Designer

We call it designer because apart from being super tasty the plates look like works of modern art. The award-winning Ludmilla, the head-chef at Zuka, has some of the most creative presentations for her international mix restaurant, serving everything from Brazilian classics to Thai satays to French nouveau. Bring a camera as you will want to photograph, print in large format and frame these true works of art.

Where to Eat: Zuka
Be sure to make reservations as it quickly packs on weekends.
Rua Dias Ferreira, 233 Leblon :: tel: 3205-7154
Mon 7pm-1am, Tue- Fri 12pm-4pm & 7pm-1am; Sat 1pm-1am,
Sun 1pm-midnight

Contemporary

Zero Zero is the author’s favorite restaurant+club in Rio: you can have a delicious dinner inside or outside, then sit in the outdoor terrace under the stars, digest with a cigar, then head over to their tiny dance floor (the best type) and party when the DJ warms up. Everything on their menu is finessed. There newly opened sushi-bar is very popular amongst Rio`s mature clubbers.

Where to Eat: 00 (Zero Zero)
Rua Padre Leonel Franca 240, Gavea (Planetario)
tel: 2540-8041
All week 8pm - 1am

Romantic

Zazá Bistro, a cute little corner house decorated to South Asian chic is an ideal for couples as well as for groups of friends. The downstairs has a little balcony and interior with tables, while the upstairs is pillows and rugs surrounding Moroccan tables where you can take off your shoes. The menu is light and balanced, pursuing combinations between flavorful spices such as ginger, lemon grass and curry with healthy, non-fried organic foods. The ambient music deserves a mention, as well as the traditional and exotic drinks from the experienced bartenders.

Where to Eat: Zazá Bistro
Rua Joana Angelica 40, Ipanema :: tel:2247-9101
Sun-Thu 7:30pm - 12:30am, Fri-Sat 7:30pm-1:30am

BRAZILIAN COMFORT

Travel back to the 70s, when furniture was funky and food was simpler. Now take those simpler recipes and fuse them with 21st century twists. That´s right, chef created Brazilian comfort food. While you wait for seating, try any of their drinks. Work your way down the drink menu. As soon as you seat, instead of ordering entrees, ask for one of each from the appetizer menu, so you can have a real gastronomic odyssey. By the end you´ll understand why Roberta Ciasca won best new chef by Veja Rio Magazine and Gula Magazine, the highest local titles.

WHERE TO EAT: MIAM MIAM
Tue-Fri 7pm to midnight, Sat 8pm to 130am
Rua General Góes Monteiro 34, Botafogo
tel: 2244-0125 www.miammiam.com.br
restaurante@miammiam.com.br

AFTER HOUR

Felice is one of those tasteful places you can just hangout all day and all night: its got a great breakfast, a healthy lunch, varied gourmet ice-cream flavours at the parlour, a hip sunset after-hour vibe, a well behaved, St Tropez inspired dinner menu with a fair cost X benefit, and a lounge crowd after 11pm. This is where Calvin Klein hangs when in Rio. So, we decided to add them to our dinner options, but they could really be anywhere in this book. Located half a block from Ipanema beach, be sure to hang out after your first day at the beach. Have a caipirinha while people watching. Then start glimpsing at their dinner menu.

WHERE TO EAT: FELICE
Mon-Thu noon to 1am, Fri noon to 3am,
Sat 10 am to 3 am, Sun 10am to 1am
Rua Gomes Carneiro 30 Ipanema
2522-7749
www.felice.com.br

GRILL

For sophisticated people who enjoy a simple life, ViaSete is located in the heart of Ipanema, on Garcia D´Avila. This grill restaurant offers a great bang for the buck: From their varanda you get to people watch pretty Brazilians showing off their shopping bags, while enjoying ViaSete´s patented alcoholic frozen in Brazilian fruit flavors, while munching on their tuna tartar (a must, possibly Rio´s best), while waiting for your grilled burger, among Rio´s best, to arrive. You feel hip, not because of the movers and shakers around you, but because you are having a great time.

WHERE TO EAT: VIASETE
Sun-Wed noon to midnight, Thu- Sat noon to 1am
Rua Garcia D´ávila 125, Ipanema
2512-8100
www.viasete.com.br