Upscale Eats in Rio de Janeiro

Brazil may be famous for finger foods like pão de queijo and empadinhas, but fine dining isn’t too far flung from casual fare found at street vendors all across in Rio de Janeiro. When planning your vacation to the marvelous city, leave some bucks in your budget for a splurge on an upscale eatery. With countless options to satisfy your hunger for delectable cuisine, attentive service, and charming ambiance, your only challenge will be deciding which restaurant to make your reservation at.

Restaurante Fasano al Mare

Overlooking the Ipanema shoreline is the seafood-centric Restaurante Fasano al Mare (above), a Mediterranean eatery of restaurateur Rogério Fasano. At the helm of the kitchen is chef Paolo Lavezzini, who came from the Michelin three star-rated Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served seven days a week, both in the main dining room and a sprawling beachfront terrace designed by Philippe Starck.

Chez L’Ami Martin 

The Leblon location of the Chez L’Ami Martin (right) was the flagship in a pair of Parisian-inspired bistros opened by Grupo Pax, one of the city’s largest restaurateurs. Open daily for lunch through late-night dinner, the restaurant’s menu consists of a carefully-chosen list of French delicacies like slow-cooked meats, fresh seafood selections and artisan breads and pastas served in Staub cookware. Architecture and design by Angela Leite Barbosa are enhanced with a collection of photos and art curated by chef Pascal Jolly himself on visits abroad.

Next up, more upscale eats in Rio…

Carmelo Restaurante

Carmelo Restaurante (left), the refined cousin of the more casual Carmelo Café lunch locale, is just moments from the beach in the Flamengo neighborhood. Open evenings and weekends, an a la carte menu that combines international favorites with classic Brazilian fare can also be customized for your special occasion or large group function. Each Friday, enjoy traditional feijoada pork and black bean stew accompanied by live musical entertainment.

Marius Degustare

With more than half a century in business, the Marius Degustare churrascaria is as historic as it is upscale. Nestled on the coast where Copacabana meets Leme, it has a striking, expansive dual-floor dining room reminiscent of a sunken Titanic: Its nautical theme is ornately enhanced with artisan woodwork, delicate china, and a collection of electric guitars. The menu includes Wagyu and Brazilian cuts of sustainably-raised beef and freshly-caught seafood, prepared with a Mediterranean flair.

Navegador

The crown jewel of the Naval Club in the downtown city center, chef Teresa Corção’s Navegador (right) features farm-to-table selections sourced from small producers across Brazil. Menus are derived with respect to both sabor and sustainability, with each item carefully chosen from organic producers in Brejal, Itaipava, the Serra Fluminense, Pará, Santa Catarina, and artesan dairy products handcrafted in Minas Gerais, and the hills of Salitre and Canastra.