Marine Restô

The view from the balcony of this sophisticated restaurant on the sixth floor of the Fairmont Rio hotel overlooks the entire Copacabana coastline. In the dining room, with parquet floors and low lighting, guests spread out across comfortable tables and sofas to enjoy the strong Brazilian flair in Jérôme Dardillac's kitchen. In a recent overhaul of the menu, the chef fully embraced the flavors from every corner of the country. Good examples include the dried meat stew (R$75) and the organic beets (R$75) served with Minas Gerais catupiry cheese foam and various types of honey for starters. For main courses, the grilled pirarucu belly (R$220, for sharing) and the shrimp moqueca risotto (R$150) are safe bets. The golden tip here is to finish with a selection of Brazilian cheeses from small artisans, served with fruit jams (R$70), a true spoil. Ask the attentive staff for help choosing a bottle from the extensive wine list.