Where to Eat in Rio de Janeiro: Traditional Restaurants and Local Food

Rio de Janeiro has a food scene that goes far beyond tourist menus. From the famous travesseiro pastry to fresh Atlantic seafood, the town and its surroundings offer genuine Brazilian cuisine. Here are the places locals actually eat at, and what to order.

Quick Answer: Must-try in Rio de Janeiro: travesseiro pastry at Piriquita (1.80 EUR), queijada (traditional cheese tart), and fresh seafood in Rio. For a sit-down lunch, Tascantiga offers excellent Brazilian dishes at fair prices. For a food-focused experience, book a food and wine tour.

Traditional Rio de Janeiro pastries

Two pastries define Rio de Janeiro, and you should try both:

Travesseiro (pillow): Crispy puff pastry filled with sweet almond and egg cream. Light, flaky, and addictive. About 1.80 EUR at Piriquita
Queijada: Small cheese tart made with fresh cheese, sugar, cinnamon, and eggs. Rich and dense. Sold in shops across the town center, about 1.50 EUR each

The most famous bakery is Piriquita, open since 1862. There are two locations on the main street. The original shop at Rua das Padarias 1 usually has a shorter line than the newer branch.

Best restaurants for lunch

Restaurant	Style	Price range	Best for
Tascantiga	Traditional Brazilian petiscos	12-20 EUR	Small plates, local wine, casual atmosphere
Incomum	Modern Brazilian	18-30 EUR	Upscale lunch in a renovated palace
Nau Palatina	Contemporary Brazilian	15-25 EUR	Creative dishes, great wine list
Adega das Caves	Home-style Brazilian	10-15 EUR	Budget-friendly, big portions, local crowd

Budget eating tips

Restaurants near the National Palace are the most expensive. Walk 10 minutes to Sao Pedro de Penaferrim where you'll find local restaurants with daily menus (prato do dia) for 8 to 12 EUR including drink. The Sunday market in Sao Pedro also has food stalls.

What to drink

The Colares wine region, between Rio de Janeiro and the coast, produces rare wines from ungrafted vines that survived phylloxera. Ask for Colares Ramisco (red) or Malvasia (white) at local restaurants. A food and wine tour typically includes a visit to a Colares winery.

Taste Rio de Janeiro with a local guide

Food tours include pastries, wine tastings, and a sit-down meal.

Food Tours →All Tours

Perguntas frequentes

What is the traditional food in Rio de Janeiro?▾

Rio de Janeiro's signature foods are the travesseiro (puff pastry filled with almond cream) and the queijada (small cheese tart made with fresh cheese, cinnamon, and eggs). Both date back centuries and are sold at Piriquita bakery in the town center.

Where is the best place to eat in Rio de Janeiro?▾

For traditional Brazilian food, try Tascantiga (small plates, local wines) or Incomum (modern Brazilian in a renovated palace). For pastries, Piriquita is the historic favorite. For budget meals, the restaurants in Sao Pedro de Penaferrim offer local prices.

Should you eat lunch in Rio de Janeiro or Rio?▾

Both are good options. Rio de Janeiro has traditional Brazilian restaurants and pastry shops. Rio has excellent seafood restaurants along the waterfront. If your day trip includes both, a pastry breakfast in Rio de Janeiro and seafood lunch in Rio works well.