On a balmy Sunday afternoon, there are few better ways to soothe caipirinha-sore heads and samba feet than with a classic Brazilian feijoada (pork and bean stew). The laid-back and nattering Bar do Mineiro rightfully lays claim to having one of the best in town and it is good value too - at a push, one portion will just about feed three hungry souls. About as far from formal as it gets, fittingly for Santa Teresa, Rio’s artsy district, the walls are adorned with artwork ranging from the sublime to the surreal, complete with a puppet of Michael Jackson dangling behind the bar. 

It is fair to say the regulars at this Santa staple are not lacking in character either, drawn to the big bottles of beer and famous cachaça blends involving honey, cinnamon and ginger. On a sunny weekend it soon gets seriously packed indoors, so put your name on the list, grab a bottle of beer and some petiscos (bar snacks) and wait for a table to be cleared. It will be midnight before you know it.