The variety of cuisines available in Buzios makes it a gastronomic paradise. Seafood and fish is an integral part of the Buzios cuisine but the expatriate population who made Buzios their home brought along with them French, Italian, Moroccan and Thai preparations.
For an excellent selection of food to satisfy your taste buds, head to Rua das Pedras where most of the Buzios restaurants are located!
After discovering all the shops in Buzios, you are sure to have a little hunger pain and deciding what to eat and where to go is always a problem. To overcome this obstacle and allow you to enjoy your holidays, we have provided you with some basic information on the local food, cuisine and restaurants in our Buzios Restaurant Guide below. If you want to learn further information on the Brazilian cuisine, refer to our Brazil restaurant guide.
Buzios caters to every taste with regard to food and draws its inspiration not only from Brazil but also from the rest of the world. Tourists are spoiled for choice in this little beach resort but there are some specialities such as the Grouper served on Banana Leaf with Mango Chutney, Rump Cut served with Crazy Rice on a stone grill and Salad with Avocados, which can only be found in select Buzios restaurants.
Restaurants in Buzios
One of the best known restaurants is the Cigalon, which is housed in the building where Brigitte Bardot stayed in the 60s. Located on the Rua das Pedras and close to several Buzios Hotels, they serve a delectable array of seafood here, which is strongly influenced by French cooking. Besides the delicious grilled fish and seafood crepes, honeyed chicken breast with ginger, melon and spices, large shrimps with 'coffee mignonette' and mashed sweet potato with vanilla are also served.
Thai food is also extremely popular here and these restaurants in Buzios can be included among the best. Appetisers in the Thai restaurants include dishes such as crab spring rolls and mango salad with fresh shrimp. A great preparation to try is the grilled salmon medallion with sliced mango, served with a sweet and sour sauce, mint and pink peppers. There are a number of pizzerias in Buzios which cater to both the budget and upscale travellers. These pizzas are made from fresh ingredients and fired in a clay oven.
Local food and cuisine
Although Buzios has earned a reputation for being upmarket, with expensive restaurants and dining options, there are a number of places which sell food by the kilo. The trend seemed to have started with a restaurant called Boom, but has caught on rapidly. There are about 20 such outlets today. Also, since life in Buzios revolves around the coast, tourists can be seen on the beaches until 8 pm, especially in summer. Most of the kiosks get filled up only after ten in the night. Clubs operate from 12 midnight until the wee hours of the morning.
While lazing on the beach you can always grab a bite or a drink at any one of the kiosks and bars in Buzios. Most of these small restaurants have a similar menu consisting of grilled fresh anchovies, snapper, shrimp and squid. There are a number of such kiosks on Ferradura Beach and you must not miss the crisp shrimp pastry and the great sandwiches they serve. Other seafood preparations include risottos with shrimp, brie, asparagus and truffle oil, and snowy grouper served with mushrooms, meat and pasta. Apart from the fish, the Brazilian jerked beef, the Alessandro which is made with cheese, ham, tomato and oregano and the catupiry cream cheese crepes are absolutely mouth watering. Simply called the 'Buzios Dish', this local preparation is inexpensive and tasty.
Desserts
Mil Frutas, Brazil's famous ice cream chain has an outlet in Buzios and you can find their trademark specialities such as the cheesecake ice cream, guava paste and cheese ice cream here. Other desserts include the banana, crunchy chocolate bits and vanilla ice cream crepe and the ever popular banana and chocolate pies at Café Mare Mansa.
Restaurants List
Bar do Zé
This trendy bar that turned into a restaurant is located opposite the town's pier on Orla Bardot, displaying an amazing view of Armação Beach's bay front. Bar do Zé is considered the best steak and seafood restaurant in Buzios gathering groups of friends and young couples. With great food and wine, perfect seating arrangements and good but inconspicuous service, it has a very relaxed atmosphere. The candles on balcony and hall tables leave a romantic touch. The owner and his beautiful wife are both surfing lovers, which explains why the walls are filled with oil paintings of waves from Hawaii and Brazil.
International Cuisine
Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 382 (Orla Bardot) (Praia da Armação)
55 22 2623-4986
Sawasdee
Sawasdee brings to Buzios the exotic Thai mixture under the command of Chef Mark Sodré and makes you feel that you really are in Thailand. With a diverse cellar, this superb restaurant is located right on the waterfront just a few steps away from the famous Brigitte Bardot bronze statue. The menu is wide, with perfect broiled seafood and delectable vegetables and sauces.
Thai cuisine
Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 422 (Orla Bardot) (Praia da Armação)
This traditional restaurant of Rua das Pedras is impressively decorated, combining elegance and rusticity, together with a wonderful view. Its decoration also grabs a lot of attention by honoring several countries. Some of the favorites of the menu are: lobster, sea board, goulash and onion soup au gratin, with drinks and great desserts. A curiosity of the house is the bed of Brigitta, "where women who go topless, get 50% discount."
Strategically located in Rua das Pedras and with stunning views of the sea, this Cuba inspired restaurant offers an interesting mixture of whiskey, a cigar store and a bistro with international cuisine. Always offering musical attractions, Patio Havana has five rooms: bistro (the best of international cuisine), tobacco (cigars Cubans and Dominicans, among many others), Club whiskey (Scotch accompanied by a pool table), Patio (snacks and drinks) and wine (the best wines).
Buzin's multi-cuisine menu includes a wonderful buffet by the kilo, supplemented by the barbecue where a wonderful Argentine beef is prepared. Its lovingly decorated space provides warmth and a charming setting, with bricks, glass and a canoe hanging from the ceiling.
Satisfaction is the watchword in Don Juan: Argentine beef, a very complete wine cellar and tango music accentuate the South American mood of the restaurant, famous for the chop steak and wine cellar Trapiche; one of the best on the world!
David is one of the most traditional restaurants in Buzios and our top choice! With fair prices and superior quality homemade food, this restaurant is certainly a great option. Dining choices range from feijoada to lobster, and guests will also find varieties of pasta, meat, salad, dessert and juice to suit all tastes. We recommend ordering seafood or a fresh fish, since this is a fisherman`s restaurant. Our crew loves the badejo fish with shrimp sauce!
Seafood/variety food
Rua Manoel Turíbio de Farias 260 - Centro
(22) 2623-2981
Boom
Boom is a traditional restaurant that specializes in grilled food and a variety items that are purchased by the kilo. They serve pasta, salad, Japanese cuisine, and seafood. The restaurant has charming decor with chandeliers made of bottles and potted plants built into the walls and lit. Boom is a great choice for lunch with the family and it is known to get a little crowded after beach time.
Variety food by kilo
Rua Manoel Turíbio de Farias, 110 | Centro - Armação dos Búzios
Captains serves Asian cuisine in the care of chef Fabiano Chaves, who was twice awarded first place at the Festival Gourmet in Buzios. The restaurant is a meeting place for all types of interesting people and serves a tasting menu on Thursdays.
Japanese food
Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 2900 lj 14, Manguinhos, Porto da Barra - Centro Gastronômico de Búzios, RJ
Relaxed and with panoramic views over Orla Bardot, Capricciosa is a well known restaurant in Buzios and is often very busy during the high season. It is the fanciest pizza restaurant in Buzios and has been a popular option since its opening in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Its fresh ingredients deliver delicious pizzas and calzones to the guests. The restaurant also offers a delightful and famous cold-cut and antipasto buffet. On the top of that, the homemade bread completes the range of traditional appetizers.
Pizza
Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 500 (Orla Bardot) (Praia da Armação).
The highly respected Quatro Rodas, a Brazilian guidebook, has classified Zuza among the best restaurants in Búzios. The carioca chef, Christopher Cabicieri, runs the restaurant offering a relaxed and singular gastronomy, based on a combination of ingredients from different cuisines. On Sundays, we recommend you to order its feijoada, prepared with meats smoked at home.
International cuisine
Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 2900, lj. 5 (Porto da Barra) (Manguinhos).
Located strategically in the middle of Rua das Pedras, Chez Michou is a crepe restaurant that has become one of the hallmarks of Buzios. More than just a creperie, Chez Michou has become a popular meeting point for young and interesting people who seek a little more than its delicious crepes. The outdoor environment, modern music and big screens with images of sports and music, provide a special atmosphere. You can simply go to the counter, choose your favourite crepe and wait for your name called over the PA system while still enjoying all the charm of the environment and people. Important information is that the payment should be made in cash.
