Porto Alegre

Where should I stay?

Where should I eat?

• Mercado Público de Porto Alegre · Centro Histórico · Food market: The 1869 public market, packed with stalls selling erva-mate, cheeses, cured meats and fish, plus several long-running eateries.
• Banca 40 · Centro Histórico · Desserts and ice cream: A stall inside the Mercado Público known for its bomba royal, a layered ice cream, fruit salad and meringue dessert.
• Gambrinus · Centro Histórico · Seafood, Portuguese: Operating inside the Mercado Público since 1889, it serves fish dishes and Portuguese-style classics in an old-world dining room.
• Churrascaria Barranco · Petrópolis · Gaúcho churrasco: A classic local steakhouse serving à la carte cuts of grilled beef, the best place to try gaúcho churrasco.
• Atelier de Massas · Centro Histórico · Italian, pasta: A busy downtown spot for generous plates of fresh pasta, reflecting the region's strong Italian heritage.
• Lancheria do Parque · Bom Fim · Snack bar, xis sandwiches: A no-frills diner by Redenção park, good for fresh juices and the xis, Porto Alegre's oversized loaded sandwich.

What should I do?

• Parque Farroupilha (Redenção) · Bom Fim: The city's central park, with a lake and shady paths; on Sundays the Brique da Redenção crafts and antiques fair runs alongside it.
• Orla do Guaíba · Centro Histórico: A redeveloped riverside promenade on Lake Guaíba where locals gather to walk, sip chimarrão and watch the sunset.
• Fundação Iberê Camargo · Cristal: An art museum in a white concrete building by Álvaro Siza on the Guaíba shore, showing works by painter Iberê Camargo and temporary shows.
• Museu de Arte do Rio Grande do Sul (MARGS) · Centro Histórico: The state art museum on Praça da Alfândega, in a grand early-1900s building, focused on Brazilian and gaúcho art.
• Casa de Cultura Mario Quintana · Centro Histórico: A former hotel where poet Mario Quintana lived, now a cultural center with galleries, a cinema and a rooftop café.
• A Grêmio or Internacional football match · Humaitá / Menino Deus: Watch one of the city's two rival clubs at Arena do Grêmio or Estádio Beira-Rio for a loud, passionate crowd.