4 Best Restaurants in Brasilia and the West, Brazil

If you're a bibliophile or a fan of the arts, you might enjoy the frequent book parties and art exhibits at this restaurant. On weekdays the lunch buffet is very popular with the business crowd. On weekends people flock here for the feijoada (meat stew with black beans). Among the regular entrées, the shrimp risotto is one of the most popular. There are five other locations in Brasília, but the original stands out because of its greenery-filled verandas.

This longtime favorite is the place to go for German cuisine. The laid-back atmosphere and no-frills decor draw those looking for authentic food and a great selection of imported beer and wine. Savor the rollmops (rolled thinly cut herring fillets) while you wait for your entrée. Good choices include the Eisbein (pig's leg with mashed potatoes) or Ente mit Blaukraut und Apfelpurée (duck cooked in wine served with red cabbage and applesauce).

In the same building as the Museu do Rio, this ever-popular self-service eatery offers regional cuisine and Brazilian staples such as rice and beans. Try the mojica de pintado, a stew made from a local freshwater fish.

The quiet cantina ambience and fantastic cuisine, closely overseen by well-known chef and owner Ana Toscana, make you feel as if you're in Italy. If you're not too concerned about your weight, try the agnello della nonna (roasted lamb shank).