Rio offers many interesting options for the budget traveler, including hotels in top areas and a host of reasonably-priced restaurants and eateries. There are snack bars in all South Side neighborhoods. A few of them, like Romagnola, in Ipanema, have are famous for their prato feito, a plate with a generous serving of rice, beans, meat and pasta for about US$3 (you eat standing at the counter).

An excellent alternative are restaurants that sell food by weight. You can have a full meal with all comfort, and pay less than US$10 - including a soda or a beer. They are a sort of a new trend in Rio, associating a variety of favorite dishes to self-serve style convenience. The food counter features an assortment of green salads, vegetables, grains, beans, pasta, and anything from 3 to 16 hot dishes including meat, chicken and fish.

A good bet is Fellini, in Leblon, or Da Silva, Fazendola, Kilograma and Carpaccio e Cia. in Ipanema. The buffet includes everything (even sushi), and on weekends sometimes there are lines at the door. Pick up a plate, help yourself, choose your dessert and drink, and head for the cash register to have you plate weighed. At Delirio Tropical, another excellent choice in Ipanema, you choose the dishes, and the attendant serves the portions at the counter. You pay by portion, and pick tableware and drinks before you proceed to the tables. See also salads and vegetarian.

If you want to go to a more sophisticated restaurant without spending too much, a good trick is to order the couvert and maybe an appetizer. Don't be shy, Cariocas do this all the time. If you're still hungry in the end, you can always go for a dessert or fresh-squeezed juice at the closest snack bar.

Aipo & Aipim	Ipanema	Rua Visconde de Piraja, 145A	2267-8313
Bar Bofetada	Ipanema	Rua Farme de Amoedo, 87A	2227-1675
Da Silva	Ipanema	Rua Barao da Torre, 340	2521-1289
Delirio Tropical	Ipanema	Rua Garcia D'Avila 48	3201-2977
Fazendola	Ipanema	Rua Jangadeiros, 14b	2247-9600
Kilograma	Ipanema	Rua Visconde de Piraja, 644 A	2512-8220
La Veronese	Ipanema	Rua Visconde de Piraja, 29	2247-3152
Via Farme	Ipanema	Rua Farme de Amoedo, 47	2513-4358
Papa Fina	Ipanema	Rua Vinicius de Moraes, 153A	2287-2065
Romagnola	Ipanema	Rua Visconde de Piraja, 447	2521-4052
Ataulfo	Leblon	Rua Ataulfo de Paiva, 630	2540-0606
Fellini	Leblon	Rua General Urquiza, 104	2511-3600
Pimenta Verde	Leblon	Rua Ataulfo de Paiva, 566/106	2511-5383
Spoletto	Leblon	Rua Ataulfo de Paiva, 437 A	3205-7359
Galeto Sat's	Copa	Rua Barata Ribeiro, 7	2275-6197
Minas Grill	Copa	Rua Raimundo Correa, 34-A	2255-6248
Papo de Anjo	Copa	Rua Barata Ribeiro, 349	2236-7803
Sara Grill	Copa	Rua Bolivar, 65-A	2236-5538
Villa 90	Gavea	Rua Marques de Sao Vicente, 90	2259-8695
Salsa & Cebolinha	Lapa	Rua Gomes Freire, 517	2252-3672
Couve Flor	J. Botanico	Rua Pacheco Leao, 724	2239-2191
Beco do Alemao	Barra	Av. das Americas, 1600	2494-3788