Light, with a crispy crust and soft, airy interior, naturally fermented over a process that can take up to 30 hours (the name is no coincidence), Rafa Brito Pereira’s impeccable breads attract a loyal and lively crowd to the spacious Botafogo flagship and the charming Jardim Botânico branch, Slowzinha. These breads are already halfway—and the cornerstone—toward the best breakfast in the city. Add to that equally well-crafted, artisanal ingredients, either homemade (like butter, yogurt, sour cream, and organic jam) or sourced from small producers, and the table is perfectly set. There are over 15 varieties of bread, from sourdoughs to croissants and focaccias, which are used in dishes such as the gratin croques with d’Alagoa cheese: the Madame (R$ 45) features ham, semi-cured cheese, béchamel sauce, house mustard, and, of course, a brilliant fried egg with a runny yolk on top of sourdough. On Saturdays and Sundays, the brunch in Botafogo gets irresistible additions like the poached Eggs Benedict (R$ 36), served on brioche with béarnaise sauce and grilled bacon slices. Another treat, the New York croissant (R$ 29), is filled with fried egg, sour cream, and organic greens toasted on the griddle. The famous mini skillets with egg yolk in tomato sauce can be accompanied by mushrooms (R$ 33). For drinks, try the excellent house switchel (R$ 25) made with ginger, apple cider vinegar, and honey, or coffee from Serra do Caparaó (ES) in preparations like mocha (R$ 16) with milk foam and chocolate ganache. In the same Botafogo space operates Lazy, featuring a mozzarella bar, natural wines, and pastas such as cappelettone with ricotta and Sicilian lemon, served with miso broth, bacon, and seared greens (R$ 29). Botafogo: Rua General Polidoro 25. Tue to Thu, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fri and Sat, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sun, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jardim Botânico: Rua Maria Angélica 113. Tue to Sat, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Founded in 2014, the establishment owned by partners Paula Prandini, Branca Lee, and Iona Rothstein has won over residents with its all-day breakfast offerings. Today, in addition to its flagship location in Jardim Botânico and branches in Ipanema and the charming Casa Firjan in Botafogo, Empório Jardim has smaller kiosk-style locations at BarraShopping and Shopping Leblon. From a menu of over 100 items, customers mark their choices on a card. Classics include the gruyère cheese bread (R$19.50 for three pieces) and the Greek egg (R$39.50), served with tomato sauce, goat cheese, spinach, and olive tapenade (pictured). Created especially for Rio Gastronomia, the croissant steak tartare (R$53.50) has become a regular menu item: featuring finely chopped filet mignon, pickled red onion, Dijon mustard, arugula, and Parmesan in a croissant. For drinks, the detox juice made with kale, coconut water, ginger, lime, and three drops of Tabasco (R$15.50) is a great choice. Jardim Botânico: Rua Visconde da Graça 51 (2535-9862). Ipanema: Rua Maria Quitéria 62 (2513-5151). Open daily from 8 AM to 7 PM. Three more locations available.
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3º lugar: GUIMAS BRUNCH & BAR
Opened in June just a few meters from the traditional bistro that has gathered a loyal clientele in Baixo Gávea for over 40 years, the new venture by the Mascarenhas family and partner Christiana Azeredo is entirely dedicated to morning delights at any time of day. It has already won over the locals. Served in a cozy salon or at sidewalk tables, the menu, consulted by Argentine Gonzalo Vidal and executed by Chef Yan Thompson, includes classics like salmon gravlax benedicts with poached egg and hollandaise sauce on brioche bread (R$48) and novelties like house-made pita bread with raw filet mignon, mollet egg, and hollandaise (R$42, pictured). From Seu Martin, the establishment run by Domingas Mascarenhas in the 2000s in Leblon, have been revived offerings like the welsh rarebit, a traditional pub appetizer with pita bread, cheese cream, butter, and beer, gratinéed in the oven (R$30). On the sweet side, try the Basque chocolate tart with dulce de leche and vanilla chantilly (R$34), alongside coffees, organic wines, and drinks by Lelo Forti, including the “pingado,” which mixes coffee liqueur, cachaça, and caramel liqueur (R$34). Gávea: Rua Marquês de São Vicente 18, Gávea. Open Monday to Friday, 11 AM to 11 PM. Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM to 11 PM.
Breakfast at Arp flows like the sea. The restaurant at Hotel Arpoador offers a privileged view of the beach, with tables in the dining room, on the terrace, and on the esplanade—the perfect setting for a complete breakfast. The traditional version (R$89) includes coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, milk, orange juice or juice of the day, breads, cheeses, ham, eggs, fruits, yogurt, granola, jam, and a cake of the day. The vegan option (R$89) offers equally delicious substitutions, such as hummus, nut butter, creamy eggplant, mushrooms, vegetables, coconut yogurt, and molasses. Among the à la carte items, new offerings include the pastrami sandwich on house sourdough with Dijon mustard and pickles (R$65); the salmon bagel (R$68), combining smoked and gravlax salmon with dill sour cream; and the cinnamon babka (R$38), toasted with caramel and chantilly. The irresistible arp pancake (R$49), served in a cast-iron skillet with maple syrup, is a summer favorite. Arpoador: Rua Francisco Otaviano 177 (3600-4041). Open Monday to Thursday, 7 AM to 11:30 AM and 12 PM to 11 PM. Friday and Saturday, 7 AM to 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM to midnight. Sunday, 7 AM to 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM to 10 PM.
Opened in 2022 by Renan Sarpa (HOB Hamburgueria and Oggi Pizza Napoletana), this establishment was a pioneer in bringing brunch culture to Tijuca. The menu includes wraps, omelets, Petrópolis toast, croques monsieur and madame, and stuffed croissants like the Saint Charles (R$38), with Parma ham and melted brie, finished with a touch of honey. In the toast section, made with naturally fermented bread, the highlight is topped with avocado paste, poached egg, and bacon bits (R$36). The establishment also serves waffles, NY rolls, and American-style pancakes, such as the red velvet (R$36), with red fruits, filled with buttercream, and finished with artisanal jam. Tijuca: Rua Mariz e Barros 697 (2137-6072). Open Monday, 8 AM to 3 PM. Tuesday to Friday, 8 AM to 7 PM. Saturday and Sunday, 8:30 AM to 5 PM.
A must-visit in Santa Teresa: Café do Alto offers a delightful slice of the Northeast at Largo dos Guimarães, amid the bustling neighborhood. The establishment is known for its hearty brunch (Wednesday to Sunday, 9 AM to 1 PM), filled with typical recipes. More than thirty options are available to eat and drink to your heart’s content for R$90 per person (children aged 5 to 10 pay half). Enjoy corn couscous, grilled queijo coalho, cassava, sweet potatoes, fried plantains, scrambled eggs with dried beef, boiled corn, tapioca cubes, bolo de rolo, cartola, tapioca pudding, canjica, bolinho de estudante, and versions of mini-tapioca. Speaking of tapioca, you can order à la carte both the traditional cheese coalho with grated coconut (R$29) and the maria bonita (R$40), with sautéed dried beef, pumpkin puree, and Catupiry. Santa Teresa: Rua Paschoal Carlos Magno 143 (2507-3172). Open Wednesday to Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM. Saturday and Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM.
With a degree in Economics, Carolina Groppa took the plunge into entrepreneurship in 2018 and created one of Rio’s most sought-after cafes. Originating in Joá, where it occupies a new location since last year, Café da Carol expanded to Lagoa in 2022 (curiously, at the site of the former fine-dining restaurant Olympe, of the Troisgros family). The menu offers a variety of options to start the day right. Among the kitchen’s favorites are bowls with house-made Greek yogurt and granola (R$25) and the big cheese bread filled with four cheeses (R$56). In the toast line, two options have won over customers: the brioche topped with fried eggs, torched half-cured cheese, caramelized bacon, and cherry tomatoes with basil (R$62), and a new option, gravlax salmon, goat cheese, avocado, poached egg, and hollandaise sauce on a slice of sourdough bread (R$62). Another sensation is the chocolate formigueiro (R$50), a carrot cake with plenty of Belgian brigadeiro. Lagoa: Rua Custódio Serrão 62 (99374-6517). Open Monday to Thursday, 7:30 AM to 4 PM. Friday, 7:30 AM to 6 PM. Saturday and Sunday, 8 AM to 6 PM. Joá: Estrada Sorimã 347. Open Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 4 PM. Saturday and Sunday, 8 AM to 6 PM.
Located within the Copacabana Fort, with tables offering breathtaking views of the coast, this spot invites you to indulge in dolce far niente. Behind this venture is advertiser Edu Araújo, creator of other successful establishments in Rio, such as Chanchada, Dainer, Quartinho, and O Glorioso Sushi de Botafogo. Among the menu’s highlights are the gougère (French-style cheese bread), served warm with Catupiry, jam, and butter (R$36; three units), and the englishman (R$68), which combines scrambled eggs, artisanal country sausage, thin bacon slices, fried cheese breads, and a duo of sautéed mushrooms and green beans. Craving something sweet? Try the breakfast rabanada (R$42), made with freshly grilled brioche, mascarpone cream, seasonal fruit compote, nut crumble, and maple syrup. For drinks, the morning cocktail bloody and sea (R$52) stands out, a turbocharged version of the bloody mary with oyster sauce, finished with a grilled VG shrimp on the rim of the glass. Copacabana Fort: Praça Coronel Eugênio Franco 1. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 7 PM.
Opened in 2023 at an attractive corner in Botafogo, the establishment charmed locals by faithfully recreating American diners—places that operate nonstop, serving breakfast, brunch, or a quick meal at any time of day. On the menu, don’t miss the steak egg tonnato (R$58), featuring medium-rare filet mignon slices topped with tuna sauce, along with fried eggs and naturally fermented bread. Another brunch-inspired dish, the beluga (R$60), features a slice of brioche topped with bacon, shrimp, poached egg, daily caviar, and hollandaise sauce. The kitchen also prepares the russ (R$58), based on latke—a fried potato pancake of Jewish origin, reminiscent of rösti—served in layers with guacamole, smoked salmon, poached egg, and dill salsa. In addition to cocktails like mimosa, bellini, and kir royale, the beverage section includes nostalgic milkshakes blended with vanilla ice cream and finished with whipped cream, such as strawberry and Nutella flavors. Botafogo: Rua Real Grandeza 193. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 9 AM to 10 PM. Sunday, 9 AM to 7 PM.
With inviting sidewalk tables, the main location occupies a strategic spot next to the must-visit Jardim Botânico in Rio. Both there and at the branches in Barra and Leblon, various brunch or breakfast suggestions are available all day. Besides bakery classics like toasted bread and toasted ham and cheese, the menu offers more elaborate options, like the croque florentine (R$52), with spinach, mushrooms, gruyère cheese, béchamel cream, and poached egg, and the benedictine pot (R$32), with two poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, and scallions. There are also toasts, omelets, cakes, pies, waffles, and sandwiches like the montmartre (R$36 for the small; R$46 for the larger), filled with melted brie cheese, Parma ham, and arugula. Jardim Botânico: Rua Pacheco Leão 320 (3256-9052). Open Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 9 PM. Saturday and Sunday, 8 AM to 8 PM. Barra: Av. Érico Veríssimo 970 (2499-7395). Open Tuesday to Friday, 8 AM to 9 PM. Saturday, 8 AM to 8 PM. Sunday, 8 AM to 6 PM. One more location available.
Born in 2020 in Ipanema, this small and charming spot gained a branch in Leblon last year. Both locations offer a menu full of delights to start the day or enjoy a brunch. On the varied menu, the standout items include surprising cheese bread waffles (R$36), accompanied by cream cheese, jam, beet hummus, or guacamole. Another highlight is the toasts made with sourdough, brioche, or gluten-free bread. One of the most popular is topped with cured salmon, poached country egg, hollandaise sauce, and guacamole (R$42). For those waking up with a lion’s hunger, the benedict deluxe (R$60) is a buttered brioche topped with sour cream, ham, two poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, spinach, avocado, granola, and balsamic reduction. For accompanying beverages, there are creamy lactose-free smoothies, like the one with blueberry, banana, blackberry, and oat milk (R$28). Ipanema: Rua Vinícius de Moraes 129 (3228-3562). Leblon: Rua Rita Ludolf 87 (3854-0112). Open Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 6:15 PM. Saturday and Sunday, 8 AM to 4:15 PM.
Partners Fernando Kaplan, Daniel Oelsner, and Roberto Kaplan (from the Spanish bar Venga) have created this café that prioritizes organic ingredients from small local suppliers. With the motto “brunch all day,” SO_Lo offers suggestions like shakshuka (poached eggs in tomato and bell pepper sauce with feta cheese; R$54) and Turkish-style eggs benedict (R$39), featuring sour cream yogurt, flavored butter, and mint. In the toast section, the ricotta with jam and tomato slices, as well as the pistachio praline (R$32), are popular. Among the sandwich options, the breakfast (R$26) is made with brioche, half-cured cheese, egg, and bacon. For beverages, there are specialty coffees, natural juices, smoothies, teas, and coconut lemonade (R$20). Ipanema: Rua Garcia d’Ávila 147 (99380-8621). Open Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 9 PM. Sunday, 8 AM to 6 PM. Leblon: Av. Ataulfo de Paiva 1,120 (98182-2198). Open Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 9 PM. Sunday, 8 AM to 6 PM. One more location available.
Established in 1958 in Leblon as a butcher shop (“talho” in Portuguese, hence the name), it transformed into a bakery-café-delicatessen adored by locals. With tables always bustling with people, its three locations (with branches in Ipanema and Gávea) attract customers with naturally fermented breads, generous sandwiches, and tempting counter savories, like chicken empadas with Catupiry (R$9.60) and baked palm heart (R$10.50) or shrimp (R$12.60) pastries. For brunch enthusiasts, the Scandinavian toast (R$61) is a recommendation, offering two slices of 100% whole grain naturally fermented bread, scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, olive oil, and capers. Talho is also known for its sandwiches. Customers can choose their own combinations and have access to over ten types of bread to assemble it. One possible recipe features pastrami, Emmental cheese, and mustard-honey spread, which can be made with a croissant, baguette, or ciabatta, for example. Leblon: Av. Ataulfo de Paiva 1,022 (2512-8760). Ipanema: Rua Barão da Torre 354 (3037-8638). Open daily, 7 AM to 10 PM. One more location available.
