Café do Alto lies in the heart of the bohemian Santa Teresa neighborhood and specializes in dishes from Northeastern Brazil. The cuisine is a fascinating blend of Portuguese, indigenous and African influences and Café do Alto presents dozens of perfectly prepared classic dishes that every visitor to Rio should try. Abará is a dish brought to Brazil by slaves taken from West Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries – a version of this dish is still sold on the streets of Nigeria and Ghana. These mini tamales are made from a steamed puree of black-eyed peas, spiced with fragrant dendê (palm oil) and neatly wrapped in banana leaves. Open the little packages and combine the contents with the delicious side orders of vatapá (a rich and complex dip made from coconut milk, cashews, cilantro and dried shrimp) and a zingy Brazilian vinaigrette.

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