Words + Shutter: Henrieta Haniskova

        Taste the base of traditional Portuguese cuisine and culture—mixed and blended with juices of African heritage brought here through slavery—and garnished with fresh fragrant fruit and hot peppers of this tropical climate where summer never ends.

       Let your experience of Rio begin with breakfast carioca-style [a word describing a native or resident of Rio de Janeiro], with a pastry and rich Brazilian coffee from the corner bakery. Then hit the Copacabana or Ipanema beach, where tall and tan and young and lovely girls and boys leisurely frolic in the waves of the Atlantic, bathing themselves in the intense heat of the sun which paints their skin with healthy colour.Now is the time for a chilled coconut: its fragrant water and soft flesh will keep you falling more in love with Rio with every sip.

     Later, head to the Centro to marvel over the beauty of Rio’s churches and monasteries. Wander through the web of narrow streets where Brazilian emperors once walked to find the delightful Confeitaria Colombo, a grand European-style café with large mirrors and stained glass ceiling, two levels of dining and the best coffee and desserts in the city, established in 1894. It’s the place to be on the weekend when the traditional thick bean and meat stew , feijoada, is served for lunch.

     Plunk your happy belly on board the third cable car ever built, and let it take you over the Atlantic rainforest to the top of Sugar Loaf mountain to feast on the view of Cidade Marvelhosa at your feet, from Copacabana beach and through the mountains, all the way to Guanabara bay.

      Cocktail hour calls for the elegance of the Copacabana Palace Hotel. With a martini in your hand, schmooze poolside with the rich and famous.

      Cariocas take eating seriously and so must you! Don’t head out before nine p.m., if you are trying to blend in. Let the waiters bring your meat at the famous Rodizio-style Churrascaria, Porcao. Or, for a dash more romance, stroll through the trendy Leblon neighborhood and look for Carlotta. It may be small, but it will leave you with the experience of one of the best 50 restaurants in the world.

     There is no rush for sleep in the Lapa neighbourhood. Dance where the parties get large at the Carioca de Gema samba bar for those in the know. Here the Caipirinhas flow like the dresses of girls swaying to samba all night long.

Confeitaria Colombo: Rua Gonçalves Dias 32, tel.55-21-2232-2300

Copacabana Palace Hotel: 1702 Avenida Atlantica, tel. 55-21-2548-7070

Porcao in Flamngo: Av.Infante Dom Henrique, Aterro do Flamengo, tel.55-21-3389-8989

Porcao in Ipanema: Rua Barão da Torre 218, tel. 55-21-3389-8989

Porcao in Barra: Av. Armando Lombardi 591, tel. 55-21-3389-8989

Porcao in Ilha: Estrada do Galeão, tel. 55-21-3389-8989

Porcao in Niteroi: Av. Quintino Bocaiúva-151 (São Francisco) tel. 55-21-3389-8989

Carlotta: Rua Dias Ferreira 64, tel. 55-21-2540-6821

Carioca de Gema: Rua Mem de Sá 79 (Lapa), tel. 55-21-2221-0043