when eating in a favela, visitors should try and make sure the establishment is reasonably clean and the food is cooked in-house. a good indicator of the eatery's safety is the presence of a local crowd - in fact, a variety of great restaurants can be found in many of rio's favelas.

in many of the pacified favelas, such as those in zona sul, a number of restaurants are drawing international attention for the quality and innovation of their dishes. a famous one is las empanadas, which started in vidigal and beame so successful that it opened a store in the posh neighborhood leblon.

the relevant weather forecasts of the area should always be taken into account before entering a favela, as heavy rain in structurally unsound areas can have catastrophic results. It is not uncommon for rocks or jackfruits to fall from above, especially during storms. in the past, landslides and collapsing structures have resulted in serious injury and even death.  in case of heavy rainfall while in a favela, it is best to find a safe, covered area and remain there until the rain ceases.