Bites & Booze: InsideFortaleza’s Guide to Eating & Drinking in the City
In Fortaleza, we don’t just go out — we go all in. Food isn’t just fuel, and drinks are more than drinks. From sizzling seafood by the sea to rooftop cocktails under the stars, the city serves it all — hot, fresh, and full of flavor.
Whether you’re a foodie, a party-starter, or just hungry and curious, here’s your guide to Fortaleza’s best restaurants, botecos, and bars — with price ranges to match your vibe.
1. Coco Bambu Meireles – Iconic Seafood, Cearense Style
📍 Av. Beira Mar, 3698 – Meireles
💸 R$70–R$160 per person
One of Fortaleza’s most famous restaurants. Giant portions of regional seafood dishes, elegant decor, and great service. A must-visit at least once.
Must-Try:
Camarão Internacional (Shrimp in cream sauce with rice & shoestring potatoes)
Inside Tip:
Make a reservation if you want a window seat.
2. Cantinho do Frango – Chicken, Beer & Soul
📍 Av. Pontes Vieira, 1445 – Dionísio Torres
💸 Price Range: R$30–R$60 per person
A true Fortaleza classic. Family-style grilled meats, clay pots of beans and rice, and cold chopp in a laid-back, samba-filled atmosphere.
Must-Try:
Frango assado com farofa and carne de sol na brasa
Live Music:
Usually on weekends — and it gets lively!
3. Hey Joe Food’N Bar (Varjota) – Rock & Burgers with a Twist
📍 Rua Ana Bilhar, 1159 – Varjota
💸 Price Range: R$40–R$90 per person
Fortaleza’s hipster burger joint and bar. Gourmet sandwiches, loaded fries, local craft beer, and a playlist that hits all the right notes.
Must-Try:
Burger de costela and the house gin & tonic
Vibe Check:
Go late. It gets cool around 9–10 PM.
4. Barraca Itapariká (Praia do Futuro) – Beachside & Bold
📍 Av. Zezé Diogo, 3120 – Praia do Futuro
💸 Price Range: R$40–R$100 per person
Beach barraca by day, bar-vibe at night. Hammocks, seafood, DJs on weekends, and ice-cold beer. Doesn’t get more local than this.
Must-Try:
Caranguejo on Thursdays & shrimp skewers
Inside Tip:
Rent a chair, stay the day — and order by the sea.
5. Pizza Vignoli – Thin Crust & Cold Wine
📍 Av. Edilson Brasil Soares, 800 – Cocó
💸 Price Range: R$50–R$110 per person
Stylish, open-air pizza spot with some of the best thin crusts in town. Bonus: pizzas are served without plates — eat straight off the paper!
Must-Try:
Pizza de camarão com catupiry and sangria da casa
Perfect For:
Date nights or small groups.
6. Órbita Bar – The Indie Night Out
📍 Rua Dragão do Mar, 207 – Praia de Iracema
💸 Price Range: R$25–R$70 entry + drinks
A cultural icon in Fortaleza’s nightlife scene. DJs, live music, rooftop drinks, and dancing. Expect everything from rock to samba to funk.
Must-Try:
House caipirinha and their weekend DJ nights
Cover Charge:
Usually R$30–R$60 depending on the event
7. Bar do Mincharia – Loud, Local & Legendary
📍 R. Waldery Uchôa – Benfica
💸 Price Range: R$20–R$50 per person
Not fancy, but full of soul. Plastic chairs, cold beer, loud laughs, and sometimes a guy playing guitar on a crate. Pure Benfica energy.
🌟 Must-Try:
Longneck beers and coxinha with hot sauce
⚠️ Cash is king here — don’t count on card machines.
8. O Mar Menino – Sophisticated Ceará on a Plate
📍 Rua Frederico Borges, 426 – Varjota
💸 Price Range: R$80–R$180 per person
Chef-led, stylish, and deeply rooted in northeastern Brazilian ingredients. This is Fortaleza’s fine dining, but still relaxed and warm.
Must-Try:
Peixada cearense reinvented & grilled octopus with cassava purée
Bonus:
Great place to impress a date or foodie friend.
9. Colosso Fortaleza – Sunset, DJ & Drinks by the Lagoon
📍 Av. Hermenegildo Sá Cavalcante, S/N – Edson Queiroz
💸 Price Range: R$80–R$200 per person
A gorgeous open-air bar by the water with live DJs, high-end cocktails, and a vibe that’s part Ibiza, part Fortaleza.
Must-Try:
Signature gin & tonic and sushi-style small plates
Inside Tip:
Get there for sunset and stay through the music.
10. Guaramiranga (Bonus Day Trip!) – Cold Weather, Cozy Food
📍 110 km from Fortaleza – Serra de Baturité
💸 Price Range (Food & Drinks): R$40–R$90 per person
Escape the heat and enjoy cool mountain air, cozy cafés, and hearty meals. The perfect foodie day trip.
Must-Try:
Hot chocolate, pastel de carne de sol, and vinho quente
Tip:
Go during the Festival de Jazz & Blues in February!
So, What’s Your Flavor?
Whether it’s fried crab at a plastic table or octopus under Edison bulbs, Fortaleza gives you permission to mix it up. That’s the beauty of this city — you can go from beach to bar, from tapioca to tiramisu, and it always feels just right.
InsideFortaleza is here to help you find your food, find your drink, and maybe even find your people.
🎈 Now You Choose:
– Want a bar crawl that starts with shrimp skewers and ends in forró?
– Need a romantic dinner with sea breeze and jazz?
– Craving pastel after midnight?
Hit us up. We’ll point you to the perfect table, plate, or party.
📲 Follow us at @InsideFortaleza for daily food tips, events, drink deals & more.
