BOTEQUINS

'Botequins' (bars) are the biggest culinary institution in Rio de Janeiro, according to Guilherme Studart, author of the "Rio Botequim" guidebook. Here you will find food typical of the city and friendly service, not to mention the bolinho de bacalhau (cod cake), ice-cold beer or caipirinha for those wearing flip-flops. 

Rio de Janeiro is proud of its botequins, attributing them the same importance as London gives its pubs, and Paris gives its bistros. These botequins have been sung about by samba musicians, eulogised in recipe books, and are an integral part of the collective memory, literature, poetry and even philosophy of the city, and are visited as often as Copacabana beach. Tutu de feijão [black bean purée], farofa [toasted manioc flour], aipim frito [fried cassava], couve à mineira, [Mineira-style cabbage, cocadinhas [coconut cakes]. .. ambient music, human warmth and a breathtaking view of the sea.