Curitiba: Restaurants and more...

Nothing says more about the culture of a place than it's food, correct? So that's why I insist that you come out of your bubble and let yourself go through the flavors of the Brazilian cuisine, even if it has an European influence, because it does. But there are other ingredients that you will only find here.
To beging this post I want to reinforce that I'm writing based on the idea that my readers are coming to Brazil in June / July of 2013 and 2014, and that during these months it's winter in Brazil and especially cold in the South of the country where Curitiba is located. That's why I'm suggesting the foods and restaurants that follow:

Typical food from Paraná:

Barreado: is a slow cooked meet prepared on the day before it will be served, made with cumin, black pepper, garlic, tomato, anion, bacon and few other ingredients. If you take a train trip to Morretes, their barreado is one of the most famous in the state.
The Quintana Café & Restaurante serves an excellent barreado on Wednesdays, always with fresh ingredients. Curitiba, Batel.

Pinhão: is the seed of araucária, tree that is the symbol of the city. It is served cooked or as an ingredient for other dishes such as risotto.

Café Colonial: was introduced in Brazil for the German immigrants, it's a large table set with many different kinds of bread, juices, coffee, jams, fruits, cold cuts and cakes. It is usually served in the afternoon. I've chosen 3 nice places try the café colonial:

- Neuchatel at Batel: the café colonial is served from 2:30 pm to 9:30 pm

- Chez Arnold at Mercês: with fine recipes from Holland, Germany and Austria.

- Coeur Douce at Cristo Rei - from Tuesday to Sunday from 11 am to 10 pm

For a hot chocolate after walking through the city...

Café do Paço - located at Centro, it's said to have the best hot chocolate in the city and an amazing pecan pie with wine sauce.

Other options...

Fondue: good option for the cold nights.

- Château de Gazon (Batel) - Besides fondue, you will find delicious European food as well.

Portuguese: Is totally part of the Brazilian culture, besides being very tasteful.

- Alma Lusa at Batel for a delicious codfish (bacalhau) in Portuguese Style.

Brazilian Cuisine:

- Brasserie Quatro Estações - located at Mabu Royal and Premium Hotel

Cosmopolitan Influence:

 - Forneria Copacabana: There you will find a mix of culture within the decoration, the menu, the ingredients, the music and of course the customers. A very pleasant ambient, with good food.

Bars: You won find any hard to find bars in Curitiba, if you go to Batel, just walk around and find the right one for you and your friends. 

For beers, at Batel you will find two nice places, Clube do Malte and Devassa. For a happy hour with live music go to Aos Democratas or the Guffo Bar. The Aurora Bar & Piadineria is good for the single ones and if you like Jazz, Nu Jazz is also at Batel.

I hope you fell in love with Curitiba, even under a cold weather and if you have a chance, come to see us at summer time.

Curitiba: Hospitality

Birdhouse made of cabaça

Hello dear readers,
The cold weather is already here, 17C / 63F in Curitiba.

Today I will show you a few nice hotels and hostels you can stay in while in Curitiba. There are two places in the city that is close to everything, the center is close to the stores, museums, parks and Batel is close to the restaurants and bars. 





Centro

$$$$ Deville - offers free wi-fi, breakfast included, heater, indoor pool, and heater.

$$$ Mabu Royal & Premium - free wi-fi, breakfast included. There are apartments premium and thematic suites. 

$$ CWB Express - free wi-fi, but does not include breakfast 

Batel

$$$$ Four Points Sheraton - has spa, free wi-fi, heater, indoor pool. One of the best hotels in Curitiba - Breakfast included.

$$$ Slaviero Full Jazz - the hotel is decorated with a Jazz theme, very beautiful. Breakfast is inclued, free wi-fi.

$$ Ibis Batel (1883) - the hotel is located in a historic building from 1883, very beautiful and reliable. Free wi-fi. Does not include breakfast.

Hostels:

Curitiba Eco - associated with Hostelling International, offers shared and private rooms. Breakfast included, free wi-fi.

Roma Hostel - associated with Hostelling International, has been in activity for more than 100 years. Breakfast included, free wi-fi.

* Check also the post about Places to Visit in Curitiba

Did you know?

The players Leandro Damião who plays for Brazil's National Team and Alexandre Pato, former Milan player are both from the state of Paraná?

Curitiba - Places to Visit

"The city of Curitiba is one of the finest examples of a bulky economic and industrial development carried out with responsibility and organization".

Tha's how fifa.com defines the capital of the state of Paraná in the South of Brazil. 

For you, who is planning to watch the games in Curitiba I can assure that your experience will be amazing. But remember to bring a coat, Curitiba is very cold during the winter, usually it stays between 19C / 66F and 8C / 47F.

Curitiba is the home for many descendants of Europeans that arrived in Brazil in the second half of the 19th century, this city may not be what you are used to hear about Brazil... it may be even better.
There is a lot to see in the city, so while you are not cheering at Arena da Baixada Stadium you can enjoy some of these attractions:

- Linha Turismo: To begin during the day you can go for a 2:30 hours bus tour that takes you to 25 of Curitiba's tourist attraction. With the voucher you are allowed to get on and off the bus four times. Check the website to see all the attractions. Linha Turismo

- Historic Center: The best way is to walk around the historic center, with a map in hands. You can walk to the Rua das Flores, a beautiful street where you can shop and stop for a beer in the evening, Rua 24 horas where you will see the 24-hour clock, you can go to many nice places without wasting time riding a bus or taxi. To get there you can take the Leva e Traz, free vans at your hotel that take you to the restaurants and bars.

- Oscar Niemeyer Museum: Among all the other museums in the city, this should be your option number 1. The museum has a nice architecture, of course signed by Oscar Niemeyer. But that's not all, there are nine rooms of contemporary exhibitions and one room dedicated to the architect. On Sundays you can meet many young locals at the garden in front of the museum. At walk distance you can also visit the Bosque do Papa João Paulo II, it's a park made in 1980 after the Pope John Paul II visited the city, it is about the Polish Immigration in Brazil.

- Botanic Garden: The Botanic Garden is the main destination to those who visit Curitiba, it is known by the beautiful art-noveau style green house inspired by the London's crystal palace, and the geometric garden. In the main green house you will see many species of plants from the Atlantic Forest, the other one is used to researches purposes.

- Museu Ferroviário (Rail Transport Museum): Is a beautiful museum where you can bring the kids.

If you have an extra day in the city take a train trip from Curitiba to Marretes (3 hours) or to Iguaçu Falls (7 hours). Serra Verde Express is an option, and the Great Brazil Express (video) is another. Check the websites and decide which is the best option for you.