Art Nouveau Grandeur and Fine Pastries at Rio"s Most Famous Tearoom
Opened in 1894, Confeitaria Colombo tells of the elegance of Rio de Janeiro's downtown at the turn of the 20th century.
Inspired in the grand tearooms of Europe, Colombo was founded at first as a pastry shop by Portuguese immigrants Joaquim Borges de Meireles and Manuel José Lebrão. It has preserved the quality of its pastries and the sumptuous Art Nouveau architecture and design elements which brought a new edge of luxury to the elegant central area of Rio de Janeiro, then the capital of Brazil's young Republic.
Details such as the ceiling dome in stained glass, the jacaranda furniture and the Belgian mirrors are all original. In 1983, Colombo was listed as Historic and Artistic Heritage.
Stop by for a pastry and coffee at the counters or a table; among the highlights are sweets made from traditional Colombo recipes such as the gaufrettes, handcrafted cookies made in house since 1920, and Rivadávias (since 1930), angel cake discs filled with doce de leite and covered with fondant.
Stay longer for high tea (about $18 and up for one person, $33 and up for two), which includes tea, juice, and several kinds of mini sandwiches, pastries, breads, cheese, and jelly. The spacious central tearoom was opened as such in 1922, in celebration of the first anniversary of Brazil's Proclamation of Independence.
Colombo also has a first-rate restaurant: Cristóvão, on the second floor. Chef Renato Freire, who heads the three kitchens at Colombo, taps into Portuguese and Spanish culinary for the Cristóvão menu.
The restaurant has a buffet with salads, dishes and desserts; you can also order a la carte.
On Saturdays, there's feijoada.
Also on the second floor is Espaço Memória, the shop's museum. Old menus, photos, tea services, containers of Colombo products, Portuguese sterling silver services and other items are on display in this elegant room which can be booked for events.
For a taste of Colombo al fresco and a spectacular view of Copacabana Beach, head to Café do Forte, the Colombo branch at the Copacabana Fort.
Hours: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Address: Rua Gonçalves Dias 32, Centro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ
Phone: 55-21-2505-1500
Hours: Mon-Sat noon to 4 p.m.
Address: Confeitaria Colombo - Rua Gonçalves Dias 32, Second Floor, Centro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ
Phone for reservations: 55-21-2505-1500 Ext.210
Copacabana Fort
Praça Cel Eugênio Franco 1
Copacabana
Rio de Janeiro - RJ
Phone: 55-3201-4049
Inspired in the grand tearooms of Europe, Colombo was founded at first as a pastry shop by Portuguese immigrants Joaquim Borges de Meireles and Manuel José Lebrão. It has preserved the quality of its pastries and the sumptuous Art Nouveau architecture and design elements which brought a new edge of luxury to the elegant central area of Rio de Janeiro, then the capital of Brazil's young Republic.
Details such as the ceiling dome in stained glass, the jacaranda furniture and the Belgian mirrors are all original. In 1983, Colombo was listed as Historic and Artistic Heritage.
Stop by for a pastry and coffee at the counters or a table; among the highlights are sweets made from traditional Colombo recipes such as the gaufrettes, handcrafted cookies made in house since 1920, and Rivadávias (since 1930), angel cake discs filled with doce de leite and covered with fondant.
Stay longer for high tea (about $18 and up for one person, $33 and up for two), which includes tea, juice, and several kinds of mini sandwiches, pastries, breads, cheese, and jelly. The spacious central tearoom was opened as such in 1922, in celebration of the first anniversary of Brazil's Proclamation of Independence.
Colombo also has a first-rate restaurant: Cristóvão, on the second floor. Chef Renato Freire, who heads the three kitchens at Colombo, taps into Portuguese and Spanish culinary for the Cristóvão menu.
The restaurant has a buffet with salads, dishes and desserts; you can also order a la carte.
On Saturdays, there's feijoada.
Also on the second floor is Espaço Memória, the shop's museum. Old menus, photos, tea services, containers of Colombo products, Portuguese sterling silver services and other items are on display in this elegant room which can be booked for events.
For a taste of Colombo al fresco and a spectacular view of Copacabana Beach, head to Café do Forte, the Colombo branch at the Copacabana Fort.
Confeitaria Colombo
Hours: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Address: Rua Gonçalves Dias 32, Centro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ
Phone: 55-21-2505-1500
Cristóvão Restaurant
Hours: Mon-Sat noon to 4 p.m.
Address: Confeitaria Colombo - Rua Gonçalves Dias 32, Second Floor, Centro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ
Phone for reservations: 55-21-2505-1500 Ext.210
Café do Forte
Copacabana Fort
Praça Cel Eugênio Franco 1
Copacabana
Rio de Janeiro - RJ
Phone: 55-3201-4049
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