14 editor picks in Rio de Janeiro.
14 portuguese places in Rio de Janeiro we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Rio de Janeiro | Portuguese across every city.
Rancho Português in Ipanema serves traditional Portuguese cooking, from suckling pig to salt cod, and won Veja Rio's 2025 Portuguese award in Rio de Janeiro.
OrderLeitão à Bairrada, the suckling pig, or the bacalhau da terra
TipThe menu also lists a Trás-os-Montes feijoada and tomato rice; the group's wine list passes 700 labels.
Adega Pérola lines a glass counter with more than 50 petiscos on Rua Siqueira Campos in Copacabana, a Rio de Janeiro bar founded by Madeirans in 1957.
OrderSardinhas em escabeche, polvo à vinagrete and provolone à milanesa from the glass counter.
TipGo with two or three friends so you can share several petiscos; the bar is closed on Sundays.
Velho Adonis is a Portuguese boteco in Benfica, in Rio de Janeiro's Zona Norte, pouring chope with a head beside bolinho de bacalhau and sardinhas ao forno.
OrderBolinho de bacalhau, sardinhas ao forno and the Maladrinho de 70 rice dish for four.
TipThe bar is closed on Mondays and shuts at 19:00 on Sundays, so plan lunch or an early evening visit.
Adega D'Ouro has served cod in many forms beside Vicente de Carvalho metro station in Rio de Janeiro, a Portuguese house now run by its third generation.
OrderBacalhau à moda da casa: fried cod with boiled potatoes, tomato, palm heart, onion and olives.
TipThe full cod dish is sized for up to five people, so order it for a group and start with the bolinho de bacalhau.
Rancho Português serves suckling pig and salt cod on Rua Maria Quitéria in Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, and won Veja Rio's Portuguese category in 2025.
OrderLeitão à Bairrada, the suckling pig, or the bacalhau da terra.
TipThe menu also lists a Trás-os-Montes feijoada and tomato rice; the group's wine list passes 700 labels.
Dona Donzília Gomes runs Bar da Portuguesa, a Ramos botequim on Rua Custódio Nunes in Rio de Janeiro known for bolinho de bacalhau and aipim croquettes.
OrderBolinho de bacalhau, the fritada de bacalhau or camarão, and the aipim croquette with carne seca.
TipIt placed second at Botecar 2025 with a trio of cod bolinhos stuffed with whole shrimp; it is shut on Mondays.
Adega Pérola keeps a glass counter of over 50 petiscos beside the chope taps on Rua Siqueira Campos in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro; the bar dates from 1957.
TipSardines are sold by the unit and most other petiscos by 100 g portions, so order a few at a time.
Adega Pérola, a Copacabana bar from 1957 on Rua Siqueira Campos, Rio de Janeiro, keeps a glass counter of petiscos and chope taps going until 01:00.
OrderSardinhas em escabeche, polvo à vinagrete and provolone à milanesa from the glass counter.
TipIt closes on Sundays and stays open until 01:00 the other days; go in a small group so you can share several petiscos.
Pavão Azul serves pataniscas, shrimp risotto and plates with rice and beans on Rua Hilário de Gouveia in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, every day until midnight.
OrderPatanisca, the cod fritter, or a bife plate with rice, beans, farofa and fries.
TipTime Out priced bife plates at about R$50 and each patanisca at R$8 in October 2025; the kitchen is open daily until midnight.
Bar da Portuguesa, on Rua Custódio Nunes in Ramos, Rio de Janeiro, is a family botequim known for bolinho de bacalhau and aipim fritters with shrimp.
TipThursday broth is usually siri and Friday's mocotó; ask for the aipim fritters stuffed with shrimp and the house chilli.
Velho Adonis is a Portuguese bar in Benfica, in Rio de Janeiro's Zona Norte, pouring chope with a head beside bolinho de bacalhau and empadas.
TipOrder the chope with a head beside the bolinho de bacalhau, fried alheiras or jiló à milanesa; a weekly menu adds one special plate a day.
Adega Flor de Coimbra is a Portuguese house in an old Lapa sobrado in Rio de Janeiro, opened as a grocery in 1938, known for slim bolinhos de bacalhau.
TipStart with the thin bolinhos de bacalhau, then the sopa lisboeta with butter beans, a favourite of the painter Candido Portinari.
Rampinha has served Portuguese plates in Praça da Bandeira, Rio de Janeiro, since 1989, from bacalhau Zé do Pipo to octopus, rabbit and roast suckling pig.
TipTry the bacalhau Zé do Pipo, gratinated with cheese over mash and garlic broccoli; the codfish plates are sized for up to three people.
Pavão Azul serves pataniscas, shrimp risotto and home-style plates with rice and beans near Copacabana beach, on Rua Hilário de Gouveia, Rio de Janeiro.
OrderPatanisca (cod fritter), or a bife with rice, beans, farofa and fries
Guided tour · 9 hours
Ride the Corcovado Train to Christ the Redeemer, then take a cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain. Enjoy a buffet lunch and visit iconic Rio landmarks.
Private tour · 9 hours
Discover the symbols of the "Cidade Maravilhosa" on this private day trip. See the iconic Christ the Redeemer, take a cable car up Sugar Loaf Mountain, and see the cit...
Guided tour · 10 hours
Discover the icons of Rio de Janeiro and relax on the beaches of Búzios on this unique sightseeing tour. Includes visits to Christ the Redeemer, Maracanã, Sambódromo, ...
