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.
18 places in Serra Catarinense.
An osteria run by brothers Victor and Vinícius Branco that combines Italian recipes with mountain ingredients such as pinhão (araucaria pine nuts), trout, queijo serrano (mountain cheese) and porcini. Good if you want house-made pasta paired with Santa Catarina high-altitude wines.
A buffet restaurant dating back to 1961 that still serves recipes from its founding, such as its homemade pasta and marshmallow dessert. Good for a lunch of churrasco (barbecue) and mountain dishes such as paçoca de pinhão (ground pine nuts with meat) and quirera (cracked corn stew).
A Portuguese restaurant focused on bacalhau (salt cod) dishes, seafood and meats, with a list of Portuguese wines. Good if you want an alternative to mountain food in downtown Lages, and it has vegetarian options.
A trout restaurant open for more than ten years, linked to a trout farm, serving the fish in sauces, ceviches and other dishes. Good if you want to try mountain trout paired with selected wines.
Chef Paulo Jacinto's bistro in a rustic-style wooden house, with an à la carte menu based on regional products such as pinhão (araucaria pine nuts). Reservations required; good for a dinner in an intimate setting.
A restaurant in downtown Urubici that combines regional mountain cooking and international dishes, with trout, lamb, meats and risottos. It has a fireplace and a garden and suits anyone who wants to pair their meal with the region's high-altitude wines.
A restaurant on Rua Major Jacinto Goulart with a mountain-cuisine menu that includes lamb, trout, pasta and fondue made with regional ingredients. It has fireplaces and suits anyone who wants to pair their meal with local high-altitude wines.
A restaurant specializing in cheese, meat and chocolate fondue, with versions made with pinhão (araucaria pine nuts), on Rua José Palma. The dining room has a fireplace and suits anyone looking for a classic mountain-winter dinner.
A Tuscan restaurant with a fireplace and grill, whose owner makes a cured ham aged for two years in-house. Good for grilled meats and central Italian dishes at dinner.
A churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse) beside the SC-390 with an all-you-can-eat buffet of meats, salads and mountain dishes such as arroz de carreteiro (rice with beef), entrevero (meat and pinhão stew) and dishes with pinhão (araucaria pine nuts). It overlooks Cascata da Barrinha and serves lunch to travelers on the highway.
A roadside country store in Bom Jardim da Serra, with artisanal products and regional mountain dishes such as smoked trout and queijo serrano (mountain cheese). It is a stop for travelers going up or down the mountain who want to try local food.
A bistro with a wine list next to the pousada (inn) of the same name, on the BJ-020 road in Bom Jardim da Serra, serving signature dishes made with regional ingredients such as trout. It has a fireplace and an outdoor area and is an option for a more special meal.
A café and gastrobar on Rua Artur Pagani, with Brazilian food, trout and wines made in Urupema and São Joaquim. Good for visitors looking for coffee, a meal or a glass of mountain wine.
A gastrobar on Avenida Manoel Pereira de Medeiros, in downtown Urupema, with decor that tells the town's history. The menu has craft burgers, shareable plates, cocktails and wines, with ingredients from the Serra Catarinense.
A winery that welcomes visitors in the Cedro area, in the countryside of Urupema. It serves its own high-altitude wines and artisanal pizzas to visitors to the property.
A wine bar and restaurant above the production area of Vinícola Thera (winery), on the SC-110, with an à la carte menu and tasting menus paired with the house wines. It uses mountain trout, lamb and mushrooms and serves winery visitors.
A restaurant beside the BR-282 with a buffet, set lunches and its own bakery. Good for travelers on the highway or visiting Bom Retiro who want coffee, lunch or dinner on the way to the mountains.
A restaurant and café at the start of the SC-430, in the Santa Clara area of Bom Retiro, with home-style food, made-to-order plates and snacks. It is a handy stop on the way through the mountains to Urubici.
