• Introduction
• Things to Do in Rio de Janeiro
• Things to Do in Buenos Aires
• Iguazu Falls
• Rio de Janeiro Hotels
• Buenos Aires Hotels
• Iguazu Falls Hotels and Restaurants
• Rio de Janeiro Restaurants
• Buenos Aires Restaurants
• Rio de Janeiro Nightlife
• Buenos Aires Nightlife
• Getting There
• Visa Requirements
• What Not to Miss

Rio de Janeiro Restaurants

After the beach and a little nap, you'll want to experience Rio's cuisine, which has been experiencing a renaissance in recent years. Standards like churrascaria (Brazilian barbecue) and feijoda (a local sort of cassoulet) should not be missed. Cariocas dress up (don't wear shorts after sunset) and dine late (around 9pm) often lingering for hours over baskets of pão de queijo, a chewy cheese bread. While dining out is inexpensive by American standards, keep in mind that dishes are often priced for two people – especially the barbecue and feijoda fare.

Two great churrascarias for signature beef dishes near the beaches are Ipanema's Porcão (Rua Barão da Torre 218; 011-55-21-3389-8989; entrées from $5; www.porcao.com.br) Also in Ipanema, local hotspot La Forneria (Rua Maria Quitéria 136; 011-55-21-2239-0390; entrées from $6; www.laforneria.com.br) is the trendy offshoot of the São Paulo sanduicheria launched by local restaurateur Rogério Fasano earlier this year and is a stylish place for pastas and pizzas. Substantially more upscale, the Copacabana Palace's Cipriani (Av. Atlântica 1702; 011-55-21-2545-8747; entrées from $16; www.copacabanapalace.com.br) is frequently ranked as Rio's top eatery; its menu showcases light Italian cuisine with a Brazilian twist (think tagliatelle in a coconut cream sauce and jaú fish with pesto and green beans). For a more authentic atmosphere, head to Santa Teresa's charming Sobrenatural (Rua Almirante Alexandrino 432; 011-55-21-2224-1003; entrées from $8), which dishes up superb bobó de camarão (prawns in a thick yellow curry sauce) and a variety of seafood dishes. Rio's juice bars are also a must and any carioca will tell you that Leblon's Bibi Sucos (Av. Ataulfo de Paiva 591; 011-55-21-2259-4298; entrées from $3) is the place to go and widely heralded as the best juice bar in Rio; try its sweet açaí juice after a day at the beach or a late night out, and reap the benefits of its antioxidant and energy-boosting qualities.