Pérgula at Copacabana Palace: a Sunday worthy of Rio
By Thiago Freitas · The Prime Traveler
The Copacabana Palace is distinguished with two Michelin Keys, recognizing the excellence of the hosting experience.
Beside the Copa’s pool, brunch brings together seafood, grilled meat and a dessert selection that invites you to linger through the afternoon. A way to enjoy the city at its most elegant and relaxed.
When I think about the brunch at Pérgula, the first image is the table in front of the pool: the glasses, the printed umbrellas and that very Rio disposition of transforming lunch into a program for the entire afternoon. The Copacabana Palace has all the presence we expect from it. But, on Sundays, I especially like how this scenario coexists with a good-humored and lively environment.
We've been more than once, and the memory is of such variety that it's difficult to choose where to start. There are those who prefer seafood, those who go straight to the meats and those who linger over the cheeses. The good thing is being able to follow your own route, return to the table and decide on the next dish without rushing.
A Rio classic that also welcomes those who are not staying
On Avenida Atlântica, in Copacabana, the hotel's facade is already part of the city's affective landscape. Going in for brunch is a way to get to know this address with time to sit, chat and enjoy the food. You don't need to be staying to reserve a table at Pérgula.
I like this possibility of including the Copa on a Sunday in Rio, even when the trip has another hotel as a base. For those who live in the city, it can also be an opportunity to get out of the routine. The experience begins upon arrival, but it is at the table, in front of the pool, that the program gains its rhythm.
The pool, the umbrellas and the music
The terrace has a personality that shows up very well in our photos. The green tables, woven chairs, vegetation and printed umbrellas create an environment full of details. The pool is part of the view and gives lunch a vacation feel, even when we're just spending a few hours there.
On several of our trips, there were musicians playing live. This presence suits the place a lot: there is elegance, but also conversation, movement and good humor. It's this classic and cheerful side of Rio that I like most about the Pérgula. The musical program may change, so it is worth confirming it for the chosen Sunday.
Charcuterie, cheeses and the freedom to choose
The buffet is large, and diversity is part of the pleasure. Charcuterie and noble cheeses deserve time. In our photos, slices of salami, pieces of cheese and apricots share the plate with salmon and prawns. They are different choices that end up at the same table.
This is one of the attractions of a brunch like this when we have company. No one needs to follow the same sequence. We can start with a small selection, try another preparation and go back to what we like best. The table is built little by little, according to each person's curiosity and appetite.
From the sea: cavaquinha (slipper lobster) and other choices
Seafood is an important part of our memories. The cavaquinha (slipper lobster) is a recurring presence that we associate with Pérgula's brunch and that we make a point of looking for when we return. It's one of those choices that helps give the program its identity.
The photos also contain shrimp, salmon slices and a culinary creation with octopus slices. The variety allows you to gather different portions and see how lunch can change from one trip to the buffet to another. What ends up on the plate depends on each person's choices and what's on offer that Sunday.
Instead of considering these memories as a fixed menu, it is worth using them as a starting point for the visit. Selection may vary. If cavaquinha (slipper lobster) is essential to your experience, confirm with the restaurant before booking.
From the grill: meats and picanha
Those who like meat will also find a reason to linger. During our visits, there were barbecue chefs preparing different cuts. Most of the times we went, we found picanha. This meeting between a large hotel table and the very Brazilian pleasure of grilled meat is one of the good characteristics of brunch.
It's a lunch where the choice doesn't have to be restricted to a single desire. We can taste the cold cuts, return for the seafood and then head to the meat station. I prefer to do this in small portions, leaving room to discover what I haven't tried yet.
The desserts are worth another visit to the buffet
It's best to save space for the end. The variety of desserts is great, and our record clearly shows this desire to taste more than one: a pudding with caramel topping, a macaron and a chocolate culinary creation with the Copacabana Palace plaque.
After so much diversity in the savory dishes, the sweets prolong the curiosity. I like being able to put together a small selection and continue the conversation at the table. At this point, the pool, the glasses and the restaurant's hustle and bustle are already part of the Sunday we came to enjoy.
The reservation is part of a well-chosen Sunday
I recommend booking ahead. In our experience, simply turning up on the day and hoping for a table is a difficult gamble. The hotel itself advises advance reservations and lists Sunday brunch from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Both hotel guests and outside visitors can arrange the experience directly with Pérgula. [1]
The address is Avenida Atlântica, 1702, Copacabana. To check availability and confirm times, dishes and drinks on the date, the channel published by the hotel is [email protected]. The table is in front of the pool; Use of the pool is reserved for guests. [1]
A Sunday that deserves to be included in the itinerary
What makes me want to go back is the set. The food offers many possibilities, the setting is special and the atmosphere has that joy that matches Rio. You can go for the cavaquinha (slipper lobster), the picanha or the sweets and end up remembering the music and conversation.
For those planning a few days in the city, it's worth reserving this space on your calendar before filling Sunday with other commitments. There is pleasure in choosing a place and allowing the afternoon to happen there.
At Gastrotrip by The Prime Traveler, experiences like this are included in the planning according to your taste, the hotel, the dates and the pace of the trip. The team checks the details and availability to transform a good table into part of an itinerary designed for you.
How about setting aside a Sunday to experience Rio at the table? Discover Gastrotrip from The Prime Traveler and order your personalized gastronomic itinerary.