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, 145 Loja A	2522-7300
Bento	Ipanema	Rua Anibal de Mendonça, 55 - Loja E	3322-3686
Delirio Tropical	Ipanema	Rua Garcia D'Avila, 48	3624-8164
Fazendola	Ipanema	Rua Jangadeiros, 14	2247-9600
Go Wok	Ipanema	Rua Visconde de Piraja, 183 - Loja C	2523-7003
Gringo Cafe	Ipanema	Rua Barao da Torre, 290	3813-3972
Koni Store	Ipanema	Rua Maria Quiteria, 77 - Loja E	2521-9348
Kilograma	Ipanema	Rua Visconde de Piraja, 644	3289-5400
La Veronese	Ipanema	Rua Visconde de Piraja, 29 - Loja A	2523-3490
Papa Fina	Ipanema	Rua Vinicius de Moraes, 153 - Loja A	2287-2065
Da Silva	Lebon	Rio Design Leblon	2540-0917
Fellini	Leblon	Rua General Urquiza, 104	2511-3600
Spoletto	Leblon	Rua. Afranio de Melo Franco, 290 - Loja 405	3875-3114
Venga	Leblon	Rua Dias Ferreira, 113 - Loja B	2512-9826
Galeto Sat's	Copacabana	Rua Barata Ribeiro, 7	2275-6197
Adega do Cesare	Copacabana	Rua Joaquim Nabuco, 44 - Loja A	2523-1429
Villa 90	Gavea	Rua Marques de São Vicente, 90 - Loja A	2259-8396
Couve Flor	J. Botanico	Rua Pacheco Leao, 724	2239-2191
Nova Capela	Lapa	Av. Mem de Sa, 96	2252-6228
Salsa e Cebolinha	Lapa	Rua Gomes Freire, 517	2252-3672