Cidade de Deus is living evidence of a social governmental initiative with admirable intentions and great hope, aimed improving social conditions and addressing the effects of chronic flooding. Mass displacement brought with it an unsettled population and resulted in conflict and criminal activity. this has been reduced significantly through the tireless efforts of the civil society, government, artists and the conscientious public.

the changes brought by the novel social reality allowed for new restaurants to come to life, and for old ones to bloom with the new waves of visitors.  the chick bem restaurant, set in the isabel street, is one of such establishment - it is quite large, with a space to fit fifty people, and serves mostly light dishes, with the 'nhoque' being the most famous of the lot. in the guarani commander street is the bar and snack bar esplanada do sabor, a popular establishment, serving a wide variety of meat dishes, although the traditional 'feijoada' remains the most solicited one.