Cafe do Alto, Rio de Janeiro

A warm welcome is guaranteed at this friendly cafe in the heart of Leblon. The space is relaxed and colorfully decorated, and the menu offers all manner of delicious treats from Brazil's northeast to tantalize the taste buds. Among the menu items, the tapioca (tapioca flour is made into a crisp pancake and stuffed) is a real standout and comes in more varieties than you can shake a stick at. Try the traditional version with grilled queijo coalho (a salty white cheese similar to halloumi), or try a more adventurous filling such as sundried beef with batata baroa, a Brazilian root vegetable. Fans of that other Northeastern favorite, acaraje (bean flour patties fried in palm oil and stuffed with shrimp, okra sauce, tomatoes and chili) shouldn't miss the tapiraje (tapioca filled with the traditional acaraje stuffing). On weekends and holidays, Cafe do Alto hosts a terrific Northeastern breakfast featuring cakes, tapiocas, cheeses, corn cakes, juices and a whole lot more. As tapioca is a naturally gluten-free product, Cafe do Alto is a top destination for anyone with a gluten or wheat intolerance. -Lucy Bryson

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