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.

Good option for a local breakfast, good service too…read more Buena opción para un desayuno local, buen servicio también.

Casa da Tata's looks and feels like your grandma's house. The daily cake offerings are fantastic as…read moreis the coffee. The atmosphere is quiet and oftentimes people are just hanging out working on their laptops or reading a book. Besides breakfast, they also post lunch specials on their website. The feijoada I had one Saturday afternoon was on point...the farofa was the best I've had, fluffy and toasty but not overly salted. Maybe I should start a farofa review blog...

I had a very poor experience at this Nespresso "Boutique" store today. I'm an American living in…read moreRio and have been to this Nespresso shop many times. In fact, I spend lots of money there every month. Or should I say, I used to spend lots of money there every month. I will now find a different coffee to buy, or at least a different Nespresso store. The problem began when the clerk offered a free coffee, as usual, after I had purchased my pods. It's very nice they offer free coffee when you go in to buy their coffee pods, I admit, but it's one of the reasons people continue to frequent their shop - the little extras that you come to enjoy when you go there and pay top dollar for their coffee. She asked if I'd like coffee with milk and I said yes, but when she gave me the coffee it was black. That was ok, a simple mistake. So, I went to the barista making coffee and asked for a little milk. Mind you, the milk was sitting right there in a little pot. After I asked, in my broken Portuguese, he said something I didn't understand...very rudely, I might add. I tried pointing to the milk, and he became very agitated and turned his back on me. I thought it was a language barrier problem, so I tried asking again, to his back. He then went and got the clerk that had helped me with my purchase. She spoke English. When I explained that I just wanted a little milk in my coffee, she explained that the type of coffee she had made for me didn't come with milk. I asked if she could please add a little milk...it was right there. She explained that only two types of coffee were allowed to have milk added to them. I thought I was in the Twilight Zone. To her credit, she did offer to make a different coffee for me, but by then I was embarrassed by the whole exchange. It was the attitude of the employees more than the incident. The store was full and I felt like everyone was watching this unfold. I left feeling embarrassed and unsettled over a free coffee that I didn't really want or need in the first place.

Whenever I need my coffee fix (the addict that I am...), I would choose Cafeina over Starbucks. (I…read morestill go to starbucks though and I am a fan... my starbucks baristas, please don't abandon me...) They have a breakfast menu (which, for the variety and quality of what they are serving, I can get it for slightly cheaper elsewhere. Not that the food is bad though, its decent, just talking about the price). They also have a wide selection of cakes (which I'm not a fan of because the few that I have tried so far has been too sweet for my liking), pastries (the ones I have tried are not too bad), pasta and sandwiches (which I have not tried), soups (decent) and some other stuff on their menu too. p/s : wifi password (regardless which branch you go to) : cafeina2014 (it was 2013 when i went in 2013 :p)

We stopped by this cafe for a light dinner and while it wasn't bad, nothing stood out as above…read moreaverage to us. I ordered the potato and chicken soup (~R$29), which could have used a lot more seasoning. My friend ordered the Caesar salad (~R$16) and mix sandwich (~R$18). The Caesar salad was so bland - you could see the dressing but it literally has no effect on your taste buds. The sandwich was decent, nothing special. The one thing that really did hit it out of the park was the pineapple juice - so good!! However, my friends strawberry smoothie (R$12) was wayyyyy too sweet. Overall, would come here again for only coffee, pastries or pineapple juice. P.S. Wifi password is Cafeina2015 (or whichever year it happens to be)

I had quite a pleasant experience at Anna. Even though we chose a seafood dish, we still wanted a…read morered wine and couldn't decide on one they would be light enough to accompany our food selection. Our waiter helped us settle on an amazing primativo puglia that paired really well! It still had some body by was light enough to go with sea food. This place is pricey but worth a visit if you feel like being classy and eating some good fresh food. It is definitely an older crowd inside, but we had a good classy time.

Confeitaria Colombo at Forte de Copacabana is an absolute must-visit in Rio. The access is easy,…read moreand it felt much less crowded than the famous original location downtown, which made the experience even more enjoyable. This century-old café is full of history, and having coffee here with a breathtaking view of Ipanema Beach and Sugarloaf Mountain is simply unforgettable. The ocean breeze makes everything feel extra special, and the service was excellent from start to finish. After eating, it's the perfect spot to continue your day with a walk along Copacabana or a visit to the fort museum right next door. I came with my family and had the chance to try several dishes. The cappuccino was outstanding, with the perfect balance of sweetness and a warm touch of cinnamon. The American toast with jam was delicious, and we also tried the pistachio éclair, which was very good, although it tasted more like a creamy filling than a strong pistachio flavor. The pastel de nata was small but really tasty as well. My favorite, though, was the "Queijo do Forte," a breaded brie that was absolutely incredible. The Assado de Gorgonzola was also perfectly prepared, full of rich flavor, and the meat was cooked just right. As a final highlight, I loved being able to enjoy a truly fresh natural orange juice with lunch -- something I really miss when I'm abroad. A perfect mix of food, tradition, and one of the best views in Rio.

A trip to Rio is incomplete without visiting Confeitaria Colombo. We visited this spot at the fort…read moreand it was packed. Every outdoor seat by the beach was taken and a few spots indoor were available. We ordered the brigadeiro, chocolate tarte devoured it and left. The prices did seem high as compared to other places but I guess thats cos they are popular. Overall a good visit after a long walk by Copacabbana beach.