Copacabana and Ipanema are Rio’s most iconic neighbourhoods. This is where bossa nova drifted out of apartment windows, where The Girl From Ipanema became immortal, and where locals still gather each evening to watch the sun sink into the Atlantic like it's a daily religious ceremony. Our evening feast begins beneath the palms of Ipanema, where we'll explore the food culture of Rio's most famous districts with our team of local foodie tastemaker guides.

Before we get started, our tour reflects the local cuisine and the limitations of street food vendors means we unfortunately cannot cater for every dietary restriction. Here's an honest appraisal for the tour so no-one is disappointed: ✖️Vegetarians and gluten-free guests have 3-4 less tastings due to limited alternatives. ✖️ Unsuitable for severe allergies, halal and celiac diets due to risk of traces and cross-contamination.

Brazil is a country stitched together by migration, and some of its most beloved foods arrived from hundreds of miles away. Our first bite is acarajé, a crisp black-eyed bean fritter brought south from Bahia by Afro-Brazilian communities. It's street food with deep roots. Nearby, a neighbourhood botequim serves dishes that have fuelled generations of Cariocas. Dig into creamy crab gratin bubbling beneath a golden crust, buttery cassava that disappears faster than good intentions, and banana milanesa, proof that Brazilians will happily deep-fry almost anything if it tastes good enough.

If you look closely, you'll find the fingerprints of Lebanon all over Rio de Janeiro. Entire generations crossed the Atlantic carrying family recipes, and the city is better fed because of it. We'll tear into crisp beef kibe and fragrant ricotta and za'atar esfiha, before stopping for warm pão de queijo. Nobody can quite explain why these little cheese breads are so addictive.

Rio runs on strong opinions. Football, politics, music, beaches, everyone thinks they're right. Sandwiches are no exception. A quick Metro ride brings us to Copacabana and one of the city's most legendary sandwich counters. Here, roast pork is piled into bread alongside sweet pineapple in a combination that sounds questionable on paper and absolutely perfect after the first bite. Some locals claim it's the best sandwich in Rio. We're certainly not going to argue with them.

As night settles over Copacabana, we do what Cariocas do best: find a botequim and order absolutely everything. Cold chopp beer arrives alongside shrimp pastries, black bean broth and golden cod fritters, dishes designed for long conversations. Around us, regulars debate football scores, complain about politicians and catch up on neighbourhood gossip. We finish with a silky slice of pudim, Brazil's beloved caramel custard. There's more to this evening than food. It's a glimpse into the Rio that exists after the beach towels have been packed away. The Rio of neighbourhood bars, immigrant stories, family recipes and nighttime conversations. You could attempt the food feast alone, but you’d miss the stories and characters our tastemakers bring alive.