Among the most requested programs by those who visit green Hill at the southern end of Minas GeraisO “gastronomic tourism” appears on the list. Every year, the city gains new restaurants, which join the already traditional addresses in the city, ranging from classic Minas Gerais food to those with European references on the menus.
There are countless establishments that receive tourists all year round. Dishes known to be consumed mainly in the cold, such as fondues and raclettes have their special spaces, as well as good wines and hot drinks.
The creations of local chefs, who value fresh ingredients, are also highlighted. Many different r accepted with pine seed originated from the numerous araucaria trees in the region, can be found everywhere, such as breads, cakes and pies.
In a survey led by the platform Booking.com at the beginning of the year, Monte Verde appeared as the 6th most welcoming destination in the world. And good cuisine, the kind that embrace and, in fact, welcome, is an item that is more than present in every corner of the city.
Below, check out some restaurant options that can please different tastes in Monte Verde:
Mont Vert – The House of Fondue
One of Monte Verde’s classic programs is to eat a good fondue. Opened in 1997, the Mount Vert it is one of the most traditional places in the city to try the dish. It comes in a variety of flavors, both savory and sweet.
Poultry, for example, is made with ostrich and chicken fillets, eight types of sauce, seasoned potatoes, potato rosti, mini sausage, vegetables and a basket of bread. The traditional cheese takes gouda, steppe, fused gruyere, fine herbs and is accompanied by cubes of Italian bread, wholemeal bread, Italian ciabatta, mini sausage and chips.
The meat mix, in turn, is made with rump bonbon, chicken fillet, trout fillet, eight types of sauces, seasoned potatoes, potato rosti, mini sausage, vegetables and a basket of breads.
Dishes serve two people and all options can be found in this linkincluding sweets.
Rua Rolinha, 50 – Monte Verde, MG / Telephone: (35) 3438-2083 / Opening hours: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 5 pm to 11 pm. Fridays, Saturdays and holidays from 17:00 to 00:00. Closed on Wednesdays.
Provence Bistro
Led by chef Ari Kespers, the Provence Bistro offers a six-step tasting menu using only local products from Serra da Mantiqueira.
Located inside the inn that bears the same name, there are only 24 places per night. Therefore, it is necessary to check availability and make a reservation. The experience includes snacks, two starters, two main courses and dessert.
Always with news, the menu changes according to the seasonality of the ingredients. The price per person is R$395 and includes sparkling and still water, teas and coffees. The corkage service is R$ 100. To reserve, it is necessary to send the name of everyone at the table, in addition to a deposit of 50% of the total amount.
All reservations are for 20:00 and the sequence of dishes is served at the same time for all tables.
Rua Cedrus Libani, 380 – Monte Verde, Camanducaia – MG / Telephone: (35) 3438-1467 / Opening hours: Thursday to Saturday from 8 pm until the end of the menu.
Villa Donna Bistro
For 13 years in Monte Verde, the Villa Donna Bistro It has become one of the favorites of tourists. The menu consists of artisanal pasta made with seasonal ingredients, always valuing the region’s producers. The place is small and simply decorated, and the atmosphere offers the warmth of home.
On the menu, there are family recipes and reinterpretations of traditional dishes. Donna’s carbonara, for example, has a Minas Gerais touch with eggs and smoked salmon from a local supplier. Gnocchi can be found in different ways: potato, cassava, sweet potato, with shrimp, stuffed, simple.
Stuffed pastas and risottos, by the way, also gain special space on the menu, which varies and gains new options every season of the year.
The tip is: get there early! The restaurant does not take reservations and the lines are usually long, and it ends up being closed, sometimes, ahead of schedule to serve well everyone who is already waiting.
Rua Rolinha, 33 – Monte Verde, Camanducaia – MG / Telephone: (35) 3438-1881 / Opening hours (July): Monday from 6pm to 10pm; Wednesday to Sunday from 12:00 to 15:30 and 18:00 to 22:00; closed on Tuesdays.
Boteco Villa Amarela
In Monte Verde since 2010, the Boteco Villa Amarela is one of the best known in the city when it comes to regional food. The menu is varied and seeks to please those who are looking for homemade food with a good cold beer – the atmosphere is rustic and more casual.
Piglet à pururuca is one of the most popular dishes in the place, which does not leave aside classics of Minas Gerais cuisine such as tutu de beans, crackling, among other delights.
Avenida da Fazenda, 10 – Monte Verde – MG / Telephone: (35) 3438-2460 / Opening hours: Monday and Tuesday from 12:00 to 22:00; Wednesday from 12:00 to 16:30; Thursday and Friday from 12:00 to 22:00; Saturday from 12:00 to 22:00; Sunday from 12pm to 9pm.
Hugel Bar
Known as the “sunset bar”, the Hugel Bar is the result of the dream of three great friends with a history of entrepreneurship and passion for Monte Verde. The bar is strategically positioned in a place with a beautiful view of the region’s nature.
Both the decor and architecture are inspired by Germany, as is the menu.
The Hügel dumplings, with rib fillings, cassava with provolone, pork croquettes or cassava with jerky; and the already famous Croissben, an artisanal croissant with shredded eisbein, are a hit on the menu, and, accompanied by Patagonia beer, are among the house’s suggestions. The menu can be viewed on this link.
Dep. Agostinho Patrus Filho, Km 7 – Monte Verde, Camanducaia /Telephone: (11) 99697-9449 / Opening hours: every day from 3pm to 8pm, except Tuesdays.
Wine Not?
O Wine Not? is the first bar/restaurant dedicated to Monte Verde wines. In it, it is possible to taste national wine labels – including those from Minas Gerais – and foreign ones. If you want to taste different grapes, the place also offers the option of 50, 100 or 150ml glasses.
On the menu, the customer will find the description of each bottle offered, with information on the country and characteristics of the label that will be consumed. If you’re not a wine fan, there are suggestions for house beers and drinks.
To accompany the sips, the restaurant reserves snacks and dishes. Among the options, couvert with warm breads and pâtés, cheese board, crispy brie dumplings, smoked carpaccio, in addition to meat, fish, chicken, pasta and risotto options.
Avenida Monte Verde, 693 – D shop – Centro, Camanducaia / Telephone: (35) 3438-1660 / Opening hours: Monday and Tuesday from 12:00 to 17:00 (reduced menu, without main dishes); Wednesday to Saturday from 12:00 to 22:00; Sunday from 12pm to 5pm.
Rasselbock
O Rasselbock is a German food restaurant opened in 2017 in Monte Verde. The menu, signed by German-born chef Christian Batušić, features recipes that have been in his family for over 100 years. The “slogan” of the place is to make German food “like our great-grandmothers did”, without modern interventions.
Classics like pork knuckle and schnitzel, as well as craft beers and traditional dishes from different regions of the country, are guaranteed on the menu.
The place also imports beers from centuries-old producers in Europe and proposes a real trip to Germany. The restaurant is located in a green area, in the former headquarters of Fazenda Hotel Itapuá, approximately 4 km from the Monte Verde portal.
The tip given by the restaurant is: go ahead and enjoy the moment with a beer. All dishes are made to order and can take a while to come out, especially on busy days.
Estrada de Monte Verde KM 03, Camanducaia – MG / Telephone (Whatsapp): (11)98928-4020 / Opening hours: Thursday to Sunday from 12:00 to 16:30 (open on holidays).
chocolate shops
If there’s one thing that Monte Verde offers in abundance, it’s chocolate shops. THE Gressoney Chocolates and the Chocolate flavor are two of the most traditional in the city – but not the only ones.
Founded in 1978, the Gressoney It is the oldest chocolate factory in the city. With artisanal production, it offers in its store some delights, such as marzipan, strawberry soup and primrose (a mixture of alfajor with honey bread), in addition to a famous hot chocolate.
Already the factory store Chocolate flavor It was opened in 2011 at Galeria Suisse and allows visitors to see up close how its artisanal chocolates are produced – and they can also taste them.
Liqueurs, jams, cookies can also be found in the space, which has a cafeteria with delicacies produced on site for consumption.
Gressoney Chocolates: Avenida Monte Verde, 636 – Centro, Camanducaia – MG / Telephone: (35) 3438-2883 / Opening hours: Monday to Thursday from 10 am to 7 pm; Friday from 10 am to 10 pm; Saturday from 10 am to 10:30 pm; Sunday from 9 am to 8 pm.
Sabor Chocolate: Avenida Monte Verde, 2174 – Monte Verde, Camanducaia – MG / Telephone: (35) 3438-2064 / Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday from 10 am to 7 pm; Friday from 10 am to 9 pm; Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm.
Source: CNN Brasil
