where to have breakfast and brunch on January 1st in Rio

• “Different” dinner: three complete dinners with chef recipes to prepare at home during the holidays
• Christmas away from the kitchen: a guide to restaurants for lunch on the 25th away from home

Facing the cove, with views of Pão de Açúcar, the Botafogo Praia Shopping terrace unit is the only one to open on the first day of the year, with a buffet available from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. (later, bar menu). The menu includes bread, cold meats, eggs, cereals, fruit, cakes, yogurts and drinks (R$79.90; R$39.90 up to 12 years old).

Inspired by European coffee shops, the space opens its doors to those who want to start the year with artisanal bread, good coffee and a warm atmosphere. Among the good choices are breakfast combos, from R$35 (the solo, with hot drink, croissant or mini baguette, jam, butter and cream cheese), as well as elaborate toasts, such as buffalo mozzarella with pesto and tomato (R$39), sourdough eggs benedict with avocado paste (from R$42) and artisanal croissants, stars of the window. To sweeten things up, waffles, homemade cakes and classic desserts like mille-feuille (R$18) accompany brewed coffees, espressos and cold drinks. Rua Constante Ramos 44, Copacabana. Rua Carlos Góis 327, Leblon. From 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

In the style of traditional American diners of the 1950s, the retro-vibe cafe on a corner of Botafogo opens in 2026 with typical brunch dishes like the Englishman in rio (R$72), which combines sausages, scrambled eggs, glazed sauce, mushrooms and tomatoes, with sourdough; and the russ (R$58), latke (fried potato cake) with guacamole, smoked salmon, poached egg and dill parsley. In the pancake section, the dainer uses orange zest in the batter, as well as banana slices, maple, butter and pecans (R$34, for a pair). The date allows you to toast with drinks like the brunch punch (R$32), which combines bourbon, vermouth, lemon and pineapple. Rua Real Grandeza 193, Botafogo. From 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Recreio headquarters is closed on the 1st, but Petit, a lighter version in Leblon of the charming bakery-confectionery with a French accent, opens with warm batches. Slow-fermented breads serve sandwiches like the Boursin goat cheese with candied tomatoes and basil (R$37), and sandwiches like the balthazar, with slow-roasted beef short ribs, mayonnaise, arugula, pickled red onion and honey (R$48). Attractive, the vienniserie window offers tips like the supreme, a rolled croissant super filled with flavors like pistachio or hazelnuts (R$28 each). To wake up, ice macchiato (R$15) or cappuccino with chocolate ganache (R$17). Rua General Venâncio Flores 300, Leblon. From 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Casa Firjan garden café closes on the 1st, but the Ipanema and Jardim Botânico units will be open for the first meal of the year. Chef Paula Prandini prepares more than a hundred brunch dishes at any time of the day, indicated on a menu. Among the options, hits such as gruyere bread (R$23, a trio), yogurt (R$8.90) with granola nuts and cocoa nibs (R$6.30) and avocado cream (R$18.50), all homemade. The chapter on eggs presents preparations such as Bénédicte — on brioche with Hollandaise sauce and poached egg, which can be garnished with roasted bacon (R$33.50) or mushrooms (R$33.50). There is also an almond croissant (R$17.50) and sweets like Belgian chocolate éclair (R$19.50). Rua Visconde da Graça 51, Jardim Botânico. Rua Maria Quiteria 62, Ipanema. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

To celebrate the year in style, Hotel Fasano’s café offers an exquisite buffet of homemade breads, sweets and cakes, from bostok, a kind of golden almond brioche, to bombolone, an Italian dream filled with custard, lemon zest and vanilla. The list also includes tapioca bread, granola and yogurt, fresh and dried fruit, grilled tomatoes and drinks such as juice, coffee, coconut water and sparkling wine. The price (R$195) includes an a la carte option, including crepes, omelettes, salmon benedicts and more. Vieira Souto 80, Ipanema. From 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

At the biscuit chain’s cafeteria in Copacabana, the idea is to create your own brunch menu from seven dishes, chosen from the options listed on a menu, which can include tapioca with scrambled eggs and Minas cheese, a butter waffle, ham, cheese, honey, orange juice and the benditinho — stuffed biscuit sandwich (R$109.90), as well as a glass of wine sparkling wine to toast the new year. Rua Barão de Ipanema 94, Copacabana. From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Open 24 hours after its reopening, completely renovated on three floors with bakery, pastry shop, rotisserie, bar and restaurant, the Rio icon is the right stop for everyone who wants to live up to their New Year’s Eve or who wants to wake up later. The terrace with the retractable roof is a good choice for tasting dishes such as the hot mixture on croissant (R$29), the beautiful bologna, the mortadella toast with ricotta, basil and pistachio pesto and orange zest (R$49), or the shakshuka, poached egg with tomato sauce, peppers and spices (R$48). The classic pancake with maple syrup, butter and fried bacon (R$37), as well as French toast (R$14) and chocolate babka (R$22) complete the program. Rua Visconde de Pirajá 325.

In addition to the regular menu — which ranges from espresso and panini to breads and treats — the Ipanema bakery offers full-length coffees for one or two people. The Mediterranean combo includes toasted sourdough with avocado cream, smoked salmon and an egg of your choice, cheese bread stuffed with mature cheese, orange juice and fruit with granola (R$94.90, individual). On the menu are dishes such as mature cheese bread with cream cheese (R$23, five), creamy scrambled eggs with crispy bacon (R$16) and coffees like frapputtino (R$31), with vanilla ice cream or dulce de leche, cocoa, caramel sauce and whipped cream. Rua Vinícius de Moraes 68, Ipanema. From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The three units of Nando Kaplan’s specialist brunch house (also in front of Venga!) open a little later with long-fermented breads produced there and inputs from small producers. Among the suggestions are the bowl of natural yogurt with seasonal fruit, granola and honey (R$36), the waffle with strawberry, jam and whipped cream (R$36) and the ranch eggs, with bread sheets, guacamole, tomato sauce, eggs, ricotta and homemade sausages (R$56). To drink, special coffees – from filtered coffee (R$14) to iced miso and orange latte (R$24) – smoothies, fruit juices and light drinks like mimosa (R$38). Rua Garcia d’Ávila 147, Ipanema. Av. Ataulfo ​​​​de Paiva 1 120, Leblon. Rua Francisco Sá 5, Copacabana. From 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.