Even without three Michelin stars, Rio's dining scene is on the rise

Rio de Janeiro's bar and restaurant sector is valued at an estimated R$ 2.3 billion and is earning ever greater culinary prestige. For Isis Grossi, an entrepreneur in Rio de Janeiro's tourism sector, this culinary expansion is part of a broader shift — one that is here to stay.

"Cariocas used to have to travel to São Paulo for the renowned restaurants. Today there are countless places — Michelin-starred venues as well as neighborhood botecos — of remarkable quality. I don't think it's just hype. After the pandemic, people shifted the way they see things a little, and this lifestyle is very much part of who cariocas are."

International interest helps sustain the optimism. Grossi explains that the profile of the luxury visitor has changed, bringing new expectations — above all when it comes to food.

"There are many travelers from the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, Sweden and Japan coming here. In the past, this clientele didn't really look to Rio de Janeiro when it came to fine dining."