Brazilian cuisine is a potent cocktail of passion on plate comprising an intoxicating melange of flavours. Evolving from a wide variety of ethnic and cultural groups, this diverse blend of indigenous, African, and Portuguese influences - among many others - means that ‘Brazilian’ food is highly distinctive and packs a punch. Famous for strong flavours and a celebratory approach, Brazilians also take immense pride in exporting their cuisine around the world.
London is a primary example: probably only New York and Paris can compete with England’s ever-elegant capital when it comes to world-class Brazilian food (outside of the Portuguese-speaking world). While you’ll find plentiful options in London for ‘churrasco’ - the uniquely Brazilian way of barbecuing large chunks of meat (usually rubbed with rock salt) - there is much more beyond: luxury fine dining, high-end fusion, ‘street food’ pop ups; sometimes a blend of all three in the same place. Here is our expert guide to the very best places to sample Brazilian food, and atmosphere, in London.
FAZENDA
Diners' eyes light up when they sit down to luxuriate in the unadulterated joy of traditional Brazilian food service. At Fazenda, the much-celebrated ‘rodizio’ system is executed with the expertise you would expect of a fine dining restaurant situated in the heart of London (at the ever-bustling 100 Bishopsgate Tower). Using a two-sided card to control the flow, green indicates the obvious - you want more - while red signals that you have finished your meal (or just need a breather). It’s not complex, but it’s certainly playful and leans into the celebratory, indulgent atmosphere you’ll find at Fadenza (where the decor is decadent and warm, combining dark woods and soft lighting with a modern twist).
Diners are served at their own pace, soaking up the essence of churrasco dining - a simple style of cooking meat that originated in southern Brazil, where cowboys would grill a selection of cuts over open flames while out on the pampas. The emphasis is firmly fixed on the natural flavours of the meat, seasoned with little more than a bit of salt, but while it sounds rather rustic, Fazenda is anything but: there are succulent skewers, delightful small plates, and top-quality service.
DA TERRA
One Michelin star wasn’t quite enough for ambitious Da Terra: just two years after opening, they had been awarded another. Coming to Da Terra with an outstanding pedigree behind him - The Fat Duck, Claridge’s, and so on - São Paulo-born chef-owner Rafael Cagali has put his heart and soul into this Brazilian jewel in Bethnal Green, and it really shows. With thrillingly delicious dishes, his ‘small plates’-driven food is incredibly experimental and genuinely reflective of the diversity of Brazilian culture and cuisine. It borrows from a vast range of influences, including Italian and Japanese, for example, and stretches way beyond the simplistic idea of ‘fusion’. Leaping off the menu for us: Chalk Stream Trout with manteiguinha beans and farofa, closely followed by Huntsham Farm Middle White Pork with morel feijoada, endive and cavolo nero.
You won’t find a lazy reliance on the Brazilian staple of black beans here: it’s a riot of beautifully curated ‘try-this-with-that’: the Sweetcorn Macaroon is a lightbulb moment, a sumptuous dessert. Overall, the food at Da Terra is among the best in the city, shining a light on the variety and creativity of Brazilian cuisine, and illuminating it even further with an understated east London twist.
AMAZONICO
Amazónico offers an astonishingly transformative experience: amid the gorgeous Georgian townhouses and genteel squares of this wealthy central London neighbourhood, this standout Brazilian restaurant tries to take you to the Amazon rainforest itself - with conviction and success. Its vivid interior is a defining feature, no doubt: the space filled with lush foliage, with tropical plants and greenery fighting for position amid the broader decor of exotic patterns and ‘wild’ textures.
But the jungle-like environment doesn’t lapse into tacky, and is enhanced by soft, intimate lighting. The furnishings are stylish, and more to the point, it’s a vibrant, immersive dining experience. Ceviche and tiraditos - raw fish dishes, often served with tropical fruits and citrus - make excellent starters, while picanha, ribeye, and octopus are among the grilled meats and seafood. Small plates inspired by street food from all across South America are fiercely popular: especially the empanadas and tacos. Energy and spirit are also in rich supply, with the in-house band adept at a wide range of Latin jazz and bossa nova tunes.
MANO
Mano is one of the newest Brazilian-fusion restaurants on the scene, and has quickly made serious waves with celebrated Michelin star chef Rafa Gomes delivering intoxicating food to match the party-style atmosphere. Dining here is fun: Mano is inspired and influenced by the atmosphere of beach clubs, and with the restaurant split over two floors, there is always a sense of something going on: it’s lively and stimulating.
There are live DJs, mixing in Latin beats with modern tunes, and there is a late licence too: Mano segues perfectly from dinner service to a throbbing late-night venue, where dancing and cocktails are top of the menu. Highlights include tuna tataki, red miso aubergine, peri-peri chicken taco, and Mano’s signature roll with smoked shrimp. The cocktails, too, are something else. Make sure to try the Manga Picante.
FOGO DE CHAO
Central to the enjoyment of Fogo de Chão are its skilled ‘passadores’. Dressed jauntily in gaucho-inspired costumes, they are no gimmick: and bring much more to the table than skilled meat carving expertise. Their joie de vivre and alert attentiveness create a distinctive experience, where diners at the rodizio-style restaurants (in both Soho and Clapham) feel engaged and inter-connected. Aside from embodying what Brazilian hospitality is all about, at Fogo de Chão their deep knowledge is priceless in enhancing the enjoyment of the cuisine.
At each table they will perfectly carve and present different cuts of meats, quickly slicing (very generous) portions directly onto hot plates, while also explaining the cooking methods, flavour profile and recommended pairings. Picanha - Brazil’s most beloved cut of beef - is revered at Fogo de Chão, and the top sirloin cap is expertly seasoned. Rock salt perfection. The salad buffet here is also amazingly well stocked, and look out for the tasty ‘palm hearts’.
London, like Brazil, is all the richer for its phenomenal diversity. Both are cultural and culinary explosions. So when you blend the two together, the effect is even more powerful. There is no shortage of top Brazilian restaurants in the English capital, with amazing churrasco experiences and iconic dishes like feijoada - that hearty black bean stew imbued with tangy bits of pork - tasting just as delicious as they might in downtown Rio de Janeiro.
