Bar e Restaurante Urca — Restaurant in Região Geográfica Imediata do Rio de Janeiro

What an amazing experience that I had at Restaurante Urca. This restaurant is very popular in Rio. It is located in the charming Urca neighborhood, right on Rua Cândido Gaffrée. The setting is unbeatable; whether you’re sitting inside with large windows or out along the water’s edge, you get sweeping views of the bay, Sugarloaf Mountain. I prefer sitting outside along the water’sedge - the waterfront views are stunning, particularly during the sunset, an authentic experience.

The foods are fresh and delicious - the menu celebrates Brazilian and Portuguese influences. The portions are generous, flavors authentic, and ingredients feel fresh. The seafood especially shines.

The service was friendly, attentive, and accommodating, even when the place was crowded. The atmosphere is relaxed and perfect for a night out with friends or a romantic dinner.

This place has my highest recommendation - from the moment you arrive, the combination of warm service, fresh food, and spectacular views of Guanabara Bay make it a must-visit.

Suggestions:

1- Because it’s popular, arrive early to avoid long waits and crowds, or reserve ahead if you want a nice table.

2- Try the takeaway option and sit on the harbor wall for...

Arrived for sunset as this was the place recommended by tons of locals, and the bar below was closed. We went to the restaurant above and were seated with a nice view of the water. Unfortunately during winter, we didn’t see the sunset at all, and it was behind the view of the restaurant.

The food was pretty good, we ordered the shrimp bobo, bolinhos de bacalau, and maracuja caipirinhas. It was nice to have a coconut, shrimp dish from the northeast with farofa and arroz. The bolinhos de bacalau were the highlight in my view, with good flavor development and perfect frying. I had to ask for salt since it seemed absent from the food. The caipirinhas were pretty tasty too.

All this with a fine dining experience and the distinct impression of being watched and a bit talked about was a detractor for me. I get that my group wasn’t local, but it doesn’t help a sense of being welcomed to a restaurant from this service. You can be very attentive and pleasant without staring and exchanging words with coworkers in plain sight.

Would like to try the bar next time, and hopefully in season to catch a...

We went to Bar Urca for dinner on our second night in Rio. The main reason we chose this restaurant was because we read that they serve Camarão na Moranga—shrimp stuffed in a pumpkin. My girlfriend had been talking about this dish for years, ever since she first tried it during a trip to Rio nine years ago. Based on online reviews, Bar Urca seemed like the perfect spot to find it.

The restaurant is located in Urca, a quiet, peaceful neighborhood with a charming vibe. The space itself is small, and the dining area is upstairs with a lovely view. The staff was super friendly and helpful—probably tied for the best service we had during the whole trip.

As for the Camarão na Moranga—it was absolutely delicious and did not disappoint! The portion was huge—way too much food for just the two of us. Honestly, this dish could easily serve 3 to 4 people. We left completely stuffed.

If you're ever in Rio, definitely give this place a try—and if you love shrimp, this...