Rio de Janeiro

The Copacabana Palace Hotel houses three of Rio de Janeiro's most elegant restaurants. The Hotel Cipriani Restaurant serves excellent north Italian cuisine, while the poolside Pérgula Restaurant offers a buffet breakfast and delicious South American meals. Serving exotic pan-Asian cuisine, MEE is one of the first restaurants in South America to be awarded a prestigious Michelin star. Cipriani is open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner, while MEE is open daily from 7pm, and Pérgula is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday with a buffet lunch on Sundays from 1pm to 4pm. Reservations required.

Food Type :International

Address :Avenida Atlântica 1702

Website : www.copacabanapalace.com/web/orio/rio_restaurants.jsp

Not only does Fellini offer a variety of international cuisine, with everything from Japanese to Mexican food available, but it's all sold 'by the pound' allowing diners a choice of exactly how big their portions should be. Fellini has a funky, laid-back atmosphere and look to match. Open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner, reservations recommended.

Food Type :International

Address :Rua General Urquiza 104, Leblon

Website :www.fellini.com.br

The Confeitaria Colombo acts as an homage to an age long passed. Established in the late 1800s, this Victorian style hall-turned-restaurant hasn't changed much in over 100 years, so they must be doing something right. This is considered to be a perfect lunch spot for executives doing business in the city. Tea service is complemented by breads and condiments, while the meals are filling and appetising.

Food Type :Brazilian

Address :32 Rua Gonçalves Dias

Website :www.confeitariacolombo.com.br

Revel in merriment with the locals at this affordable eatery, where authentic Brazilian cuisine is served in generous portions. Sardine sandwiches are a good bet for your taste buds. Have a plate or platter depending on how hungry you are, the price difference is negligible. The Paladino is always popular and beer flows steadily from the taps. Open Monday to Friday from 7am to 8.30pm. Reservations and credit cards are not accepted.

Food Type :Brazilian

Address :226 Rua Uruguaiana

With its rustic, eco-friendly décor (couches, wooden tables, and lots of palm trees) and its candlelit dining area, Palaphita Kitch has a romantic atmosphere, backed by excellent views of Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. The menu offers a selection of exotic Amazonian cuisine, with its carpaccio being a favourite. Open every night for dinner, reservations recommended.

Food Type :Local

Address :Avenida Epitacio Pessoa S/N, Quiosque 20

Website :www.palaphitakitch.com.br

Originally from France, celebrity chef Claude Troisgros and his son Thomas blend French cuisine with Brazilian ingredients at one of Rio's top restaurants. Intimate and sophisticated, Olympe offers guests seasonal tasting menus and creative à la carte dishes such as scallops with tucupi and caviar, water yam, and coconut purée, or açai crusted lamb loin, yucca gnocchi, and sumac butter solids. Open Friday for lunch, and Monday to Saturday for dinner. Reservations essential.

Food Type :French

Address :Rua Custodio Serrao 62

Website :www.olympe.com.br/en

Near the beach, this small and comfortable restaurant has an idyllic, rural atmospherem decorated with handmade arts and crafts. The menu offers authentic, homemade Brazilian cuisine such as a plate of rice, beans, farofa(toasted manioc flour), steak and French fries, or the traditional caldinho de feijãosoup, with beans and bacon. Reservations recommended.

Food Type :Local

Address :Av. Atlântica, 3564, Copacabana