I hate when I take non-vegan friends to a vegan restaurant and they enjoy it more than I do…read more It was my fault, I've never had gnocchi in my life before and they make a vegan version of it here! Too bad it tastes like crap. Blechhh. The mushroom sauce was worthy, but the gnocchi itself was mushy and made me think I was eating half digested food. The amount of parsley on top also made me feel like I was eating grass. *Insert joke about how veg*ns eat nothing but grass* So why 4 stars? Because everything else on the table was so good! It actually took every fiber of my being to try and enjoy my dish while we tasted each others. Stir fried noodles? Amazing. Italian sandwich? Unexpectedly savory and full of flavor. I had to feign 'fullness' and stop eating. I was actually still pretty hungry but the gnocchi was that bad. :( We all had dessert and those were just super decadent and yummy! The caipirinhas and beer were all cold, refreshing, and perfect on a warm day. So yeah, I just chose the bad apple on the menu. Better luck next time. Oh! One more thing, the chef here? Can we say absolute Brazilian Eye Candy? Yummy, I wish I could trade my dish in for him. And I think he saw us (my and my 2 girlfriends) catching glances roughly every 2.5 seconds. A good looking man that can cook? Wonder who the lucky lady is! ;D

So, many traditional Brazilian dishes and items feature meat. As a pescatarian, I can of course…read morehave fish (which I love), but I was a little nervous about how many things I'd actually be able to eat and enjoy during my time here. Well, come to find out, Brazil actually has a little vegetarian and vegan movement going on. Surprised? I was too, but glad that I found one veggie spot in Copacabana, Bio Carioca. There's a really low key vibe here, pretty much a no-frills environment. Yet, you can find an abundant amount of options, even featuring gluten free and vegan options. I was there for breakfast (which, isn't really a prime meal there, so, it's nice to find places serving it), so started out with a Cafe (an espresso shot, if you want more of a traditional "coffee", order an americano). Then, since I'm an egg fanatic, and even though it didn't seem like the most "exciting" thing on the menu, I ordered Omelete com pimenta biquinho e alho poro (leek and local bell pepper). You also get a choice of cheese in any of your omelets, mozzarella or ricotta. I chose ricotta, but, they messed that up and gave me mozzarella, whatever. The omelete was good, but what I especially loved was the local bell pepper, different from any domestic pepper I've had. These tiny little guys packed a lot of flavor, and a little bit of heat too.

This is my favorite place from my trip to brazil. After the Moqueca, the food here was so unique…read moreand amazing. Its a cute vegan restaurant with great service. The menu is diverse and caters to different tastes. Stand out dishes: I enjoyed the lavender lemonade. Seitan baits with korean sauce had perfect crunch and it was my first time trying out seitan. Tofu with sesame crust with black rice. It was my first time having black rice but it paired really well with smoky tofu. The texture was great! Compared to the above dishes, i felt aromatic Burmese rice didn't stand out as much. Same with the batata rustica. These classic dishes were good however the menu has so many other interesting choices that might be fun to explore and taste great!

When traveling abroad researching vegan options is a most. Brazil is a meat eating country. I was…read morepleasantly surprised to find a 100% vegan restaurant in the Ipanema area of Rio. There were traditional Brazilian dishes prepared as a vegan option. Some of the options were not to my liking. The server was kind enough to remove it from my bill. I highly recommend Teva if you find yourself in Rio de Janeiro.

Short walk from the JW Marriott, this outside dining option offered some snacks and the breakfasts…read morelooked plentiful. The falafal was a bit different but the fresh juice and smoothies were refeshing. The acai bowls looked tempting but we did not have time to try. Service was pleasant and patient with our google translate. Everywhere seems to accept Visa without issues,

Bibi Sucos has a lot of great options for breakfast and lunch, but I came in to try one of their…read moreaçaí bowls. As a visitor, this is a must when in Brazil. I ordered a small bowl and it was a big portion. Toppings are an extra charge, individually priced, and come on the side. I chose bananas, toasted coconut, and honey. The acai bowl is sweet enough on its own, so honey isn't necessary, but the toasted coconut added a great texture. This is a great restaurant. There is plenty of indoor and covered outdoor seating, a colorful atmosphere, and I was attended to quickly.

For my last meal in Rio De Janeiro, I wanted to find an all vegan place. This place was not too far…read moreof a cab ride away from Sugarloaf, so we decided to come here. A small quaint cafe, decorated by paintings and art, with the warm sun pouring through the windows. This was the perfect setting for a quiet lunch for 2. I ordered the 'vegan' special of the day, which was a full 3 course meal! It started off with a warm and creamy Butternut Squash soup which hit all the right spots and sent warm tingly feelings through my body. The main course was this super inventive and creative Eggplant dish which consisted of a sesame seed encrusted Eggplant Patty over a bed of spiced vermicelli noodles, topped with crisp Nori. It also came with a heaping side of seasoned vegetables. This dish was incredibly delicious and nothing I've ever eaten or seen anywhere else. The patty was crisp on the outside and chewy in the middle, but it tasted nothing like eggplant I've eaten in any other form. The noodles strangely provided a great combination and the nori on top added texture and salty flavor. The vegetables, though seemingly boring on the outside, was cooked perfectly and had a beautiful herb flavor to it. I devoured the entire patty, but barely put a dent in the vegetable. It was a lot of food for one person. And as if I wasn't full enough already, I still had dessert coming! A light and refreshing dessert that looked like tomato soup, but tasted like papaya slushie. Only more delicate and just a slight hint of sweetness. It really was a perfect dessert after the heavy entree. All the food was perfectly cooked and presented beautifully. The price was also a steal for the full 3-course meal. The staff was super friendly and you can tell they really are proud of their cafe. It looks like they might do Open Mic and/or have live music and poetry on certain occasions because there is a mini stage with a microphone in the corner. It would be cool to come back and check that out. Gaia also provides free Wifi for their guests, which was great for me as a traveler to check in, post photos, and look at all the other amazing dishes they cook here. I am now sad once again while writing this, as I am reminded of the fact that I can't find that Eggplant dish anywhere else in the world. If and when I come back to Rio, Gaia is already on my list of places to eat at again!

I like this place. Great environment for relaxing. Small cafe with large amounts of charm…read more Their hours fluctuate and at times the Mosquitos also dine with you. But otherwise. Great place to enjoy a vegan meal, coffee and free wifi. FREE WIFI. Remember to visit and enjoy.

This was delicious Lebanese food. Shawarma and shish taouk could easily feed three as portions were…read morehuge. Just off the beach so very convenient. Fresh draft beer on tap. Very reasonable prices considering the portion size. Nice little sidewalk seating to dine Al fresco. Super friendly servers and owners.

I called the restaurant after I saw that it says it takes reservations and the lady that answered…read morethe call hung up on me. I called back and asked if anyone spoke English and she said "NO" and told me they don't take reservations and spoke Portuguese and wasn't helpful at all. We are a group of 22 people and needed to make a reservation that was guaranteed. Oh well!

Definitely not vegetarian, has a lot of meat and seafood. Honestly, it's not the most appetizing…read morelocation downstairs, feels a bit crowded and haphazard, but they do have a good selection, especially veggies which can be hard to find in Brazil, and the upstairs seating area is nice and breezy. I am not sure what is organic, however the food does taste healthier than normal, with less salt and oil. Pick a plate, pick what you want, and get it weighed before you eat. Pay after. I have been to tons of these kilo type restaurants, love the concept and wish they had these in the states. A great place to come get a bite to eat, catered to the portions you want.

Living year-round at ground zero for the organic/locavore movement it's easy to forget that much of…read morethe rest of the world doesn't have the access or ability to eat similarly. I'd eaten at New Natural's take out counter three times before learning the name of the place then did a double take when I saw the yelp listing describing it as an "organic shop" and "vegetarian restaurant". Travelers hailing from Northern California will find nothing here that resembles any organic shop or vegetarian restaurant they've ever been to. What New Natural is, from my point of view, is a) a bakery serving savory, meatless pastries and b) a buffet serving all sorts of things including non-vegetarian items. All the other Yelp reviews currently focus on the buffet (laid out in a small, very hot room behind the bakery) which I only viewed but didn't eat at. Let me tell you about the bakery: There, for BRL $6 apiece (less than $2 US) I chose many flaky, buttery pastries that easily constituted a meal even though they were consumed from a paper bag while standing in front of the store. Upon each visit they were offering a special - buy 2 get the 3rd free - which made this the cheapest meal one could imagine. Cheap and good and very near to Ipanema Beach. Many shops offer the traditional Brazilian pasteles but these were not those; these weren't greasy or fried. Of the pastries sampled, the fan favorite was one filled with tomato and ricotta. Wash a couple of these down with some fresh juice from the refrigerated case and you can be back on the beach in no time. I can't vouch for the buffet and I don't know about the organic or vegetarian labels. All I know is that this is the place for excellent, freshly made, savory, meatless pastries. They cost a mere pittance and fill you up darned good. If you're hitting Rio on a budget - or just seeking a quick, filling snack - New Natural's bakery counter is heaven sent. Just don't be searching for an American looking organic shop or you'll never find it.

Great casual spot for food & beer. Heard that Boteco Belmonte is a big chain in Brazil and typical…read morefor a boteco - kind of like a the Brazilian version of a local pub. This location in Copacabana is a block in from the beach. The open air atmosphere made for a great spot to relax and cool off after some time on the beach or sightseeing. We got some Brahma beers served ice cold. I had the seafood moquequa and my friend had the feijoada. The food was tasty, prices were reasonable, and service was good.

Decent food, but very expensive for what it is. You can get a meal directly on the beach with a…read morebetter view for less

#vegan The cutest…read morelittle vegan restuarant in Copacabana. We came back twice to eat more! The place is small and you basically sit on the street to eat. I liked the environment really. The table settings are like little overalls and your utensils sit in the pockets. You do not have to be fancy to go here but OH MY the food is FANCY. oh and DELICIOUS. We started with these crunchy tapioca bits... Im addicted. Get these! The first time I got this gnocche made with plantains and basil.... I need this recipe badly. My sister got the brasilian dish faeshawda (no idea how to spell that). The next time she got the gnocche because it was so good and I tried to rossoti. It came in this massive bowl plate that looked like a tiny serving but it was deep and filling. Overall it was really yummy, it just had a taste of smoked flavor of which Im not a fan. The dishes come beautifully plated, flowers on top. Looks good and tastes good. And the servers were attentive. They do not speak english but we made out fine - he brought me toothpicks when he saw me picking my teeth and brought them out when we returned a few later. We had a good laugh. Prices are good too. This is a place I HIGHLY recommend.

Came here and had a great experience. Service was good. Servers were able to make us comfortable…read moreand speak English, which was nice. It's a cute chill spot for dinner and drinks. Honorable mentions: Shredded Beef Rice- was delicious. Rice cooked to perfection and the beef had amazing flavor. Joaquina's picadinho- beef was a salty for my taste but flavors were delicious. Tapioca Shrimp- these were sooo good appetizers. Good size shrimps and the flavors were delicious. Pasteis (shrimp)- delicious! Came with 2 smaller empanada-type pastries. We wanted to order Pork Rinds and Mini Shrimp Burgers but ran out early that day. We ate around 8 pm so go earlier if you want to try. Definitely a great culinary experience.

We stopped here for our first meal in Rio, and the location alone makes it worth it. It's directly…read moreacross from the beach, so the atmosphere is always alive -- sunshine, music, people walking by, and that effortless Rio energy. It's absolutely a vibe. The drinks were phenomenal. I had a passion fruit caipirinha, and it was fresh, vibrant, and packed with real fruit -- you could see the seeds and citrus in the glass. It was refreshing but also very strong (Rio does not hold back ). If you appreciate a properly made caipirinha with a serious pour, you'll love it. We also tried another cocktail with a beautiful frothy top that was just as impressive -- both drinks were visually stunning and well balanced. For food, since it was my first meal in Brazil, I kept it simple. I ordered a traditional plate with rice, steak in gravy, crispy potatoes, farofa, and a fried egg on top. The flavors were on the milder side, but the portion was generous and extremely filling. It felt comforting and authentic -- a classic Brazilian plate done in a straightforward way.

Had an amazing lunch here today. Everything was delicious. Service was awesome. Vibe was lovely!…read more Salmon crudo salad was refreshing, with a good amount of salmon tartare. The filet mignon was perfectly cooked (I had asked for Medium) and the side of gnocchi was definitely one of the best I had ever eaten. Had a pour of aged Cachaça and one of their special capis ... hit the spot :)

My friend and I popped in for a quick cocktail. We love gin so this place was perfect for us…read more Our server wrote mine as a plain G&T when he took our order (even tho I ordered one of the cute, fruity drinks), but he had the drink remade right away. Sexy, relaxed atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating. The food looks great too! I would definitely come back.