Where to Eat in Paraty: Top Restaurants & Culinary Guide
In 2017, Paraty earned the prestigious international title of UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. The town's dining scene masterfully bridges ancestral Caiçara coastal heritage—freshly caught fish, hearts of palm, plantains, and mandioca—with high-end contemporary culinary craftsmanship.
Must-Try Traditional Dishes
- Peixe com Banana (Fish with Plantain): The crown jewel of Caiçara cooking. Fresh white fish filet simmered in a light sauce with ripe plantains, served with seasoned manioc flour (farofa) and white rice.
- Camarão Casadinho: Giant coastal prawns butterflied, stuffed with seasoned farofa and herbs, and grilled to perfection.
- Azul Marinho: A historic indigenous dish where fresh fish is cooked in an iron pot with green bananas, causing the broth to take on an enchanting dark blue-purple hue.
- Gabriela Drink: A sweet, aromatic digestif or cocktail made of artisanal cachaça infused with cloves, cinnamon, and passion fruit juice.
Top Fine Dining & Romantic Restaurants
1. Banana da Terra: Helmed by celebrated Chef Ana Bueno, this is Paraty’s landmark fine dining institution, elevating local ingredients into world-class tasting experiences in a chic colonial salon.
2. Punto Di Vino: Romantic Italian-Mediterranean dining set in a lantern-lit colonial courtyard, featuring fresh pasta, prime seafood, and an extensive wine cellar.
3. Margarida Café: Renowned for its lively jazz soundtrack, fresh baked breads, grilled meats, and fondue on cool evenings.
Authentic Seafood Shacks & Casual Spots
For a casual lunch right on the water, cross the footbridge to Praia do Pontal or visit the beachfront kiosks in Trindade. Fishermen pull their wooden canoes right up to the sand, offering crispy fried calamari, grilled whole snapper, and ice-cold caipirinhas with your feet in the golden sand.