While exploring Santa Teresa (you can read about that here!) we stopped for lunch at Espirtito Santa Restaurante, which was rated highly on TripAdvisor. 

The restaurant is small with the seating space split across an inside space and outdoor patio with a view of the hillside and surrounding homes.

Temperatures were in the low 30°s C (approximately mid 80°s F) while we were there, and with no aircon inside we opted for the outdoor patio, shaded by trees and umbrellas and offering a light breeze that day.

Each of the menu fronts were different with handmade designs from recycled material.

If you don’t speak Portuguese, but you do speak English, you’re in luck because the menus here come with English descriptions as standard! Unrelated: they’ve got wifi here.

From looking at the prices I thought the portions would be a bit bigger in relation to what we’d seen elsewhere, but I think the tourism traffic, combined with delicious food and subsequent recommendations online, has enhanced their pricing systems.

This is the Carpaccio de Pirarucu Defumado which was absolutely delicious (I didn’t want to share a single bite!), though not filling on its own.

The restaurant is beautifully decorated with plants and figurines.

Everywhere you look there’s something else to enjoy.

And if the decor isn’t enough for you, just check out this view!

Absolutely picturesque.

So if you find yourself in Santa Teresa and are after a delicious (though a little overpriced for Rio) lunch with a gorgeous view, I’d recommend checking out Espirto Santa!

Much love, Katie xo