THE Paraty International Literary Festival (FLIP) It is one of the events that place the city of Rio’s Costa Verde as one of the most interesting in the country. During the party, the literary spirit invades the stone streets of the historic center and sheds light on the culture of Paraty, which mixes like no other colonial architecture, the wonders of the sea and the Atlantic Forest and the caiçara cuisine mouthwatering.
This year, the event runs for five days, enough time to enjoy ourselves in restaurants in the region, whether within the center or nearby. It is through the most different recipes, with fish and seafood as protagonists, that we get a taste of the title of Creative City for Gastronomy by UNESCO .
Next, I share 10 restaurants worth booking in Paraty . Do as I do: they deserve to be tasted without rushing and with a shot of cachaça or the famous Jorge Amado drink in hand. Enjoy!
Restaurants in the historic center of Paraty
Quintal das Letras Restaurant
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In addition to being FLIP’s official accommodation, Pousada Literária is home to the exquisite Quintal das Letras where concepts of seasonality and farm to table meet the table. The local and organic ingredients originate from Fazenda Bananal, just a few minutes from the house, or come from small producers in the region.
On the menu are items such as scallops with banana paçoca, crab cakes from Vale do Paraíba, sea bass in a banana crust, and squid rice in cachaça. And don’t worry: vegetarians and vegans also have guaranteed options, with raw materials such as plantain, peach palm, eggplant and mushrooms.
Quintal das Letras Restaurant: Rua Tenente Francisco Antonio, 362 – Centro Histórico, Paraty – Rio de Janeiro / Tel.: (24) 3371-2616 / Opening hours: every day, from 12pm to 11pm.
Banana da Terra Restaurant
Gastronomic institution in Paraty, the Plantain celebrates 30 years in 2024 and remains one of the most important defenders of caiçara cuisine in the region. The ingredients all come from local producers and fishermen, whether from Paraty Bay, the family’s own garden or even the neighboring city of Cunha (SP).
In the 90-seat colonial mansion (a neighboring annex will soon be opened), the chef Ana Bueno brings exquisite caiçara food to our table. The fish with banana, Paraty’s trademark, is unmissable, but you can also consider the interesting squid stuffed with curd and served with risotto and taioba leaf, and the steamed bread with shitake marinated with cucumber, salad and milk mayonnaise of chestnut.
Banana da Terra Restaurant: Rua Dr. Samuel Costa, 198 – Centro Histórico, Paraty – RJ / Tel.: (24) 99328-2688 / Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 6pm to midnight; Friday to Sunday, from 12pm to 4pm and from 7pm to midnight; closed on Tuesdays / Reservations via WhatsApp.
Café Paraty Restaurant
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Another restaurant led by chef Ana Bueno is Café Paraty on Rua do Comércio. It’s an ideal tip for a leisurely lunch or for drinks and appetizers to the sound of live music at nightfall. Start with a Jorge Amado, the official drink of Paraty, but don’t miss the other cocktails, signed by Jean Ponce .
Among the delicacies for the table are the shrimp cake, the pastry stuffed with palm hearts, chicken drumsticks and octopus in vinaigrette, to name a few. Niçoise salad, fish with banana and scalopinho in butter with biro-biro rice are some of the dishes that can be made individually.
Café Paraty Restaurant: Rua do Comércio, 253 – Centro Histórico, Paraty – RJ / Tel.: (24) 99216-0508 / Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, from 12pm to 11pm; Sunday, from 9am.
Pupu’s Panc Party
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At Hotel Sandi, next to the Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário and São Benedito, the Pupu’s Panc Party serves a true feast for the palate with a mix of fresh local fish and edible plants, PANCs. The relaxed atmosphere is also a highlight.
From the hands of the chef Bernardo Arthuzo colorful and thought-provoking dishes come out. The raw materials include octopus, shrimp, squid and seafood combined with plants, including items with an Asian fusion feel, such as sashimi and nigiri. During the week, an executive menu is served at lunch, but before or after dinner, it’s worth stopping by the Apothekario also at the hotel, which serves drinks with ingredients from the Atlantic Forest.
Pupu’s Panc Party: (inside the Sandi Hotel) entrance via Rua do Comércio, Historic Center – Paraty – RJ / Tel.: (24) 99266-2221 (WhatsApp) / Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 12pm to 3:30pm and from 6pm to 10pm.
Thai Brazil
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Reference in Thai food, the Thai Brazil has been a success in Paraty for more than two decades, the result of the work of the German chef Marina Schlaghaufer . From the street, the small door takes us to a corridor that opens into an informal dining room, where dishes with strong flavors arrive at the table.
On the menu are items such as green papaya salad with dried shrimp, carrots, peanuts and coriander, as well as grilled shrimp with oyster sauce, cashews, chives and Thai basil. Pad thai and different curries are among the classic dishes, and in terms of sweets, the highlight is rice pudding with coconut milk and mango, Thailand’s summer dessert.
Thai Brazil: Rua do Comércio, 308 A – Centro Histórico, Paraty – RJ / Tel.: (24) 3371-2760 / Opening hours: every day, from 6pm / Reservations via Instagram.
Paraty Refuge
Located right in front of the Paraty pier, the Refuge It delivers on its name: the corner is ideal for enjoying double drinks in the evening and has outdoor tables for pleasant dinners. All of this packed with caiçara cuisine, with an abundance of fish and seafood, along with Mediterranean touches.
Manjubinhas, banana ravioli, different types of shrimp and moquecas are part of the extensive menu, which ranges from white and red meat to vegetarian options and weekly specials.
Paraty Refuge: Praça da Bandeira, 5 – Centro Histórico, Paraty – RJ / Tel.: (24) 99875-2447 (WhatsApp) / Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday, from 12pm to 10:30pm; Friday and Saturday, from 12pm to 11pm / Reservations via WhatsApp.
Restaurants outside the historic center of Paraty
Pindorama
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At Pousada Casa Luz, 10 minutes from the center, the Pindorama offers us a gastronomic immersion in the Atlantic Forest and unconventional ingredients at the hands of the chef Rafael Morente . Passionate about PANCs, fungi and fish consumed by riverside dwellers, he jokes that nature is his market.
Among the orders are natural fermentation bread with wild mushrooms and flowers; horse mackerel cured in pacová with curd; smoked mussels with heart of palm vinaigrette and fish with cashew nut crust and peach palm hearts drizzled with native bee honey. Tasting menus are available with different stages and focuses. Minimal intervention wines and signature drinks are among the sips.
Pindorama: Rod. Gov. Mario Covas (BR101), km 564, s/n – Praia Grande, Paraty – RJ / Tel.: (24) 97834-2868 (WhatsApp) / Opening hours: every day, from 8am to 10am (coffee in the morning), and from 6pm to 10pm (dinner); from Wednesday to Monday, from 12pm to 4pm (lunch) / Reservations via WhatsApp.
Bananal Farm
20 minutes from the center, one of the most pleasant walks in the region is on Bananal Farm where agroecology and sustainability are watchwords. The farm dates back to the 17th century and was reforested in recent times, today promoting immersion in the Atlantic Forest, including with the help of the restaurant.
The place takes the concept “from field to table” literally, as organic raw materials come from the farm’s gardens and agroforestry systems. Orders include fish croquette, garden salad, charcuterie board from local producers, sea bass with peach palm emulsion, suckling pig and taioba bundle stuffed with mushrooms. Seasonal menus are served and the farm has a market with products such as chocolates, jellies and jams.
Bananal Farm: Estrada da Pedra Branca, Paraty – RJ / Tel.: (24) 3371-1666 (WhatsApp) / Opening hours: farm open every day, from 10am to 5pm; tickets between R$30 and R$60 / Reservations via website.
Casa Paratiana
The chef’s newest restaurant Ana Bueno It is located outside the center and pays homage to country cuisine. The house brings back the roots of the chef, born in Paraíba Valley with antique furniture and period photos and a menu full of substantial food. I can’t resist pork rinds, but there’s also country couscous, pie, chicken rice broth with okra, canned pork and fish fried in cornmeal with bean tutu, to name a few bites.
Save room for a sweet treat, like corn cake with cream cheese and soft guava paste, as well as signature drinks and a shot of cachacinha. Speaking of which, extend the tour in Paratiana Alembic where the restaurant is located, and buy sweets and cachaças in the shop.
Casa Paratiana: Inside the Paratiana Alembic; Estrada da Pedra Branca, 1100 – Paraty – RJ / Tel.: (24) 99999-8804 / Opening hours: Wednesday to Monday, from 12pm to 5pm.
Gastromar
Facing the waters of Marina Porto Imperial, the Gastromar prioritizes local, seasonal and organic ingredients, including fresh seafood from Paraty Bay. The house was opened in 2017 as a way for the chef Gisela Schmitt plant her feet on the ground, since, since 2014, she has been behind the kitchen of Sem Pressa, a vessel that is the stage for gastronomic experiences on the high seas.
With views of the bay, the atmosphere is unpretentious and the drinks go well with any occasion. The address also has an Emporium and PicNic Náutico, stocked with products for boat trips.
Gastromar: BR 101, km 578.5 – Marina Porto Imperial, Paraty – RJ / Tel.: (24) 99844-3788 / Opening hours: Wednesday and Thursday, from 12pm to 10pm; Friday to Sunday, from 8:30 am to 10:30 pm; closed Monday and Tuesday; high season and holidays the place is open every day, from 8:30 am to 11 pm / Reservations via website.
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The post Where to eat in Paraty: 10 restaurants in the center and nearby appeared first on CNN Brasil V&G.
Source: CNN Brasil
Johanna Foster is an expert opinion writer with over 7 years of experience. She has a reputation for delivering insightful and thought-provoking articles on a variety of subjects. Her work can be found on some of the top online news websites, and she is currently lending her voice to the world stock market.
