In Rio, beach vendors have everything you might need, and here’s why it’s important to support them.

I left Brazil before I was old enough to consume coffee. It is no wonder that in my return to Rio last year, as a coffee-requiring adult, I became enamored with the “cafezinho” break. If it invites me to slow down, sit, and mindfully enjoy something I love, I’m in.

Confused about breakfast? So is (almost) everyone. 🍳🥞🧇🥓☕️👇

🍊The statement that breakfast is the most important meal of the day originated in a marketing campaign to sell cereal. Orange Juice as our staple breakfast beverage was also the result of genius advertising (by the man who inspired Don Draper’s character for fun) when presented with the challenge that Americans weren’t eating enough oranges.

If I have started to convince you to visit Rio, save this post for your to-do food & bev list.

Academia da Cachaça (@academiadacachaca) is a local institution. By day you can get a delicious “prato feito,” my beloved PF; by night, it’s a fun bar scene with delicious bites. And of course caipirinhas…

A visit to Monica Costa’s studio in Jardim Botanico where she hand paints tableware that adorns celebrity tables in Rio.

Where to grab a snack before or after the beach in the Leblon neighborhood of Rio.

I visited artist Gustavo Portela’s studio in Copacabana to see how he hand paints his beautiful ocean-inspired plates.