Read our tips and let us know if we missed anything! We would love to add your comments for the benefit of other Kosher travelers.

Kosher Travel Guide - Brazil

• The main jewish community lives in São Paulo in the neighborhoods of Higienopolis (where most Kosher Restaurants and Shuls are located) and Jadins/ Cerqueira César (near the main touristy streets and some restaurants and kosher shops).
• Rio also has a sizable Jewish Community and best places to stay are Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon - The main beaches in Rio, they’re all next to each other and there’s a Chabad in each place.
• Chabad is also active in the following cities:  Belém, Belo Horizonte, Manaus, Recife, Salvador, Morro de São Paulo, Porto Alegre and more.
• Kosher Products List: Use buskasher.com.br to search the foods that are kosher at any supermarket around Brazil, you’re able to search by category, brand or name. (There are  2 types of lists - the green list is for people who only eat Chalav Yisrael and Pas Yisrael and the Yellow list is for those who don't only eat Chalav Yisrael and Pas Yisrael.)

São Paulo:

•   There are around 11 kosher restaurants in São Paulo:

            The dairy restaurants are: Sushi Papaya, Miki Kosher, Mocha Bleu, Bero Pizza, Matok and Via Babush.

            The meaty restaurants are: Metzuyan, Nur, Kosher da Barros, Smoke Deli and Pinati. 

            There's also 2 ice cream shops - Trevisi and Le Botteghe di Leonardo (not everything is Chalav Yisroel (green list) on both shops. Ask them for the Kosher menu).

• There’s 3 Kosher grocery stores and 1 supermarket:

All Kosher, Mazal Tov, Pardes and Urbanic Food Hall (also known as Super K) 

• Go to Kosher Delight for baked goods and basic grocery needs. 

• You can get a full Shabbos Meal Kit from Delicious by Chaya. Whatsapp- +5511957610090 and instagram @deliciousbychaya. Get a free dessert if you mention @caughthebug.

Rio de Janiero:

• The kosher supermarket is located in CIB - Clube Israelita Brasileiro. They also have ready made meal options, you’d only need to heat it up.

•  Shaqshuq - This kosher restaurant is located at the same place as the supermarket and they have meat and dairy options. They also offer free delivery for the neighborhoods of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon. (Be sure to check their opening hours before.)

•  You can order food for Shabbos with Roger Najman - +5521988748457 a local chef.

•  Boteco do Monte is a pub in the Monte Sinai Jewish Club in Tijuca - Open only on Sundays for lunch (meaty)

•  There’s a kosher bakery from “Lar da Esperança” that  gives their profits to the local old age home. They only take orders but Beit Lubavitch Leblon has a small store where they sell some of their products.

Safety tips:

• Brazil has a reputation for being a dangerous place however it’s still possible to enjoy the country and be safe. Try doing things like leaving your phone in your bag when walking on the streets (especially in Rio) to prevent pickpockets from stealing it, don't walk through empty/dark roads at night and pay attention to your surroundings.  

Antisemitism:

• Brazilians in general are very religious and tolerant towards different religions.
• During my Yeshivah year in Brazil, I visited Curitiba where a couple we met on a bus told us “you guys are so cool… what are you exactly? Jews…? What is that?”

Language:

• Most Brazilians don't speak English so be ready to use and abuse Google Translate.

Special thanks: Goes to Sheina Benzecry for taking the time to put this list together. Find her on instagram at @caughtthebug