Came to Cervantes for lunch after seeing great reviews on Yelp. It's in Copacabana but about 3-4…read moreblocks away from the beach. My friend and I sat outside and ordered sandwiches--what they specialize in. The service was the fasted we received so far. Staff was friendly. I ordered the filet sandwich and a shrimp pastry similar to an empanada. Both were delicious--what stood out was the bread. Definitely check out this little spot if you are in the Copacabana area of Rio!

I got the ham, cheese, and pineapple sandwich. Very tasty. The bread was very good. I was there at…read morea downtime I think. Walked right in and had attentive staff get me exactly what I wanted.

Anthony Bourdain went here (on TV) not once but twice. His first visit is featured in "A Cook's…read moreTour". His second, 10 years later, on "No Reservations". I went here 3 times in a single week. There's something to be said for the allure of simple food, especially when consumed on one of the world's most fascinating beaches. Barraca do Uruguai is a sand-based stand at Posto 9 on Ipanema Beach. Posto 9, for those not already up on this stuff, is the most desirable stretch of beach in all of Ipanema or Copacabana. It's where the gorgeous people play. It's where my 23-year old son declared he "got whiplash" from turning his head all day to look at the barely covered lasses. As Mr. Bourdain says, it's where you go to "look at women you're never going to sleep with". He also implores one to "run, don't walk, to the ONLY place for sandwiches on this beach". Are you getting the picture? Barraca do Uruguai really does make some delicious sandwiches. They're inexpensive, prepared to order, and are the perfect accompaniment to the Caipirinha or beer you'll no doubt purchase as an accompaniment. The staff here - a mama bear owner who prepares the sandwiches plus gorgeous, friendly, English-speaking Uruguayan men - doesn't hurt. I never quite figured out how the seating thing works on this beach but they invited me to sit in their section and said they'd take care of me and my stuff all day. They rent beach chairs as well and I'm sure it's no accident that half the gorgeous crowd parks themselves in this section of beach. The sandwiches, which consist of meat, sauce, onions (maybe), and roll range in price from BRL $12 - $18 (about $3 - $4.50 US). Their menu says they have meat-based appetizers, for a bit more money, but I never saw the need. These sandwiches (and drinks) are all you need for a perfect day on Ipanema Beach. Simultaneously light but hearty, you won't need to wait 30 minutes after consuming until you can head back into the ocean. There are a ton of things being hawked as you bake on the shores of Ipanema. Indulge in some of those most definitely. But, when you want to experience great sandwiches without leaving the sand, head for the blue-and-white striped Uruguyan flag, like everyone else.

I was very excited to find Barraca do Uruguay on Yelp last year - almost as excited as I was to see…read moreAnthony Bourdain discover them a couple years before that. As I wait in the airport to depart Brasil with a head full of fine memories, I'm giving a well-deserved review that is long overdue. When on my nearly-annual trips to Rio over the past 10 years or so, I've always spent a day or few on the beach at Barraca do Uruguay. In addition to that they occupy the best spot on the best big-city beach on the planet, they make those celebrated sandwiches, and they are a great family to meet. My favorite is the chicken (frango), with grilled onions, that chimichurri sauce, and a dab of the hot pepper sauce. Add a caipirinha or a can of Skol and I am very, very happy, and truly ready to appreciate the entire beautiful Posto 9 scene. Also available is bottled water, sodas, and chilled coconuts, and you should have at least one coconut-full of juice in order to keep your potassium levels up in the Rio heat. Up until a couple years ago, they used to BBQ the meat on site; however, the city no longer allows that. Moving the BBQ-ing off-site has only minimally detracted from the flavors and the heat of the meat. If you want to go in the water, ask and they'll guard your bag in their stand. (Bonus Rio beach tip: bring minimal items to the beach, and what you do bring, put in a plastic shopping bag, which is less likely to tempt theft than your Gucci purse or murse or whatever you usually lug around). A day at the beach with them, including chair and umbrella rental, a couple of sandwiches, and all the beer you can handle will set you back under US$25/pp. Hi to Fabiola, Gonzalo, Tania, and the rest of the family - I hope to see you all again very soon. Saudades :)

Best sandwich shop in Rio! Great location, amazing food and pretty cool ambient. They have burger…read morefestivals every Thursday, which are delicious! They have their own draft beer which is delicious, and their beer menu is the best. This place is much more than just a sandwich shop. It's an amazing experience with great food in a such cool designed place! It's a must go!

Good local (Sao Paulo) craft beer, Colorado. Simple but good menu with quality fast food. Service…read moredecent. Place to visit

I couldn't be happier discovering this cute little restaurant with fantastic fresh food presented…read moreby the friendly smiling staff. The place is small but so homely and they have a great choice of soups, salads and sandwiches everyday. That being said, this place is one of the few places in Rio where I had a good cappuccino. Two thumbs up!

Bom dia! This is the place to get your açaí fix…read more Ordering from this place is a Brazilian experience and the staff here are used to having foreigners. They can understand English but even if they don't they want you to shout your order to them in your best Portuguese. They know what you want even before you open your month. And yes the açaí smooth is delicious. It's less sweet and more nuttier compared to the style they serve in the US. So I like it! I recommend getting the small size so you can leave room to try the other foods. Short walk to the beach so it's to the beach but hustle vibe.

This is a freshly churned out smoothie and cafe located in a busy street corner. The Acai smoothie…read morethat I got was definitely super fresh, and you could hear them making it in the back. It felt a bit industrialized just because they get so many orders, but it must have been authentic because it melted so quickly. The acai has a fruity, and soft-serve like consistency and its definitely very good. I'd recommend getting additional toppings because the flavor can get repetitive after a little bit. still a must try spot though!

I just came back from South America and although Yelp has no presence in many parts of the…read morecontinent that I visited, I at least can blast out reviews on Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires!! I'm obviously not a Carioca (Rio local) so this review is geared more towards other people from the U.S. that visit Rio for the first time like me. Although I think they thought I was local or at least Brazilian because people would ask me for directions, ask me to watch their stuff at the beach, try to make conversation with me, all in Portuguese! Street vendors didn't even really bother me. I noticed they would first try in Portuguese with me, but in English with other tourists around me LMAO. I realized Brazilians look so mixed race that a Filipino from the U.S. could easily be mistaken for a Carioca. I think I just fit the skin tone swatch of the city. I feel like I look very favela-ish. I believe Megamatte is a chain cafe around Rio. This location is near Fort Copacabana, in an area called Arpoador, which is the area in between the main attraction beaches, Copacabana and Ipanema. So if you're making the walk between beaches along the main drag, then you are bound to pass by. You might as well stop in and grab some classic Brazilian treats because they are delicious here. Unbeknownst to me, I happened to arrive really early in the morning on their Proclamation Day (aka Independence Day) so lo-and-behold all the businesses were closed till 3 pm...except this one. How great a stumble this was because it was the perfect, convenient, easy, and quick snack breakfast to start my first day in Rio before going straight to the beach. The main things you wanna try here are their 1) Huge, soft, and extra cheesy pao de queijos, the Brazilian cheese bread everyone loves, 2) Guarana drinks of which they have many flavors, but I liked the original plain gaurana, which is a sweet drink made from some plant, not carbonated, but not juice either--it's like this weird but tasty "in-between" drink, and 3) Acai, which we all know and love--you can also get these on the street, but if you want them from a store, this is a good place to go. It really is a great cafe to transition your taste buds to some of the staples of Brazilian eats before you delve into the world of street/beach food, feijoada, moqueca, and churrasco! They also have all kinds of little pastries (savory and sweet, some recognizable, some not) and cakes displayed in their cases, so it's easy to just point to what looks delicious if you don't speak Portuguese. Although eggs and pancakes will likely be available complimentary in your hotel, it's nice to try what Brazilians (and other South Americans) eat for breakfast on the daily (aka not eggs and pancakes lol). Although I was able to check into our hotel very early, if you arrive before check in time and you're not able to check in, just leave your bags with the concierge and start strolling the beaches IMMEDIATELY. If you come across this place, it looks very tiny (with very little seating) and very local, but stop in and try a few things or save them for later as snacks! They accept credit cards and they're cheap.

Very small shop near Ipanema beach. Staff was very kind in helping me in half english, half…read morePortuguese - I really appreciated the kindness and great customer service. Enjoyed a pizza croissant, and espresso. Good stop for early morning coffee fix ;-)

What's not to like about delicious pestiscos (Brazilian tapas), fresh caipirinhas, and homely…read moreBrazilian service all by the beach! The caldinho de feijão, essentially a cup of black bean "soup", was served with chicharrones and was so flavorful, I could have had a whole bowl of it. The highlight for me was definitely the empada de palmito, like a mini pot pie of palm hearts, it was so creamy, smooth and the pastry melts in your mouth. Of course can't pass on a caipirinha de maracujá (passion fruit), this one was probably the freshest of the whole trip! If you're in the Leblon area, stop by here after a beach day for an incredible Brazilian lunch

I stopped here for an afternoon snack and a drink and had the loveliest time. The staff was warm,…read morewelcoming and attentive. My passion fruit caipirinha was delicious. And the shrimp & cheese ball was fantastic, I had 2 orders. Looking forward to returning on my next visit.

A quick stroll from the JW Marriott, the goodies in the display case are enticing and the staff…read morewere very friendly. Initially, I went in to ask for help finding a bank ATM and the cashier was very patient with my Google translate plea. Long story short, my ATM card did not work at that bank but we stopped by later for a coffee and something sweet. Lots of locals and tourists enjoying an afternoon treat. Service was slow but hey- we were on vacation!

The Bakers came highly recommended by our hotel for breakfast. The restaurant itself is not so…read morewelcoming as it seems to mainly be a bakery with what feels like a restaurant add-on. Service was quite slow and the food we ordered took quite some time to come. Overall, the food did seem to be decent quality - and eggs were not too greasy. Fruit salad was also tasty and came with a generous serving of papaya. Overall, not outstanding, but if you are looking for a basic breakfast to fuel you for the day you can definitely find it here.

A old-school looking bakery in Ipanema with a ton of different pastry options! This is definitely a…read moretop pick for baked goods in Rio since everything is made pretty fresh. We got a few different ones to try and the bread here is super fresh. Highly would recommend the sweet pastries. The salty/ savory options were decent as well. Definitely want to try everything here when I have a sweet tooth, the pastry desserts are great if you love sweets!

We tried the acai and the chicken pastel (baked). Both were average. The acai was too sweet and the…read morepastel was a little dry. Recommend you go a few doors down to Porto do Sabor, where you will find better versions of both!

I really like the franchise, but that one, isn t my favorite…read more They don t havesome things equal to raimundo carreia franchise.