Bar da Portuguesa is a portuguese restaurant in Zona Norte, Rio de Janeiro.
Editorially verified October 1, 2026 by Elliot Marsh, TableJourney editor. Source.
Why locals love it: In Ramos, away from the tourist zones; the small inner room is the owner's family living room, and chilli plants grow in the street beds outside.
Tip: Thursday broth is usually siri and Friday's mocotó; ask for the aipim fritters stuffed with shrimp and the house chilli.
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Address: Rua Custodio Nunes 155, Ramos, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 21031-380
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.
Why locals goA Portuguese bar in Benfica, in the Zona Norte, recognised as Carioca Cultural Heritage in 2013; it opens Tuesday to Sunday and closes Mondays.
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.
Rotisseria Sírio Libaneza has sold esfihas and kibbeh from Galeria Condor at Largo do Machado, Rio de Janeiro, since 1972, from a tight counter.
Why locals goThe original shop is a counter with fixed stools inside Galeria Condor at Largo do Machado, with a larger sit-down room in another corridor; closed Sundays.
TipThe meat esfiha is the standard order; for a sit-down meal use the larger room in the next corridor of the gallery.
Casa Porto serves petiscos and a daily plate on the second floor of a sobrado at Largo da Prainha in Saúde, Rio de Janeiro, with shelves of books.
Why locals goIt sits on the upper floor of a sobrado at Largo da Prainha, laid out like a living room with bookshelves and framed pictures on yellow walls.
TipPetiscos lead the menu, such as the sliced onion beef and the jiló chips; the daily plates include a picadinho carioca.
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.
Why locals goA Portuguese bar in Benfica, in the Zona Norte, recognised as Carioca Cultural Heritage in 2013; it opens Tuesday to Sunday and closes Mondays.
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.
Casa Omolokum cooks terreiro food and acarajé beside Pedra do Sal in Saúde, Rio de Janeiro, under chef Leila Leão, open Friday to Sunday afternoons.
Why locals goA weekend-only kitchen on Rua Tia Ciata beside Pedra do Sal in old Pequena África; it opens Friday to Sunday afternoons and is closed the rest of the week.
TipThe acarajé is the signature: a black-eyed pea fritter fried in dendê and filled with vatapá, vinagrete and dried shrimp, with pepper added to taste.
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.
Why locals goSet in an old sobrado in Lapa, opened as a grocery in 1938 and a few metres from the Selarón steps; it shuts at 21:00 and all day Monday.
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.
Why locals goA Portuguese house in Praça da Bandeira, in the Zona Norte, started to feed the offices nearby; it serves 11:00 to 18:00 only and is closed on Mondays.
TipTry the bacalhau Zé do Pipo, gratinated with cheese over mash and garlic broccoli; the codfish plates are sized for up to three people.
