A Rio institution since 1894, the Confeitaria Colombo is the place for anyone after a touch of classical grandeur with their morning tea. Stunning display cabinets and tiling with mirrors and marble direct from France, the ambiance makes it easy to see why this was the choice for the city's politicians and intellectuals back in the day, not to mention the selection of beautifully-presented pastries.

If you are in need of some serious gap fillers then grab the Café Colombo Especial (R$25.80 for one or R$46.80 for two people) consisting of enough croissants, cakes, Petropolis Toast (about the size of a house brick), cheese, ham, honey and jam to put the brakes on a walking tour for a few hours. A robust expresso (R$4) will be required to get over the post-breakfast slump, so for the less ambitious a perusal of the fully-laden counters might be a better route, with pastries, savoury snacks and gleaming fruity slices (R$5-$16.50) to tempt you.

The first floor restaurant has a good buffet and à la carte lunch choice offering hearty Spanish and Portuguese-inflected Brazilian cooking, or if the day has marched on then the Virginia Lane tea (R$23.50) will satisfy with its selection of cakes, biscuits and sandwiches. The Copacabana Fort branch is also worth a visit for the same quality in an entirely different setting overlooking one of the world's most famous beaches.