Brazil is soaring in popularity with tourists. In fact, every year, the South American country welcomes around six million visitors, who come in search of beautiful beaches, bustling cities, and delicious food. The first stop for most tourists? Of course, it’s Rio de Janeiro.
Between “the Copa-Copacabana,” Christ the Redeemer, and the sprawling Tijuca National Park, Rio de Janeiro has something to offer everyone. And when you’re done sightseeing, you’re going to want, no need, to fill your belly with the city’s delicious food.
Brazilian cuisine might have a meaty reputation, but we’re pleased to say you’ll find plant-based options easily in the country’s seaside city paradise. Find some of the best vegan-friendly restaurant options below.
Is Brazil good for vegans?
There’s no doubt that Brazil is known for meat. Its national dish feijoada, for example, is black beans simmered with beef, while barbecued meat and moqueca fish stew are favorites for many of its citizens. But don’t be fooled: this country has plenty of plant-based food on offer, too.
Take it from vegan chef and cookbook author Alexander Gershberg, who visited Brazil and was amazed at the amount of plant-based food on offer. In a blog post titled, “Once in a lifetime- my vegan trip to Brazil,” he wrote: “It was not even three days into my trip that I realized I have to write a blog about the vegan food in Brazil, a vegan heaven.”
He explained that on many menus, whole grains, beans, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds were in the majority, next to only a few fish and meat options. “What I always learned and knew about plant-based diets turned out to be true,” he said. “All traditional diets are plant-based.”
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What is the traditional food in Rio de Janeiro?
Traditional food in Rio de Janeiro is similar to the rest of Brazil—dishes like feijoada and churrasco (grilled beef) are popular. But you’ll also find options like farofa, which is made with cassava flour and often mixed with onions and garlic, and salada de palmito, a salad with hearts of palm. You also might find moqueca de banana, which is similar to the traditional fish stew, but it is made with bananas instead.
“Dear bean soakers, grain sprouters, and flaxseeds grinders, or in other words, vegans who cook natural and healthy from scratch, Brazil is just the place you were looking for,” wrote Gershberg, who spent time in Rio de Janeiro, as well as Brasilia and Salvador.
Where to find tasty vegan food in Rio de Janeiro
While you’ll find plant-based options in a number of restaurants across Rio de Janeiro, if you’re looking for an eatery that is 100-percent vegan, there are plenty of those, too. Find some of our top picks below.
Teva
1 Teva
Since 2016, Teva has specialized in bringing high-end, organic, innovative, vegetable-forward cuisine to Rio de Janeiro. It is committed to sustainability and ethical sourcing, and it was even the first restaurant in Brazil to obtain a B Corp certification. The menu features delights like marinara with palm hearts, truffled potatoes, and tempeh piccata. Looking for a more casual dining experience? Teva also has its own plant-based deli, too.
Find it here
Açougue Vegano
2 Açougue Vegano
There are three locations of Açougue Vegano across Rio de Janeiro, each of which offer a range of delicious homemade vegan meats. After all, the name translates to vegan butcher. Head to one of its locations to try a juicy vegan burger, parmigiana, and even a vegan version of the Brazilian classic feijoada. Don’t want to leave your accommodation? You can order it all for delivery.
Find it here
Ble Vegan
3 Ble Vegan
This totally vegan café is the place to go for brunch. Treat yourself to a coffee and a hearty breakfast bowl with scrambled tofu and chestnut cheese, or perhaps some thickly-spread avocado on toast topped with nuts and greens. It’s the perfect spot for when you’re craving something nourishing and comforting in equal measure.
Find it here
Lemí
4 Lemí
For delicious, plant-based Middle Eastern food, head to Lemí. There’s falafel (of course), as well as pasta with hummus and babaganoush, cauliflower tagine, and vegan kafta kebab sandwiches. Top tip: order plenty and share it, you’ll want to taste everything at this popular Rio spot.
Find it here
Magna Cozinha Vegana
5 Magna Cozinha Vegana
You can’t go wrong with a buffet. Who doesn’t love filling their plate to the brim with lots of delicious, plant-based goodness? The cuisine is always changing at Magna Cozinha Vegana’s daily buffet, so if you go once and it’s Italian, you’ll want to head back again to try the Mexican, and then again to try the Brazilian, and so on. Warning: you might want to cancel all of your other dinner plans.
Find it here
Org Bistro
6 Org Bistro
For fresh, whole food-based, organic plant-based food, check out Org Bistro. The menu features fixed options like Thai salads and jackfruit burgers, but there are also specials for each day of the week. If you stop by on a Friday, for example, you can nourish yourself with a plate of vegan feijoada with beetroot farofa, brown rice, and kale.
Find it here
Refúgio Veg
7 Refúgio Veg
When a vegan burger craving hits, you need Refúgio Veg. This popular plant-based spot has been open since 2021 and specializes in juicy housemade patties and fries. Check out the Zeca Tofu, for example, which comes with a tofu-panko patty, tartar sauce, and housemade mayonnaise, or the Onion Burger, which is loaded with not one, not two, but three onion rings. If you’re not in a burger mood, you can also choose from meals like potato gnocchi, soy meatballs, and parmigiana.
Find it here
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
