Food

Among Campos [1]’s local culinary specialties are fresh rainbow trout and pinhões (pine nuts), which turn up in everything from cakes and cookies to savory dishes. In keeping with the climate and the recurring allusions to things Swiss, you’ll also find an abundance of fondue and chocolates.

Só Queijo (Av. Macedo Soares 642, Capivari, tel. 12/3663-7585, www.soqueijo.com.br [2], noon–1 a.m. Thurs.–Sun. off-season, noon–1 a.m. Mon.–Sun. Jan. and May–July, R$40–60) is a romantic faux-Swiss eatery with red tablecloths, candlelight, and roaring fireplaces where you can feast on trout, cheese raclette, and a variety of fondues. A word of warning: The homemade pâtés served as starters are addictive enough to ruin your appetite for the main course.

Situated on the road leading to the Horto Florestal [3],
Harry Pisek (Av. Pedro Paulo 857, tel. 12/3663-4030, www.harrypisek.com.br [4], noon–5 p.m. Mon.–Fri., noon–11 p.m. Sat., noon–6 p.m. Sun., R$22–35) is considered one of the finest German restaurants in Brazil [5]. Of Austrian descent, owner Harry Pisek spent five years in Stuttgart studying the art of sausage making. You can put his expertise to the test by ordering the Harry Pisek Wurst, featuring five homemade varieties including sausages with herbs, Emmenthal, and a mixture of beef and pork. Equally renowned is the stuffed pork cheek.

Bia Kaffee (Rua Professora Isola Orsi 12/33, tel. 12/3663-1507, www.biakaffee.com.br [6], noon–midnight Fri.–Sat. and noon–8 p.m. Sun. off-season, noon–10 p.m. daily in Jan., noon–midnight daily in July, R$12–25) is also a Campos classic. This charming little café/bistro serves hearty German fare as well as scrumptious strudels, tortes, and a fabulous tarte tatin.

Il Pezzo (Av. Macedo Soares 193, tel. 12/3663-3468) is ideal for a quick, cheap snack—the crunchy square pizza slices served hot from the oven come in both savory and sweet versions. Also delicious are the paninis.

Chocoholics are in for a treat due to the town’s chocolate-making tradition. At Araucária (Av. Macedo Soares 135, tel. 12/3663-4306), you can watch (and smell) the chocolates being made. Popular enough to warrant four locations, Montanhês (Praça São Benedito 5, Capivari, tel. 12/3663-1979, www.chocolatemontanhes.com.br [7]) is sought after for its (spiked) hot chocolate drinks and 100 varieties of truffles.