Bars

I’ve lived in Belo Horizonte, or simply BH, for many years. BH is known in Brazil for being the ‘city of bars’. Although I often dispute this claim, here are some of my favorite places:

Café Cultura Bar

A great place to enjoy good food, good music and a relaxing environment

Tim Academia de Bilhares

It would be a regular bar if it wasn’t for the fact that it is pool/snooker bar that’s open 24/7

Rei do Pastel

A bar that’s open 24/7 with excellent prices. Couldn’t find a good picture though

Bar Dois Irmãos

The strongest capirinha you’ll drink in BH

Bola Bar

Open since 1939, it has good prices and great food.

Places to get coffee or grab a bite

Comercial Sabiá

located in the Mercado Central, is a great place to grab a bite and get some coffee. After you’re done, walk around the Mercado and maybe buy some cachaça, cheese, or doce de leite.

On the left, the entrance to Comercial Sabiá. Middle, the best stuffed pão de queijo you'll eat. Right, a broa com queijo.

Café Nice

Established in 1939, Café Nice is a traditional coffee shop in the heart of Belo Horizonte and it definitely deserves a visit. If you don’t trust me, listen to the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory from the University of Illinois:

Great coffee

While you’re there, try the plum pudding:

Café Palhares

Established in 1938, Café Palhares is a good place to grab lunch and drink a beer (or cachaça) with friends. Their most famous dish is the Kaol, although I prefer the ‘Cambito’.

Cambito

Casa Alvorada

Another cool place to go with friends, try regional foods, great coffee, and even some signature drinks

Others

Other places to consider visiting if you’re around:

Parque Municipal

A great park in the heart of the city. Additionally, if you go on a Sunday, you can also go the ‘Feira Hippie’, a sort of fair that happens every sunday in front of the park