Laguiole

Art and architecture buffs checking out the exhibits at Rio's downtown modern art museum (MAM) should be sure to find time for this outstanding lunch restaurant. Under talented young chef Elia Schramm, the restaurant is one of just three Michelin-starred restaurants in Rio, and has a fabulous wine list as well as artfully-presented French-Brazilian fusion cuisine, with some truly delicious desserts that put Rio's abundant fresh tropical fruits to excellent use. The location is a little off Rio's main tourist trail, but it's worth it for the food alone, and the museum is well worth checking out, too, especially on those occasions when the famous Rio sunshine fails to appear.