Flavors of the destination
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
21 places in Espírito Santo Mountains.
A restaurant serving Brazilian food straight from the wood-burning stove, led by chef Rosi Reis, on the ES-164 in Pedra Azul. The buffet includes dishes such as feijoada (black bean and pork stew), free-range rooster and chicken with okra, in a setting surrounded by forest.
An Italian restaurant in the Vale da Pedra, along the BR-262, that makes its own pasta and risottos in-house. It has a view of the Pedra do Lagarto and works with ingredients from local producers.
A craft brewery with a taproom and kitchen in the Vale da Pedra, in Pedra Azul. It serves its own beers with dishes such as pork knuckle with rustic potatoes and sauerkraut, for anyone who wants to stop along the route with a view of the rock.
A restaurant in a 1904 wooden mansion with porches, in the Bananeiras neighborhood. It serves home-style food with family recipes tied to the Italian immigration of the late 19th century, with ingredients almost all from the region.
A farm at km 98 of the BR-262 that combines a restaurant serving country food cooked on a wood-burning stove, with polenta as its signature dish, and catch-and-release fishing. It suits families who want to spend the day with paddle boats, a zip line and gardens.
The Fiorese family's restaurant and café colonial (farmhouse tea spread) on the Rodovia Pedro Cola, 12 km from downtown, formerly an event space. It serves home-style lunch cooked on a wood-burning stove and a café colonial, with mountain views.
A restaurant in the village of Araguaia serving home-style Italian food cooked on a wood-burning stove, with handmade pasta and polenta with stewed chicken. It suits visitors to Marechal Floriano's Italian-heritage village.
A family restaurant at km 66 of the BR-262 with a pay-by-weight buffet, grilled barbecue, specialty coffee and a shop selling homemade products. It uses vegetables from its own garden and keeps recipes of German origin, such as the house beef stew.
A restaurant along the BR-262, by the south branch of the Rio Jucu, rebuilt after a fire in 2016. It is on the town hall's restaurant list and suits travelers stopping on the way up into the mountains.
An agritourism farm in Forno Grande with hydroponic strawberry growing, a snack bar and a shop. Besides lunch, you can pick strawberries straight from the greenhouses on a pick-and-pay basis.
A cheese maker in Forno Grande that is part of the Rota Caminhos da Mata Atlântica Capixaba, launched in 2026. It is on the town hall's list of places to eat and suits anyone who wants to taste cheeses made on the farm.
A craft brewery in the rural area of São José do Alto Viçosa, in Castelo, reached by a dirt road through the forest. Besides its own beers, it serves Italian food, with pasta and starters, and is a good stop if you are driving around the municipality's mountains.
A restaurant and pousada (guesthouse) by a lake in the community of São Marcos, in Alfredo Chaves, with home-style food cooked on a wood-burning stove. It is a lunch option if you are driving around the countryside of the municipality.
The restaurant of Pousada Yracema, in the village of Carolina, in the rural area of Alfredo Chaves, also open to non-guests. It is a lunch stop for anyone visiting the area's waterfalls.
A restaurant next to the Cachoeira de Piripitinga (waterfall), in the village of São Francisco do Batatal, in Alfredo Chaves, in an area that also has camping and pools. A lunch option if you are spending the day at the waterfall.
A family-friendly restaurant in the Vale do Empoçado, in Afonso Cláudio, with regional food and snacks. The standout dish is pork knuckle, and there is live music, good for lunch with family or friends.
An Italian cantina in the Vale do Empoçado, in Afonso Cláudio, that uses artisanal cheeses from the neighboring Queijaria Quintas do Vale. A good stop if you are doing the municipality's agritourism route.
The restaurant of the Parada da Serra pousada, beside the ES-484, in Afonso Cláudio, with food cooked on a wood-burning stove and a snack bar. It is a stop for travelers crossing the mountains and for families.
A bistro in the rural area of Vargem Alta opened by chef Ricardo Silva and Cidineia Pandolfi, with a menu inspired by Atlantic Forest ingredients. Besides pizzas and burgers, it has dishes with native fruits such as guabiroba, juçara and brejaúba.
A restaurant opened in July 2026 at the Hotel Natureza Eco Lodge, with a menu by consulting chef Suely Faiçal focused on vegetables. It has a fireplace, wine cellar, bar and two dining rooms, one overlooking the pool and the golf course.
A restaurant and café beside the ES-164, near downtown Vargem Alta, on a private reserve with trails and a lake. The restaurant is a self-service buffet, with barbecue and griddled tilapia with cheese, and is good for families.
