Al Mare is as spectacular as they come. The patio and dining room wrap around the main building, offering lovely views of Praia de Meireles. The decor is a tad heavy on the maritime memorabilia, but the food is excellent. For appetizers, try the tangy marinated octopus in an onion-and-herb vinaigrette or the satisfying fried calamari (lula á; milanesa). Seafood pastas are very popular; try the spaghetti pescatore with squid, prawns, garlic, and tomato or the spaghetti al vongole with a generous serving of the small clams. The most spectacular dish is the grilled seafood combination, grelhada al mare, a platter of grilled lobster, prawns, fish, octopus, and squid.

Located just a couple blocks in from Meireles beach, this innovative restaurant is decorated in strong primary colors with lots of interesting artwork, and offers creative cuisine at very reasonable prices. The dishes are refreshingly unique. The peixe carmel is a grilled fish served with a grape and caper sauce and a side of caramelized mushrooms and asparagus. The popular peixe bonne femme is a grilled filet of fish served with a béchamel sauce with mushrooms and shrimp. For an inexpensive prix-fixe menu, order the Menu Night; this includes one main course, one dessert, and a nonalcoholic beverage and coffee for just R$25 (US$8.25). The wine list offers a decent selection from France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Australia, and South America.

One of the most beautiful restaurants in Praia de Iracema, La Bohème combines an art gallery with restaurant and large outdoor patio. Diners can choose the white-linen table service indoors or the casual tables alfresco. The menu is the same, a delicious variety of lobster, grilled with catupiry cheese or sautéed in a moqueca stew, or prawns prepared in a variety of ways, including flambéed and served in a pineapple shell. Other options include octopus stews a Baiana, with coconut milk and dendê oil. A band plays nightly from 9pm.

Moanna has it all. Located on Mucuripe beach, the restaurant is absolutely gorgeous, decorated in a kind of gold-and-brown rustic chic, with a soothing waterfall against the back wall. And then there's the food. This is high-end dining with quality ingredients, creative cuisine, and excellent service, yet most dishes don't even crack the R$36 (US$12) mark. Truly excellent is the frango tropical, succulent pieces of grilled chicken breast served in mango sauce with savory crepes stuffed with leek mousse. Also worth trying is the duck in an orange-and-Cointreau sauce with spinach purée. For desserts, there's a fruit carpaccio, thin slices of fruit served with a scoop of ice cream and a raspberry sauce. However, chocoholics may want to order the último desejo (the last wish), two slices of chocolate cookie stuffed with crème caramel served on a bed of crème anglaise with sliced strawberries and chocolate sauce. Bliss indeed.