For those that are already guests, there is nothing more convenient. All one has to do is get ready, take the short trip down in the elevator, no need to worry about transport, traffic or making a reservation. However, eating well in Rio’s hotels needn’t be a privilege afforded to its guests. What’s more, gastronomy has even become a hallmark of many hotels as such investments into the quality of their restaurants is always increasing. Today, the same Cariocasthat were hesitant about entering a hotel just to eat are today being enticed by these remodelled menus. Below we have selected the 5 best hotel restaurants and we hope you take advantage of our suggestions and, who knows, even extend your stay overnight.
It was the Argentine Christian Garcia who is responsible for giving a new face to the kitchen at Hotel Ipanema Inn. Located on Rua Maria Quitéria, the restaurant has an elegant dining room courtesy of sought-after architect Bel Lobo. Diner’s have the option of exploring the restaurant’s menu with a taster selection of five (R$165) or seven (R$195) stages. However, if you’re after a quicker sit-down, make sure you try the tuna loin with tomato gazpacho accompanied by acerola, oregano farofa and fried capers (R$41). Another highlight is the wild boar carré which comes with mixed leaves and flavoursome gorgonzola croquettes.
This headchef earned her stripes at the exclusive Le Cordon Bleu, in Paris, but Morena Leite’s cuisine is firmly Brazilian. Responsible for the celebrated Capim Santo, with branches in São Paulo and exclusive Bahian resort of Trancoso, her first foray in the Cidade Maravilhosa has come here at the recently opened Í Bistrô, located in the Hotel Grand Mercure. The formula is simple: the diner can opt for a cover charge with two (R$140), three (R$180), or four (R$210) dishes from the menu. There is also a surprise taster menu (R$280). If you choose the most basic version, a good place to start is with the duck straws with pitanga sauce and from there move onto the delicious pirarucu moqueca (a seafood stew made with freshwater fish) with heart of palm, plantains and rice with cashew and beiju farofa.
It is inevitable, when the subject turns to hotels the name Copacabana Palace will always come up. At the end of the day, it is the the destination of choice for the majority of celebrities that visit Rio de Janeiro. And in the middle of all this luxury and tradition is Asian restaurant Mee which boasts a Michelin star in the Brazilian edition of the culinary guide. Once seated in the restaurant’s elegant environs, explore the menu put together by Chef Ken Hom and executed by Kazuo Harada and his team. Among the innumerable delicacies, make sure you try the Shake Nuta, salmon enveloped in spicy miso (R$55). And if you have room left for afters, the forest fruit cheesecake tofu is a creative and delicious take on the classic dessert (R$32). Also take the opportunity to explore the sumptuous cocktail menu, created by Jéssica Sanchez and sakes courtesy of Rejane Kawano.
The setting is impressive. Located on the top floor of the Sheraton Hotel, L’Etoile boasts beautiful views over the Leblon/Ipanema coast all the way to Arpoador. The menu is comprised of two sessions. The first includes classic dishes from sought-after french chef Jean Paul Bondoux such as the angus mignon with dijonnaise sauce (R$130). The other half of the menu belongs to Argentine Emmanuel Serrano who is there in the restaurant daily. From his side of the kitchen you get the delicious heart of palm tempura with salmon marinated in béarnise sauce (R$65) and the duck magret with foie grá and provençal farofa (R$128).
The view over Ipanema beach is a treat for those staying at the Sol Ipanema Hotel and for those that go to dine at Gabbiano Al Mare. Led by Italian Romano Fontanive, as the name suggests, the restaurant’s main culinary attractions are its seafood dishes. However, don’t hesitate to open your account here with their delicate octopus carpaccio (R$35) which arrives tender cover in capers-based sauce. New dishes such as the salt-coated seabass covered in bloody mary sauce and accompanied by potatoes and legumes (R$89) shares its place on the menu with a daring take on a classic italian recipe, the carbonara. Fontanive’s version trades bacon for scallops, shrimp, squid, octopus and mussels in a light aroma of white truffles (R$75).
