Page 204 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SUMMER 2024 LIMA

restaurant is known for its charming at‐ room balconies.
mosphere, Belle Époque architecture
with vaulted ceilings and gilded mirrors,
and delicious cuisine.
• Oro: Celebrity chef Felipe Bronze is
the creative force behind this trendy
Leblon restaurant. Oro offers an in‐
spired reimagining of Brazil’s culinary
heritage centered on open-flame cook‐
ing.
• Boteco Rainha: Located in the
Leblon neighborhood, this restaurant
serves classic carioca snacks such as
deep-fried meat pockets called pastéis
and various types of fritters known as
bolinhos. They also offer
heartier dishes like roast
beef rib with cheese rice or
fried fish with banana
puree and broccoli.
• Olympe: One of Rio's
most acclaimed fine dining
establishments, it offers a
gourmet experience with a
modern twist on Brazilian
and international cuisines.
Its chefs use locally
sourced ingredients to cre‐
ate menus that change
with the seasons.
• Satyricon: A find in
Ipanema featuring fresh fish you can
choose from the tanks. Excellent service
and reasonable pricing.
Top Hotels
We stayed at the Copacabana Palace,
known for its luxurious accommodations
and prime beachfront location. Our guide
recommended these additional favorites of
visitors:
Emiliano Rio - A contemporary hotel of‐
fering personalized service in Copacabana.
Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro - A chic
and sophisticated hotel in the heart of
Ipanema, with fantastic beach views from
204 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2024
JW Marriott Hotel: It offers comfortable
rooms and is conveniently located near top
attractions.
Santa Teresa Hotel RJ MGallery by Sof‐
itel - A boutique hotel located in the
charming neighborhood of Santa Teresa.
Sheraton Grand Rio Hotel & Resort -
Offers stunning views and a variety of
amenities.
Carnaval Fun
The annual Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro
takes place in February, in the week lead‐
ing up to Ash Wednesday. We
missed it by a few weeks. We
asked our guide, a former ex‐
ecutive with the tourism au‐
thority, to provide his best tips
for someone wanting to enjoy
this world-famous festival.
Along with every travel site
we searched, he recom‐
mended getting a guide, being
careful where you go and
when, and planning well in ad‐
vance so you can experience
the most of the energy and
excitement from the annual
explosion of color, music,
dance, parades, street parties,
and elaborate costumes everywhere.
Quick tips for Carnaval:
Carnaval in Rio is highly popular, so de‐
velop your travel plans to Brazil and per‐
haps other parts of South America up to six
months in advance. Have your travel advi‐
sor find flights even earlier to secure the
best fares. Once air travel is booked, begin
plugging in lodging, side trips, and pre‐
ferred destinations.
Respect local traditions and culture.
Check with your guide or tourism websites
for tips on how to best fit into the local
scene.