Food

Le Monde (Av. Oswaldo Aranha 391, Lojas 9–10, Galeria Florida, tel. 54/3031-1300, noon–3 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.–midnight Fri.–Sat., noon–4 p.m. Sun.; 7–midnight Wed., noon–3 p.m. and 7 p.m.–midnight Thurs.–Sat., noon–3 p.m. Sun. in July, R$50–60) is a tiny little bistro with an open kitchen that is always busy. There’s no fixed menu; instead the inspired daily specials—partridge-stuffed tortellini or panko crusted sole with Provençal vegetables—are written on the blackboard.

Cozy Café Canela (Rua Altenor T. de Souza 15, tel. 54/3282-0062, www.cafecanela.com.br [1], R$20–30) is proud of its exclusive culinary creations: soups and salads served in hollowed-out round loaves of bread as well as pastas and risottos served in carved-out blocks of cheese. There are also crêpes, salads, and steaks.

Canela [2] is famed for its apple strudel. Aside from traditional German cuisine such as kessler and sauerkraut, Strudelhaus (Rua Baden Powell 246, tel. 54/3282-9562, noon–3 p.m. and 7:30–11 p.m. Tues.–Sat., noon–4 p.m. Sun., R$15–25) serves up a tasty version with ice cream. One of the finest recipes to be had in the center of town is at Confeitaria Martha (Av. Júlio de Castilhos 151, tel. 54/3282-4190), a bakery that also makes good sandwiches.

However, the best of all is served at Castelinha Caracol (Estrada do Caracol Km 3, tel. 54/3278-3208, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. and 2:20–5:40 p.m. daily, R$4). Built by family of German immigrants, this historic early-20th-century house was constructed entirely from native araucária pine, without using a single nail. It’s the perfect place to savor the family recipe for strudel alongside homemade fruit jams and waffles.