Ranked by TableJourney editorial score.
Moqueca is a stew of fish or seafood with tomato, onion and coriander, brought to Rio from Bahia; vegetarian versions use heart of palm in place of the fish.
The name comes from Quimbundo mu'keka, a fish stew, or Tupi opokeka, to make a wrapping. Some scholars link the dish to the Portuguese peixada, with African ingredients added; the Bahian version uses dendê palm oil and sometimes coconut milk, and is cooked in a clay pot. Rio drew heavily on Bahia for seafood and Afro-Brazilian dishes, moqueca among them, and today's menus range from shrimp to peach-palm hearts.
3 editor picks for Moqueca in Rio de Janeiro, ranked by editorial score. All Rio de Janeiro signature dishes · Moqueca across every city.
Aconchego Carioca in Praça da Bandeira is chef Kátia Barbosa's house, birthplace of the bolinho de feijoada, with Northeastern dishes, in Rio de Janeiro.
OrderThe bolinho de feijoada, filled with kale and topped with pork crackling, with a lime batidinha
TipThe moqueca of peach-palm hearts with banana-da-terra suits vegetarians; the beer list runs to about 50 labels, many from craft brewers.
Marine Restô is the Fairmont's sixth-floor brasserie in Copacabana, cooking seafood and Brazilian dishes on a Josper grill, in Rio de Janeiro.
OrderThe heart of palm moqueca with manioc and coconut farofa, or the Angus skirt steak with guaraná demi-glace
TipThe room is on the sixth floor of the Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana, with a panoramic terrace and pool and views of Copacabana beach.
Bar Lagoa has served German-leaning dishes and moqueca on Avenida Epitácio Pessoa since 1934, a Lagoa restaurant in Rio de Janeiro with bow-tied waiters.
OrderTornedor à Lagoa with bacon, peas and palm hearts, or the joelho de porco.
TipWaiters work the white-tablecloth room in bow ties, so treat it as a sit-down lunch rather than a quick chope.
Moqueca makes more sense with someone from Rio de Janeiro explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
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, ...
