Balaio IMS serves contemporary Brazilian cooking on the ground floor of Instituto Moreira Salles, at Avenida Paulista 2424 in Bela Vista. The menu brings regional ingredients into inventive dishes, with strong vegetarian choices alongside fish and meat. Try the moqueca de caju, made with cashew, palm heart and plantain instead of seafood, or look for the cabrinha and crispy pastel. Individual main courses make it easy to choose your own dish, and you can visit the institute’s cultural spaces before or after eating.
Brazilian ingredients, reworked
Balaio IMS is on the ground floor of Instituto Moreira Salles, at Avenida Paulista 2424. Its cooking draws on Brazilian food traditions while finding room for new combinations. The menu includes both vegetarian plates and fish and meat dishes, with individual main courses rather than shared platters.
The moqueca de caju gives a familiar Brazilian dish a different centre: cashew, palm heart and plantain take the place of fish and seafood. Other vegetarian choices include cogumelos, a mushroom dish, and bobó de mandioquinha. For a meat option, look for cabrinha or duck confit with corn polenta. The lasanha caipira combines collard-green pasta, ricotta and pumpkin béchamel.
What to order and how to plan
Start with the pastel, a crisp pastry filled with cheese and herbs, then choose a main. The menu has also included fish, and dessert choices have included quindim. Drinks range from cocktails to options made with caju; the baby colada is another named choice.
Weekend tables can be limited, so book in advance if you are planning to eat then. Balaio is part of Instituto Moreira Salles, which gives you the option of adding a cultural visit to the meal. The restaurant is closed on Mondays; its listed service includes lunch on Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday, and dinner on Friday and Saturday.
FAQ
Where is Balaio IMS?
It is on the ground floor of Instituto Moreira Salles, at Avenida Paulista 2424 in Bela Vista, São Paulo.
Does Balaio IMS have vegetarian options?
Yes. Choices include moqueca de caju with cashew, palm heart and plantain, as well as mushroom dishes and bobó de mandioquinha.
Should I reserve a table?
Book ahead for weekends, when table availability is limited.
What can I see nearby?
The restaurant is inside Instituto Moreira Salles, so you can visit the institute’s cultural spaces before or after your meal.
