Ocyá

Ocyá is a seafood restaurant on Ilha Primeira, a verdant island in Barra da Tijuca that can only be reached by boat. It is led by chef Gerônimo Athuel, a fisherman since childhood, and its fish-focused cooking has made it one of the most talked-about restaurants in the city. It also appears on Time Out's current list of the best restaurants in Rio.

Latin America's 50 Best describes the idea as an elevated take on a beachside clam shack: unpretentious but elegant. Starters are grouped into raw, grilled and crispy dishes, and fish is the main event. Highlights mentioned by the 50 Best and Time Out include a smoked handmade fish sausage with grilled onion, an aged fish fillet with parsley aioli and, in season, offal with baroa potato purée. The signature fish necklace, a dish glazed with spicy caramel, white wine sauce, sriracha and soy, shows the kitchen's playful side.

The island setting is the draw. Tables are outdoors, looking out over the water, and Time Out notes the sunset views. Published opening times differ between sources, so check the current schedule and how to reach the boat when you book. The 50 Best lists lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Saturday and lunch on Sunday. The phone and WhatsApp number given by 50 Best is +55 21 97286-1250.

For diners who prefer to stay in the South Zone, Ocyá also has a branch at Rua Aristides Espínola 88 in Leblon. There, a dry-ageing chamber for fish is the centrepiece of the décor, visible from the street, and the Leblon branch has its own listing in the Michelin Guide. Time Out's current list of the best restaurants in Rio includes Ocyá with both its island and Leblon addresses, so diners can choose between the full island outing and a quicker city meal from the same kitchen team.

Ocyá suits couples and groups who want a long, relaxed seafood lunch with a sense of occasion, and it makes a memorable alternative to the beachfront restaurants of Copacabana and Ipanema. Time Out lists an average spend of around R$250 at the island. A lunch here, with the boat crossings and the sunset views that Time Out highlights, is an outing in itself rather than a quick meal.