Spread of Boteco dishes: sausage, shrimp and meat skewers, croquettes, coxinhas, kibbeh, pastéis, loaded fries and moqueca

Boteco: Caipirinhas, Samba and Feijoada a Short Walk Down 79th Street

A short walk west on 79th Street from Shoe Gallery, Boteco has been the neighborhood's Brazilian hangout for a long time. The restaurant says it has been part of the community for over 10 years, and Miami New Times was already writing about its caipirinha specials back in 2008. In Brazil, a boteco is a low-key, stress-free bar for a cold beer and a cocktail, and that is exactly the energy here.

First Impressions & Vibe

Boteco calls itself the welcoming bar just around the corner, and it plays the part. The open-air patio is the heart of the place, with tables set close together, fans moving the air and, in Boteco's own photos, flags and colorful lanterns strung overhead. It's the kind of spot where you sit down for one drink and end up staying for the next round. Back in 2008, Miami New Times praised its fun crowd, bright colors and live bands, and the music is still a big part of the draw.

Brazilians gather here for samba nights and futebol matches. When Miami New Times named Boteco Best Brazilian Restaurant in its Best of Miami 2022 issue, it sent Brazil fans there to watch the World Cup. And in its 2023 review, The Infatuation reported that on Friday and Saturday nights a live band turns the patio into a dance floor, with the party going past midnight.

Diners packed around tables on Boteco's patio under strings of world flags, glowing lanterns, wall fans and beer signs

What to Order

Start with a caipirinha. The classic is made with cachaça, lime and sugar, and the menu also has a caipiroska with vodka, a saqueroska with sake and fruit versions made with seasonal fruit. Rolling with a crew? Get the pitcher. Then build your table from here:

  • Salgados: Brazilian bar snacks like pão de queijo (cheese bread), coxinha de frango (chicken croquettes with catupiry cheese) and bolinho de bacalhau (fried codfish croquettes).
  • Pastéis and espetos: fried turnovers, plus skewers of beef, sausage, chicken, shrimp and even chicken hearts.
  • Picanha fatiada na chapa: grilled top sirloin, which FIU's Caplin News listed in 2022 among the most popular dishes here.
  • Moqueca do Boteco: mahi-mahi and shrimp cooked with peppers, onions, tomatoes, dendê oil and coconut milk.
  • Feijoada: the traditional dish of beans and meats, served buffet-style on weekends with sides like farofa, sausage, fried bananas and collard greens.

One surprise: the menu also has a Habibi Favorites section with hummus, falafel and labneh. Pro tip: this is share-plate territory, so order a few salgados for the table and pass them around. Stopping by midday? There are weekday lunch specials too, like picanha or linguiça sliders and the Boteco herb wrap.

Moqueca in a clay bowl: shrimp, fish and red peppers in a golden coconut broth topped with parsley, set on a wooden board

Know Before You Go

  • Address: 916 NE 79th Street, Miami, FL 33138
  • Website: Boteco website
  • Getting there: Directions to Boteco
  • Groups and events: Boteco hosts private events and offers catering with menus you can customize.

Make a day of it: grab a few salgados and a caipirinha at Boteco, then walk over to Shoe Gallery at 1060 NE 79th Street and see what just landed.

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