Café do Alto — Restaurant in Região Geográfica Imediata do Rio de Janeiro

This is a really sweet location. For those who speak English, most of the staff is bilingual (Portuguese and English), and they were very accommodating of my beginner Portuguese and translated things for me that I didn’t understand. The food is really good—classic Brazilian breakfast and lunch—and they were also great about adding extra things to my meals! I recommend the collard greens! I was so glad to see them on the menu (there aren’t many vegetable options at restaurants in Brazil in my limited experience), and even though my meal didn’t come with them, they let me add them on. They were flavorful, and sautéed with garlic. I even ordered some to go! While we were eating there, a woman came up to our table (the windows were open and she approached us from out on the street) and asked if she could have our leftover breakfast. The staff was really kind to her and boxed it up for her, and translated our gladness for her to take what we didn’t eat, and her gratitude for the food. I ate here 3 times while I was in Rio—it was THAT good! I had the Bolinho de camarão, the bobó de camarão, and the tapioca original, some fresh juices, and it was all delightful....

Pleasant setting, but vastly overpriced and underwhelming breakfast. R$69.50 inc tax for two scrambled eggs, a few pieces of fried cheese, and a basic coffee felt extremely steep. Especially when just 8 mins walk down the hill on the corner of Rue do Oriente and R. Aurea at an unnamed local cafe with red walls, ornate fans, and no menu (you just ask for what you want and the price) you get the local experience. Three eggs, the same cheese, and coffee for R$16.90 — both eggs in both spots were cooked much like eggs you might find in Chinese fried rice as opposed to European style scrambled eggs. That said, the surroundings at Cafe do Alto were lovely, and the young male waiter was a highlight: friendly, attentive, and genuinely pleasant.

Still, I’m not quite sure how they justify charging R$30 for two hard-cooked eggs — unless they flew in the chicken from Paris and made it listen to...

Excellent representation of food from Brazil's Northeastern Region - arguably the country's best cuisine. The area around is not for a lingering visit - you'll get there by Uber and then come back, maybe catch some street music before. But the food is absolutely delicious! Well worth the visit. Service is also great and they are used to welcoming foreigners. Prices are quite reasonable - a main course costs about 12 dollars. We had the two plates that the (lovely) waitress recommended: the "Rubacao" (rice, beans, cheese, meat, pink pepper) and the "Xinxim de Galinha" (rice, chicken on a ginger sauce, cashew nuts, shrimp and coconut oil). They were both huge, mouthwatering and we left completely full. The place is also known for its traditional breakfast - often voted the best in Rio. You won't find this type of food outside Brazil - and rarely outside the...