Three Good Cafés in Rio de Janeiro

Quite a few times people have asked me if I know some good cafés in Rio de Janeiro. There are not so many but you have some excellent ones. First I would like to talk a little about background and then I´ll tell you all about three hidden gems.

The Tradition
Cafés as we know them in France or Italy were never really common in Rio. Coffee is something you drink at your local cornerbar, saturated with sugar. The Carioca (resident of Rio) has an unhealthy obsession with sugar and as a result you have many cake shops, those are not like the cafés we know though. There were always some exceptions, like Confeitaria Colombo in Centro that has been around for over 100 years. Lately influences from abroad has created a surge in the numbers of cafés. They are mostly located in affluent areas of the city - Leblon, Ipanema and Flamengo. I am quite sure that we´ll have a lot more of them in just a few years. Now it is time for my recommendations.

Confeitaria Colombo - Arpoador
Address: Forte de Copacabana Tel: 2505-1500
Open: Tue-Sun 10h/20h
This one is located at the very west end of Copacabana, inside the Copacabana Fort. To get in you have to pay a few R$, the entrance also gives you free access to the museum you have further out. The tables are located in such a way you get a spectacular view of that beautiful bend of Copacabana. The menu is a nice mix of cakes, sandwiches, crepes, ice cream and salads. Perfect if you want to get a way from the chaotic city for an hour or so.

Café Botânica
Address: R. Jardim Botânico 1008 Tel: 2512-1848
Open: Everyday 8h/17h
Located inside the lush and beautiful Botanical Gardens it is a real getaway. You´ll have to spend a few R$ to enter but it´s well worth it. Cakes, salads, sandwiches and light lunch options. Combining this with a relaxing walk around the actual gardens make it a perfect afternoon. If they have carrot cake you should get it.

Café du Lage
Address: R. Jardim Botânico 414 Tel 2226-8125
Open: Mon-Thu 9h/22h30 Fri-Sun 9h/17h30
Last but not least, my personal favorite. Not far from the Botanical Gardens you have a small park called Parque Lage. Inside there is a beautiful house, quite much like an old Roman villa with a pool in the middle. Today it houses an art school and also a café. Sitting at the foot of Corcovado mountain, having a cup of coffee and an excellent salad, I feel happy. They also have great breakfast menus served Saturdays and Sundays between 9h/13h.

I hope you enjoyed these recommendations. If you want to read more about cafés in Rio just click the link below.

Gringo-Rio - Cafes in Rio
Gringo-Rio is a travel information site about Rio de Janeiro. On this particular page you can read all the authors recommendations for cafés in Rio.