The Top 10 Trendiest New Restaurants in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
After the Olympic Games buzz, Rio de Janeiro has settled back into its usual groove. Brazil-based contributor Rafael Tonon shares his favorite recent openings, highlighting spots that exude charm without being over-the-top. Tonon notes, “Rio’s new dining spots embody a refined approach to cooking, focusing on ingredient integrity.” Notable mentions include the technique-centric Alberto Landgraf's Oteque, the rum haven Nosso, and the ingredient-focused Lilia by chef Lucio Vieira.
Need the essentials? Check out the 38. For budget-friendly bites, there’s a guide for that too. Dinogo also covers coffee and cocktails, but for the latest and most exciting restaurants, presented in geographical order, explore the Dinogo Heatmap of Rio de Janeiro.
Lilia
Nestled in the vibrant, bohemian district of Lapa, Lilia is a charming, unpretentious spot. Located on the top floor of an old townhouse, chef Lucio Vieira crafts a daily-changing menu with quality, affordable ingredients sourced from local markets. The focus is on vegetables, though fresh fish and meat, especially flavorful lesser-known cuts, are also featured.
Xian
Spanning over 30,000 square feet, Xian is an expansive venue serving as a bar, restaurant, and soon-to-be concert hall, located adjacent to Santos Dumont airport. The menu features a Japanese flair with items such as crunchy oysters with wasabi mayo and tonkatsu sauce, miso-glazed pork ribs, and a selection of sushi and sashimi. The vibrant cocktail bar on the patio offers breathtaking views of Sugar Loaf and Christ the Redeemer.
Térèze
Nestled within a stylish luxury hotel in Rio's Santa Teresa district, Térèze offers much more than a typical hotel dining experience. Its expansive windows provide stunning city views while guests savor innovative dishes from new chef Esteban Mateu. Hailing from Uruguay and trained at renowned Latin American restaurants like Enrique Olvera’s Pujol, Mateu brings a pan-Latin touch to Brazilian ingredients. Anticipate delights such as scallops aguachiles and pamonha (Brazilian tamales) featuring organic vegetables.
Oteque
Renowned as one of São Paulo’s top chefs, Alberto Landgraf relocated to Rio two years ago and meticulously crafted his new restaurant concept. The result is the sophisticated Oteque, where Landgraf elevates his precise culinary skills and ingredient respect. Notably, he installed an aquarium in his open kitchen to ensure the freshest seafood. Landgraf’s meticulous approach shines through in his nightly eight-course tasting menu, featuring imaginative dishes with intricate flavor profiles. The foie gras boudin has quickly become a standout favorite.
Ella
In a city where traditional pizza culture is not deeply rooted, Ella draws inspiration from Naples. This pizzeria, a collaboration between chef Pedro Siqueira (Puro and Massa) and baker Marcos Cerutti (SPA Pane), features slow-risen, naturally leavened dough topped with inventive ingredients. Try the Japa pizza with mushroom cream, roasted red onion, scamorza, chervil, and sesame; the Polpo with crispy octopus and pancetta; or the Verdi with wild greens pesto. Classic options like margherita and marinara are also available, ideally enjoyed with a signature barrel-aged cocktail.
Casa Camolese
Casa Camolese blends the charm of a 18th-century building with a variety of experiences: it's a bar, deli, coffee shop, brewpub, and jazz club all in one. Located on the Jockey Club race track grounds, it serves as a perfect spot for anything from an early lunch to a late-night drink. Enjoy tap beers in the afternoon or coffee at any time. Their handmade salumi, cheeses, and breads come from Slow Bakery and other top local producers. The bar features signature cocktails and craft beers brewed on-site. Positioned across from Jardim Botânico, Casa Camolese is as vibrant as it is picturesque.
Chez Claude
Claude Troisgros, a celebrated chef in Brazil, has returned to his roots with Chez Claude, his latest venture in the same space where he first began his culinary journey in Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s. A prominent figure from the prestigious Troisgros family, Claude chose Rio to build his food empire. At Chez Claude, he presents a collection of his most cherished dishes from the past forty years, including scallops with palm heart, haddock mousse in tucupi sauce, and quail with grape sauce, chard, chives, and bacon.
Bazzar ao Mar
In response to Rio's warm climate, restaurateur Cristiana Beltrão has transformed the front section of her Ipanema restaurant, Bazzar, into an inviting outdoor oyster bar. It's an ideal spot for a relaxed post-beach bite, featuring mussels with orange strands and kelp toast, sardines with organic vegetables, or crab meat with fennel puree, all complemented by a glass of Brazilian sparkling wine.
Nosso
At Nosso, a three-story venue in Ipanema, rum takes center stage. Featuring selections from Cuba, Jamaica, and beyond, guests can enjoy their choice of fine rums or savor them in expertly crafted cocktails by bartender Tai Barbin. His creations include mojitos, daiquiris, and unique barrel-aged drinks. Meanwhile, chef Bruno Katz, hailing from New York, serves dishes like beef carpaccio with charcoal mayo, mustard seeds, and grana padano, or pancetta and octopus pastéis with citrus aioli.
Pipo
Located within a mall—an unusual choice in a city known for its natural beauty—Pipo is still a must-visit. This spot by chef Felipe Bronze, who earned acclaim with his restaurant Oro, offers a lively and casual atmosphere. The menu, perfect for sharing, reflects the vibrant Carioca spirit. Bronze's innovative dishes blend molecular gastronomy with traditional flavors, including a beef rib sandwich with spicy banana jam, miso granita oysters, and a standout coxinha topped with smoked cream cheese foam.
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5/5