Melone, Rio de Janeiro

Alcoholic drinks are notably absent from the latest venture by the team behind Rio's successful Belmonte bar chain. Instead, a range of fresh fruit juices and smoothies take center stage at this smart new snack bar in the fashionable Laranjeiras neighborhood. Like a bar (though minus the beer), Melone is a spot where friends gather to chat over a drink and a bite to eat, and the snacks are appetizing to say the least. Pizza comes with a thick crust, stuffed with catupiry (a Brazilian soft cheese) and served by the slice - the version with cherry tomato, spiced sausage, palm heart, onion and black olive is highly recommended. At less than BRL6 a slice it's well worth trying a couple of varieties. Another specialty of the house is the hamburger, which comes topped with cheese and, interestingly, a spinach creme. -Lucy Bryson

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