From charming and cheerful bars called 'botecos' selling comfort food to high-end experimental cuisine, traditional Brazilian plates to exotic international cuisine, there are restaurants across the city to suit every mood and palate.

Globalization, and the recent Brazilian economic boom have further enriched foreign culinary influences, and while maintaining its originality, Carioca gastronomy has now significantly expanded to include some remarkably sophisticated recipes. Today's gastronomy has reached such importance in Rio to result in the creation of a variety of yearly culinary festivals and competitions such as the Rio's Festival Gastronomico, the Degusta Rio, and the hosting of the worlds' Pasta Congress.