Best Brazilian restaurants in London: Tuck into everything from feijoada to moqueca

Known in the UK for its colourful carnivals, stunning beaches and vast rainforests, but not so much for its unique cuisine, Brazilian restaurants aren’t that easy to find in London but the popularity of this cuisine is on the rise, and we couldn't be happier about that.

To find the very best authentic Brazilian restaurants in London, you’ll have to head a little further out of the city to the suburbs where family run Botecas (to Brazilians what cafés are to Parisians) are hidden among countless Indian, Italian and Chinese restaurants. These fun, family-friendly places attract crowds as much for their live music as for their food.

For those of us who aren’t too familiar with Brazilian cuisine, here is a quick run-down of all the basics you need to know. First thing's first, be prepared to see a lot of meat on the menu, and we mean a lot. With many of the restaurants on this list revolving around large meat skewers carved directly on to your plate, we suggest vegans avoid these ones. Other dishes you can expect to pop up a lot throughout include feijoada – a stew of black beans that usually has chunks of pork or beef in it to bulk it up – and moqueca, a fish based stew with shellfish and a coconut milk base. As mentioned earlier, meat is king in this cuisine so expect to see lots of grilled or barbequed meats commonly called churrasco on most of the menus mentioned.

To get you started on your journey into Brazilian cuisine, we’ve put together a list of all our favourites, from the best Brazilian steakhouses in London to the most authentic spots, so next time you’re looking to try something new or different, look no further than the below.

Mano Mayfair, Mayfair

What: Mano describes itself as Brazilian fusion meets the unbridled glamour of late 1960s St Tropez. Expect bold decor, and even bolder flavours, with an impressive cocktail menu to boot. To eat, you can expect to find options like octopus and ginger arancini with romesco sauce, and seared tuna with caponata and pine nuts.
Where: 4 Mill Street, W1S 2AX
Book now: Mano Mayfair

Inca London, Mayfair

What: Located next to the iconic London Palladium, Inca is the Brazilian Mayfair restaurant waiting to show you a good time. You may come for the delicious food here, but you’ll stay for the energetic atmosphere and first class service, as dinner is served with a show which draws on the passion and cultural diversity of South America. With an eclectic mix of singers, dancers and acrobats, a night at Inca will always be one to remember.
Where: 8-9 Argyll Street, W1F 7TF
Book now: Inca London

Tia Maria, Vauxhall

What: Bringing the spirit of Brazil to Vauxhall through authentic dishes and live music, Tia Maria has been serving up Brazilian drinks and dishes for over ten years. As with most Brazilian restaurants, expect to find a lot of meat on this menu. Espetos meat skewers, lamb chops from the grill and petiscos small plates are just a few of the items you’ll find. All washed down with a fresh fruit juice and some upbeat samba music to keep you entertained all night. 
Where: 126 South Lambeth Road, SW8 1RB
Book now: Tia Maria

Fogo De Chão, Soho

What: Following the popular Brazilian restaurant trend of skewered meats and salad buffets, Fogo De Chão has over twenty different varieties of meat to choose from. Start your meal with the aptly named Girl From Ipanema and fill your plate with the likes of cap of rump, pork belly and chicken wrapped in bacon. If you fancy sticking to the more traditional dishes, or just don’t fancy going back and forth to the salad bar, order its ‘famous’ Feijoada or Tropeiro beans instead.   
Where: 126 Clapham High Street, SW4 7UH
Book now: Fogo De Chão

SUSHISAMBA, City and Covent Garden

What: Don't be fooled by the name, SUSHISAMBA isn’t just a sushi place. Combining influences from Brazil, Japan and Peru, SUSHISAMBA has sites in both The City and Covent Garden. The menu serves up the likes of sushi, taquitos and, from its Brazilian pickings, churrasco Rio Grande served with black beans, sautéed green, farofa and its special dipping sauce.
Where: 110 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AY and Opera Terrace, WC2E 8RF
Book now: SUSHISAMBA City, SUSHISAMBA Covent Garden 

Omnino, Aldgate

What: Sitting among people walking around with skewers and carving knives would be a fairly unsettling situation to find yourself in at most times. At Omnino however, the closer you are to the people with the skewers, the better. With a range of different meats carved straight onto your plate and a selection of tapas style dishes and South American wines to accompany said meat, you may have to be rolled out of Omnino.    
Where: 7-9 Bride Street, EC4A 4AS
Book now: Omnino

Kaipiras by Barraco, Maida Vale

What: Modelling itself on a traditional Brazilian ‘boteca bar’, Barraco brings authentic, quirky and homely décor and dishes that include feijoada, calabreza acebolada – Brazilian sausage with onions – and a selection of moqueca stews. Live music is also a huge part of Barraco’s charm with regular bossa nova nights happening from Friday through to Sunday. If you’re looking for an authentic Brazilian boteca experience, look no further than Kilburn’s Barraco.
Where: 10 Kingsgate Place, NW6 4TA
Book now: Kaipiras by Barraco

Made in Brasil, Camden

What: Fitting right in with its Camden neighbours, Made in Brasil’s Christ the Redeemer art piece on a backdrop of the Brazilian flag sits perfectly above the front of the restaurant and pays homage to both its roots and its home in one of London’s street art capitals. Food-wise, feijoad (a Brazilian black bean and pork stew), picanha na chapa (beef with vegetables and rice) and petiscos tapas dishes all feature on the menu. Don’t forget to have a caipirinha cocktail to accompany your dishes either.  
Where: 12 Inverness Street, NW1 7HJ
Book now: Made in Brasil

Fancy trying another cuisine taking over the city? Take a look at our list of the best Korean restaurants in London.