Belo Horizonte is an inland city in Brazil. It is the capitol of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, one of the more affluent states in the country. Belo Horizonte is a very young city, having been around only since the end of the 19th century. It was designed and built because it was felt that the state of Minas Gerais needed a new capitol city to bring it together. It has now blossomed into a city of more than 5 million people, and is a center of culture and trade for Minas Gerais and Brazil. Belo Horizonte has a thriving nightlife and some great restaurants and cafes.

Local Cuisine

Minas Gerais is nationally known for its cuisine, which has evolved from simple farmhouse cooking into a well respected culinary art. Corn is often used in place of wheat in the cooking, and the state is also known as one of the main producers of cheese in Brazil.

Comida mineira is the main regional food in Belo Horizonte. It is a unique blend of pork, vegetables and two special ingredients: couve, which resembles spinach or cabbage, and tutu, which is a bean sauce. To find comida mineira isn't hard, just look around. Outside the city, comida mineira restaurants and cafes actually outnumber anything else, so if you plan on doing any sightseeing outside of the city that's also a good way to find some authentic local food.

Some restaurants in the city include: Badejo, and A Bella Torta, on Rua Rio Grande in the Savassi area; and Casa Bonomi Paificadora, a bakery that also serves some (excellent) light meals.

Checking out the Bars

Belo Horizonte has a very busy nightlife, and the local populace is well known for their love of bars. The city also has a strong gay and lesbian presence, which is reflected in the nightlife. While a large concentration of bars are in the downtown area of the city, you can find pockets of nightlife all over the city. The Savassi neighborhood in particular has quite a few excellent bars and an active scene, particularly on the weekends.

Check out the Trevo Five Place in Savassi, or Nasala in the Belvedere neighborhood, for some high-octane fun with the locals. If you want something a little safer and more touristy, the Hard Rock Cafe in the Belvedere area has live music on the weekends as well.