What to See in Belo Horizonte, Brazil's 'Boteco Capital' - 16/09/2026 - Travel - Folha de S.Paulo
Belo Horizonte, Brazil’s sixth-largest city, with 2.4 million residents, is known for its hospitality and distinctive cuisine, as well as its title as the world’s boteco capital, recognized by the Brazilian Association of Bars and Restaurants. A three-day itinerary takes in the city’s main attractions.
On the first day, the suggestion is to start at Pampulha Lagoon, home to Oscar Niemeyer’s Modern Ensemble and the Church of Pampulha, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the afternoon, the Central Market offers pão de queijo, liver with jiló and feijão-tropeiro, while at night Mercado Novo is packed with bars and breweries.
The second day is dedicated to culture, with museums around Praça da Liberdade, as well as the Niemeyer Building. The itinerary includes lunch at Dona Lucinha and a burger at Nimbos Bar.
On the third day, Sundays bring the Feira Hippie, which gathers around 1,500 vendors along Afonso Pena Avenue. The itinerary then continues through Municipal Park and the Santa Tereza neighborhood, ending at Bar do Orlando, the city’s oldest boteco, which has been operating since 1919.
