The 100 Best Restaurants in Brazil According to the 2025 EXAME Casual Ranking

In its fourth edition, the list highlights the country’s rich cuisine, represented by establishments from 23 cities across all five regions.

Showcasing Brazil’s gastronomic diversity, whether in a small restaurant in the countryside serving traditional dishes or in a renowned haute cuisine establishment in a metropolis, is our mission when we organize the list of the 100 Best Restaurants in Brazil each year. To achieve this, we rely on the collaboration of 65 judges, including the most important journalists, critics, and influencers in the national culinary scene. Each of them nominated the ten best restaurants they had visited in the last 12 months, in no particular order.

In total, approximately 500 establishments were nominated. In this fourth edition, 29 restaurants appear for the first time or return to the list. The country’s five regions are represented in 23 cities, including both capitals and rural towns, reflecting Brazil’s rich gastronomic diversity.

3ºlugar | Manu | 20 votes | Curitiba

Manu Buffara, do Manu: primeiro restaurante do Brasil comandado por uma mulher a servir apenas menu degustação. (Helena Peixoto/Divulgação)

From the previous ranking to this one, Chef Manu Buffara climbed seven positions with her restaurant Manu, which opened in 2011 in Curitiba, Brazil. Eighty percent of the restaurant’s suppliers are located within a 300-kilometer radius, and 60% of the menu is plant-based.
“You don’t need meat or fish to end a menu with impact. It’s all about how you respect the ingredient,” says the chef. For 2025, the current tasting menu is called Vivências, featuring 12 courses (R$720). The main course sequence includes animal proteins such as squid, langoustine, and lamb, alongside vegetables like beans, potatoes, leeks, and artichokes. Wine pairing is available for R$460, or non-alcoholic pairing for R$230. Three years ago, Manu was named Best Female Chef in Latin America by the prestigious Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants. Last year, she opened Exímia in São Paulo, a bar co-founded with mixologist Márcio Silva and brothers Gabriel and Nicholas Fullen. Her already announced restaurant Ella, in New York, is scheduled to open in the second half of this year.

Alameda Dom Pedro II, 317, Batel, Curitiba. Wednesday to Saturday, from 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM.

The 100 selected restaurants

The full list chosen by the Casual EXAME jury features restaurants from 16 Brazilian states. Check out the complete reviews of all 100 restaurants on the website

Jury: Alessandra Carneiro (Agenda Carioca), André Bezerra (Duo Gourmet), Arnaldo Lorençato (Veja-SP), Bárbara Browne (@mesadividida), Bruna Vitória Gasparini (@comeremcg), Carlos Altman (Estado de Minas), Carolina Daher (revistaEncontro), Cecilia Padilha (@yeswecook), Celina Aquino (Estado de Minas), Cris Beltrão (Veja Rio), Daniela Filomeno (CNN Viagem & Gastronomia), Danielle Dalla Valle Machado (Bom Gourmet), Diego Fabris (Wine Locals), Edi Souza (Folha de Pernambuco), Eduardo Milan (revistaAdega), Fabio Wright (Taste & Fly), Felipe Almeida (@almeida1984), Fernanda Meneguetti (jornalista), Françoise Terzian (@prazerices), Gabrielli Menezes (UOL), Georgia Guzzo (@eatingcuritiba), Gilson Garrett Jr. (EXAME), Gisele Rech (O Estado de S. Paulo), Gisele Vitoria (Robb Report), Giulianna Iodice (Versatille), Gui Torres (@siteguitorres), Isabela Lapa (@coisasdemineiro), Isabelle Moreira Lima (revistaGama), Ivan Padilla (EXAME), Izakeline Ribeiro (@saboresdacidade), Josimar Melo (Sabor & Arte/Folha de S.Paulo), Julia Frischtak (Cellar Vinhos), Júlia Storch (EXAME), Juliana Saad (jornalista/@jusaad), Juliana Simon (UOL), Junior Ferraro (revistaAzul), Jussara Voss (@jussaravoss), Kike Martins (revista29horas), Laura Miranda (@lauraomiranda), Lela Zaniol (Destemperados), Liana Sabo (Correio Braziliense), Lorena Martins (O Tempo), Luciana Penante (@boracuritiba), Luciana Tezoto (TV Globo), Luiza Fecarotta (CBN), Marcel Miwa (Gula), Mariella Lazaretti (Prazeres da Mesa), Marina Marques (revistaClaudia), Nide Lins (@nidelins), Otavio Furtado (@maiorviagem), Patricia Ferraz (Rádio Eldorado), Patricia Oyama (Elle), Paula Theotonio (jornalCorreio), Priscila Matta (@deondevinho), Rafael Tonon (Eater), Raphael Camposo (@raphaelcamposo), Renata Araújo (@youmustgoblog), Renata Monti (@viagemgourmet), Rita Comini (A Gazeta Cuiabá), Roberta Malta (jornalista), Roberto Hirth (@robertohirth), Robson Mattos (@robsonmattos), Rosa Moraes (The World’s 50 Best Restaurants), Tereza Carvalho (@proveieaprovei) e Tina Bini (CNN Viagem & Gastronomia).

Fonte: exame.com