture & Lifestyle Editor
CONFEITARIA COLOMBO
Rua Gonçalves Dias, 32 – Centro – Rio de Janeiro, RJ
55 21 2505-1500
€€
Founded in 1894 by two Portuguese men, Manoel José Lebrão and Joaquim Borges de Meirelles, Confeitaria Colombo is located in the heart of Rio and has become part of the city’s cultural heritage. Politicians, journalists, writers, artists and poets frequented Confeitaria Colombo, even Queen Elizabeth from England came here to enjoy the delicacies. Enjoy the incredible pastries and other breakfast specialties while the art nouveau decor brings you back in time.
“Founded in 1894, this magnificent building is located on Rio’s historical centre and is the perfect spot to experience the past. The pastries are mouthwatering.” -Chantal Sordi, Fashion Features Editor
LA BICYCLETTE
Rua Pacheco Leão, 320 – Jardim Botanico, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22460-030
55 21 3256 9052
€
Located in the beautiful and peaceful Botanical Gardens, the breakfast at La Bicyclette will make you feel like you’re in the countryside with its wooden tables and greenery galore. The French owner and his Brazilian wife brought a part of France to Rio with their exquisite French pastries and bread.
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On the next page, the best places in Rio to have lunch with friends…
The tenderloin and pineapple sandwich at Cervantes.
FOR LUNCH WITH FRIENDS
CELEIRO
Rua Dias Ferreira, 199 – Leblon, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
55 21 2274-7843
€€-€€€
This restaurant opened in 1982 and has been great place to enjoy a healthy meal ever since. The buffet is both hot and cold and is comprised of a selection of fresh vegetables, which are perfect for building your own salad. Every thing is measured by weight so you can eat according to how hungry you’re feeling. On Thursdays, a Japanese woman comes and prepares her native cuisine with dishes like inari sushi. Whatever your pick, expect great flavor in each bite.
“It is very health food. Delicious salads. It is located in a very charming neighbourhood called Leblon. You always get to see a lot of celebrities here.” -Susana Barbosa, Editor in Chief & Fashion Director
CERVANTES
Avenida Prado Júnior, 335 – Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
55 2275-6147
€€
Cervantes is almost considered an institution for Cariocas for the best sandwiches in town. They’re tasty and generous, and the restaurant’s specialties include the “Lombinho com abacaxi”, a tenderloin and pineapple sandwich. There’s also the “Filet Mignon com Abacaxi e Queijo”: Filet Mignon with pineapple and cheese sandwich. If you want to blend in, do as the locals do and enjoy your sandwich with a beer.
“The best sandwiches in the city and you can add a slice of pinapple on every meal. Founded in 1955 it is one of the most famous and kitsch places in town. Don ́t leave without a visit.” -Chantal Sordi, Fashion Features Editor
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BB LANCHES
Rua Aristides Espínola, 64, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
55 21 2294-1397
€
For high-quality fruit juice and healthy sandwiches on the go. Their juice menu is incredible, and with so many fruit options to choose from it’s the perfect place for a guilt-free late evening snack.
MIRA!
Rua General Severiano, 159 – Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
55 21 2275-0737
€-€€
Located in the Botafogo neighborhood within the Casa Daros museum, Mira! is the latest restaurant of chef Roberta Ciasca, Dannu Camilo and Stef Quinquis, after Miam Miam and Oui Oui. This is a great spot for lunch with its salad bar, pasta and meat dishes. The restaurant serves also great tapas in the late afternoon.
“Miro! is located at Casa Daros – it’s a cultural centre for Latin American Art.” -Susana Barbosa, Editor in Chief & Fashion Director
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On the next page, the top spots for baked goods and afternoon drinks…
The rooftop pool bar at Fasano.
BAKERY
ESCOLA DO PÃO
Rua General Garzon, 10 – Lagoa – Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22470-010
55 21 2294-0027
€
Step inside this house and get a taste of what delicious bread smells and tastes like. The owner is passionate about bread and has adapted each and every one of her recipes to Brazil. Everything is baked to perfection. The bread is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
FOR AFTERNOON DRINKS
AZUL MARINHO
Hotel Arpoador Inn: Rua Francisco Otaviano 177 – Arpoador – Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22080-040
55 21 2513-5014
€€
Located on the beachfront, Azul Marinho is a simple yet perfect place to have a drink in the evening and watch the sun set into the ocean. The drinks menu is very complete, and they have a very tempting selection of different flavored caipirinhas which are all worth trying.
“This is a very simple bar, but the location couldn’t be better: It’s right in front of the sand of Arpoador beach.”
-Nana Caetano, Culture & Lifestyle Editor
BARETTO-LONDRA at FASANO
Av. Vieira Souto, 80 – Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22420-000
55 21 3202-4000
€€-€€€
Baretto-Londra is hotel Fasano’s bar. The owner loves London and has translated that here. The bar was designed and decorated by Philippe Starck, and Mr. Fasano wanted it to look like a sophisticated yet cosy English pub. The big comfortable leather couches invite you to stay there for hours on end. There is a great selection of cocktails, wine and champagne. If you’re adventurous, try the bar’s speciality: the “Black Sea”, a black ink cocktail served with an oyster.
ROOFTOP POOL BAR at FASANO
Av. Vieira Souto, 80 – Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22420-000 55 21 3202-4000
€€-€€€
Fasano is known for its amazing rooftop overlooking the beach. It’s a great place to relax while sipping a cocktail next to the infinity pool and watch the sun set into the ocean. Celebrities are also regulars, so you never know, you could be relaxing poolside next to Rihanna or Britney Spears.
“The perfect spot to have a drink watching the beautiful beach sunset. And if you get lucky you will get a glimpse of a celebrity such as Madonna or Lady Gaga.” -Chantal Sordi, Fashion Features Editor
Read on for the must-try local dishes…
Croquets at Jobi.
MUST-TRY LOCAL DISHES
Bolinho de Aipim com Camarão at JOBI
Chopp & Bolinho de Bacalhau at JOBI
Avenida Ataufo de Paiva, 1166, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22440–035
55 21 2274–0547
€-€€
You can’t go to Rio de Janeiro without eating at Jobi. Often packed with locals until late in the evening, this lively bar and restaurant is an institution in Rio with a great menu of Brazilian dishes. Located only a few blocks away from Leblon beach, it’s a great spot to grab a bolinho de aipim com camarão, a popular local croqueta with fried shrimp and yucca flower, or a bolinho de bacalhau, croquet with codfish. Washed down with a chopp, it’s the perfect way to end a day at the beach.
“You have to try the bolinho de aipim com camarão (fried shrimp and yucca flower croqueta). I like it both at Jobi and Bracarense, two nice bars to go after the beach.” -Nana Caetano, Culture & Lifestyle Editor
“Jobi is very traditional. A good place to go after the beach and have a Chopp and a snack called bolinho de bacalhau” -Susana Barbosa, Editor in Chief & Fashion Director
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Bolinho de Aipim com Camarão at BRACARENSE
Rua Jose Linhares, 85 – Leblon, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22430-220
55 21 2294-3549
€-€€
After a sunny day at the beach, nothing beats a snack and a drink. For tasty Brazilian snacks, Bracarense is a great bar to go to with friends. It’s only a five-minute walk from Leblon Beach. Locals have been coming here since 1961, enjoying the tasty food and good beer, and their classic dish, bolinhos de aipim com camarão, croquetas with fried shrimp and yucca flower.
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Fruta do Conde juice at BIBI SUCOS
Avenida Ataulfo de Paiva, 591-A, Leblon, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
55 21 2259-0000
€
For your daily dose of vitamins, head to Bibi Sucos for a large selection of fresh fruit juices. There are many exotic juices to choose from, with no added sugar or water. It’s simply pure fruit blended with ice and that’s delicious. Don’t forget to try a fresh fruta do conde juice, a local fruit also known as sugar-apple, very refreshing on a hot day at the beach.
“Fruta do Conde is a tropical fruit, discovered in Bahia and largely disseminated all over the country. The juice made at Bibi Sucos its delicious and an amazing refreshment after a hot day at the beach.” -Chantal Sordi, Fashion Features Editor
READ MORE:
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What to pack for a summer beach escape
What to pack for a summer city getaway
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