The Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Rio

In a city that’s a hotbed of all-you-can eat meat restaurants, a vegetarian visitor may get stuck in a salad bar rut. Even for those who don’t normally abstain from carne, there are a handful of restaurants in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil that are worth a vegetarian visit. Gather up your group and pick a place to graze on a feast of local ingredients; many offer innovative takes on regional dishes in a feel-good atmosphere. Here's a round up of our favorites.

Delírio Tropical. Multiple Locations.

Although Delírio Tropical isn’t strictly vegetarian, it gets Rio restaurateur Aglika Angelova’s (owner of the Mexican eatery Azteka) recommendation for the ample selection of meatless options. A leaf graphic designates items that have vegetarian-friendly ingredients and the restaurant has developed its own glutamates- and preservatives-free brand of condiments and seasonings for soups and sauces. Through an exclusive partnership with the Cadeg — a giant four-floor farmer's market that serves as the central distribution center for nearly all of the city's produce — fresh coconuts and juices are delivered each day. The eight-location chain also grows its own vegetables and greens on its organic farm in the Rio de Janeiro city of Teresópolis.

.Org Bistrô. Av. Olegário Maciel 175, Loja G, Rio de Janeiro; +55 (21) 2493-1791.

This quaint corner eatery in Barra da Tijuca’s Jardim Oceânico neighborhood is owned by Brazilian chef, nutritionist, and organic food enthusiast, Tatiana Lund – a graduate of New York City’s Natural Gourmet Institute. The menu here consists of a mixture of creative creations and typical dishes the locals love, like stroganoff and black bean feijoada (top) and bean croquettes (right), artfully made from starchy stand-ins like chickpeas or soy products. Lund’s main dishes have pristine presentation, carefully plated with edible flowers, a small cup of fresh juice, and a colorful medley of veggies and grain-laced rice. While you’re checking out, grab some imported teas and condiments to enjoy at home while reminiscing about your visit.

Refeitorio Orgânico.  Rua Dezenove de Fevereiro, 120, Botafogo, +55 (21) 2537-0750.

The wood-paneled dining room at Refeitorio Orgânico is flanked with Buddha statues, and accented with burnt orange walls and colorful painted tile floors. You can pick from the buffet for a fixed price or order a pre-made plate with two to five items. Some interesting items on the menu include a meatless-meatloaf made from lentils, and faux bobó (a traditional Brazilian stew that’s typically made with shrimp) made with shitake mushrooms and organic, fresh hearts of palm. Top off your order with one of more than 20 fresh-made tropical fruit juices like acerola, guava, papaya or passion fruit.

Restaurante Tempeh. Rua Primeiro de Março, 24 Sobreloja, Centro, +55 (21) 2224-6021.

On weekdays, you can choose between fixed-price prepared dishes or create your own plate from the buffet and pay a kilo, or by weight. On Saturdays, it's a buffet lunch only. The menu consists of Brazilian favorites like feijoada made with seitan, along with Asian-inspired selections like tofu yakisoba noodles and vegan sushi made with vegetables, dried fruits, and nuts. For an animal-friendly alternative to street treats like salgadinhos (palm-sized savory foods) try the kibbe de forno, an oven-baked Arab delicacy substituting zucchini for ground beef, or the open-faced empadão made with celery.

Universo Orgânico. Rua Conde Bernadotte, 26, Leblon, +55 (21) 2274-8673.

While in New York City at the start of the raw food movement, Brazilian Tiana Rodrigues graduated from the Natural Gourmet Institute and was part of a select group, called Biochip, that studied natural and raw foods at the Pontificial Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro. Her mission is to prove that you can nosh healthfully without losing the pleasure of eating. With that goal in mind, Universo Orgânico is a restaurant, juice bar, and natural foods store. Raw items include pastas, crepes, and falafel, and a hamburger made from mushrooms with a salad of carrots and kale topped with a macadamia nut and leek paste. If you’re in Rio for a relaxing retreat, try one of the one-, three-, or six-day juice and soup detox programs.