Mestre Kami, Rio de Janeiro

The once-neglected streets in and around Lapa are fast becoming the focal point of much of Rio's eating and drinking activity, and this Japanese restaurant is the latest addition to an increasingly sophisticated dining scene. A little more affordable than the Japanese restaurants of well-heeled Ipanema and Leblon, Mestre Kami offers sushi, sashimi, yakisoba and a whole lot more besides. With three spacious, air-conditioned floors, you'll have plenty of elbow room as you showcase your skills with the chopsticks, and there's a decent selection of beers, spirits and, of course, sake. Seafood dishes are particularly good here and, unlike many sushi restaurants in Rio, there are fish-free options for vegetarians, the nigiri with gorgonzola being a particularly tasty case in point. -Lucy Bryson

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