Brazilian food caters for all tastes and standards are generally very high. European, North American and Asian foods are widely available in resorts and main cities. There are many traditional dishes and regional specialities, such as those developed by slaves in Bahia during the days when they had to cook scraps and anything that could be caught locally, together with coconut milk and palm oil. 

Things to know: Some bars have waiters and table service. There are no licensing hours or restrictions on drinking.

National specialities:
• Feijoada (thick stew of black beans, chunks of beef, pork, sausage, chops, pigs’ ears and tails on white rice, boiled green vegetables and orange slices).
• Moqueca (delicious fish stew from Bahia)
• Vatapá (shrimps, fish oil, coconut milk, bread and rice).
• Caruru (shrimps, okra, onions and peppers).
• Churrasco (mixed grilled meat served with manioc flour).   

National drinks:
• Beer is particularly good and draught beer is called chopp. Brahma and Nova Schin are popular brands.
• The local firewater is cachaça, a spirit derived from sugar cane popular with locals. It is often mixed with sugar, crushed ice and limes to make caipirinha, a refreshing if intoxicating cocktail, and the Brazilian national drink.
• Southern Brazilian wine is of a high quality.
• Sucos (fruit juices) are freshly made at juice bars, and Guaraná is a popular fizzy drink made with energy-giving extract from an Amazonian plant.
• Coffee is available everywhere and is exceptionally good.

Legal drinking age: 18.

Tipping: 10 to 15% is usual for most services not included on the bill.

The best entertainment occurs in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. In Rio, the major clubs do not present their main acts until after midnight, and the daily paper gives current information; small clubs (boites) provide nightly entertainment throughout the city. São Paulo nightlife is more sophisticated, with greater choice. Both cities host top international DJs. Samba shows and clubs are popular, especially in Rio. Outside the main cities, most towns have late night bars and clubs.

In Rio and São Paulo, major shops and markets stay open quite late in the evening. Rio and Salvador specialise in antiques and jewellery. Special purchases include gems (particularly emeralds) and jewellery (particularly silver). Fashions and permissible antiques, crystal and pottery are a speciality of São Paulo. Belém, the city of the Amazon valley, specialises in jungle items, but visitors should be careful not to purchase objects that have been plundered from the jungle, contributing to the general destruction. Travellers should also be aware there may be restrictions on import to their home country of goods made from skins of protected species.

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1900. Supermarkets are open Mon-Sat 0800-2200. Major shopping centres also open on Sundays 1500-2200. All the above times are subject to local variations and many shops open until late in the evenings, especially in December.