Rio Minho Restaurant

Founded in 1884, the Rio Minho Restaurant is the oldest in operation in Rio. Originally frequented by the elite of the imperial period, the site carries with it a rich history and tradition that goes through generations.

The restaurant was attended by no less than the Baron of Rio Branco, patron of Brazilian diplomacy. It was common to see him at his usual table, where he enjoyed the dishes of the house and dialogued with intellectuals of the time. His presence helped to establish the Rio Minho as a meeting point for the thinking and political elite of the country.

In 1960 he won an attached bar, further expanding his bohemian and welcoming atmosphere. Specialized in seafood, the restaurant is the cradle of the famous Leo Velloso soup, a classic of Rio cuisine.

With a consecrated menu of fish served à la carte, Rio Minho offers a traditional and familiar atmosphere, with outdoor tables that keep alive the essence of the old restaurants in the center of Rio.

Another illustrious name that marked the history of the restaurant was the immortal of the Brazilian Academy of Letters, Antônio Houaiss. Lexicographer, diplomat and lover of good gastronomy, Houaiss was not content just to taste: he attended the cuisine of the Rio Minho, where, with enthusiasm and creativity, he participated in the preparation of dishes, mixing technique, tradition and intellectual refinement. His relationship with the restaurant was of real affection.

In recognition of its historical and cultural importance, the restaurant received, in 2011, the Carioca Cultural Heritage Board, reaffirming its role as a symbol of the gastronomy and affective memory of the city.

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