Manaus Restaurants and Dining

(Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil)

Being a large and constantly busy city, Manaus comes with its fair share of restaurants and eateries, serving food from a fixed menu, as well as 'plate of the day' (prato feito) specials. Wherever you stay in Manaus, you can be sure that you will never be far from plenty of dining possibilities, while for bars and nightlife, the Ponta Negra area is the place to be.

Several restaurants in Manaus really do stand out and are certainly worth looking out for. These include the African House on the Praca Sao Sebastiao (next to the Casa do Pensador) - hamburgers are a good fast-food option here. Nearby, another notable local eatery is the Casa do Pensador, where al fresco dining is available on the Praca Sao Sebastiao, with diners enjoying not only tasty food (Brazilian dishes and pizzas), but also stunning views of the Teatro Amazonas.


If you are feeling especially hungry in Manaus, even ravenous, then head on down to the Churrascaria Bufalo on the Avenida Joaquim Nabuco, where 'rodizio' dining is available. A 'churrascaria' is a steakhouse, while 'rodizio' means that you can eat as much as you like for the price, with skewers of meat being continuously brought to tables throughout your meal.

What to Eat

Local specialities in the Amazonas area have often been influenced by African cuisine and in particular, the 'Tupi' people, who use manioc, yams, beans and freshwater fish in many of their dishes, together with tropical fruit.

• Bolo de macaxeira - an oily cake made using 'manioc root' flour, usually served with jam or chocolate sauce.
• Caldo - Portuguese-style soup, with potatoes, sausages and lots of green vegetables.
• Feijoada - Brazil's national dish, a stew mixture of pork, black beans and rice.
• Jacaré - caiman meat, cooked in a variety of different ways.
• Pamonha - a paste of corn and coconut milk, wrapped in corn husks.
• Tacacá - a popular soup in Manaus, comprising 'tucupi' (manioc broth), dried shrimps, yellow peppers and 'jambu' (type of paracress herb).
• Tapioquinha - a 'manioc' pancake with 'tucuma palm' fruit and local cheese.
• Vatapá - shrimp broth, with garlic, peanuts or cashew nuts, and chicory, served with either wheat flour or rice.