Culinary Soul Tour of Old Rio de Janeiro

Sightseeing  :  Brazil  :  State Of Rio De Janeiro  :  Rio De Janeiro  :  Food Tours

Brazil and its cuisine are a wild and sometimes baffling stew of influences and cultures. This walk dives right into that mix by taking you through the vibrant heart of Rio’s two most historically and architecturally significant neighborhoods: downtown’s Centro and Porto areas. These atmospheric districts are where the Portuguese began building Rio, where the slaves who were brought over to Brazil first landed, where samba was born and – most importantly – where this bustling city’s multicultural identity and food culture started taking shape.As Rio undertakes an ambitious growth plan, these still-untouristed neighborhoods are now being rediscovered and revitalized. With Rio’s history and modern rise as a backdrop, our walk works its way through the traditional eateries and bars of this district, catching some little-known cultural treasures along the way. Starting with a Portuguese-style pastry and strong coffee at Rio’s oldest café, we then sample the culinary offerings of the city’s largest open-air market, which Jewish, Syrian and now Chinese merchants have all called home. Moving through the historic port area, we stop at iconic botequims – lively, old-fashioned watering holes where locals take their lunch – for classic Rio bar food and a taste of cachaça, the sugar cane spirit that is Brazil’s national drink.

After we take in the view from the area’s hills, there will be stops for fresh-squeezed juice and, later on, a visit to a classic local restaurant for some traditional Afro-Brazilian specialties. We end our walk at an old-school sailors’ haunt that specializes in roast goat accompanied by glasses of Portuguese port, soaking up the atmosphere of an area whose own story tells the larger story of Rio itself.