
The Slow Bakery
An artisanal bakery celebrated for its slow-food ethos, exceptional sourdough, and inviting atmosphere in Rio de Janeiro.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

The Slow Bakery

Highlights
Must-see attractions
An artisanal bakery celebrated for its slow-food ethos, exceptional sourdough, and inviting atmosphere in Rio de Janeiro.
"This is now our favorite bakery, a level above the rest and holds its own even in global cities."
Visit on Weekdays
Weekends can be very busy, so visiting on a weekday offers a more relaxed experience.
Try Unique Sandwiches
The pulled pork sandwich and Pao de Queijo are highly recommended by locals.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Bakery, Cafe
Price
Mid-range
Address
R. Gen. Polidoro, 25 - Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22280-004, Brazil
Website
theslowbakery.com.br/Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Artisanal Sourdough Bread
Renowned for its naturally fermented sourdough, often hailed as the best in Rio. Perfect for toast or sandwiches.

Sensational Croque Monsieur
This grilled cheese sandwich is a must-try, praised for its perfect sourdough, ham, and cheese.

Inviting Ambiance
Enjoy a spacious, high-ceilinged interior filled with greenery, creating a relaxing and inviting atmosphere.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Visit on Weekdays
Weekends can be very busy, so visiting on a weekday offers a more relaxed experience.
Try Unique Sandwiches
The pulled pork sandwich and Pao de Queijo are highly recommended by locals.
Embrace the Slow-Food Ethos
The bakery champions slow-food principles, evident in their natural-yeast breads and artisanal products.
Tips
from all over the internet
Visit on Weekdays
Weekends can be very busy, so visiting on a weekday offers a more relaxed experience.
Try Unique Sandwiches
The pulled pork sandwich and Pao de Queijo are highly recommended by locals.
Embrace the Slow-Food Ethos
The bakery champions slow-food principles, evident in their natural-yeast breads and artisanal products.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
The Slow Bakery is widely praised for its exceptional artisanal sourdough bread and delicious baked goods, with many calling it the best in Rio. Diners also appreciate the inviting ambiance and friendly service. While the food quality is a strong point, some reviews mention that certain coffee preparations and dishes can be underwhelming or bland, and one reviewer noted concerns about cleanliness.
"Wonderful little bakery an easy and safe walk from the local train station.
Firstly the inviting smell once inside and friendly service, including English friendly.
I had the croque and it was sensational, is this the best I've had 🤔 I'd say a resounding yes! The sourness if the bread is spot on, the ham is the right kind without the strong flavour and paired with the right amount of cheese.
The coffee is quite good as well, good standard flavour from Brazilian coffee."
Andrew Fisher
"I wanted to go to a nice cafe in São Paulo and here I found :) Their pao de quejio & pulled pork sandwich was so delicious! I love the ambient of this cafe very much, spacious, high ceiling and lots of greens. I’d def come back next time I visit São Paulo!"
Y G
"Amazing bakery. We went here multiple times while in Rio and every time it was great. All the dishes we tried were amazing and their bread and pastries were great. This is by far the best bakery in Rio and a level above the rest. Their croissants are good, the BLT was really nice with thick cut bacon and the coffee is great. This bakery would hold it’s own even in cities like London and Melbourne. I highly recommend"
Sam Allen
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
The bakery uses a natural-yeast fermentation process, resulting in a sourdough that is often praised as the best in Rio and celebrated for its slow-food ethos.
Yes, the spacious ambiance with high ceilings and greenery, along with good coffee, makes it a popular spot for remote workers and digital nomads.
The artisanal sourdough bread, Croque Monsieur, pulled pork sandwich, croissants, and cinnamon rolls are highly recommended.
To avoid crowds, it's recommended to visit during weekdays. Weekends can be particularly busy.
Yes, The Slow Bakery has expanded to several locations across Rio de Janeiro, including Botafogo and Ipanema.
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In addition to Slow Bakery’s celebrated original coffee shop, bakery, and deli in Botafogo (Rio’s answer to NYC’s Soho), a new location in Ipanema (Rua Barao da Torre, 422) opened in August. The new space will limit itself to selling natural-yeast bread, further simplifying the original bakery’s slow-food ethos. This idea is that if you’re looking for a delicious coffee or a quick lunch, you will go to the original Slow Bakery, but if you just want a loaf of your favorite bread, head to the new shop, near Posto 10 on Ipanema Beach and a few blocks from the Nossa Senhora da Paz metro station.
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De um pequeno ateliê, a Slow Bakery se transformou em uma fábrica no coração de Botafogo e hoje conta com mais duas unidades, no Leblon e no Jardim Botânico. Criado em 2016 pelos sócios Rafa Brito e Ludmila Espíndola, o negócio tem como propósito o que o nome indica: uma pausa no ritmo frenético do dia a dia. Refere também o processo de fabricação dos Sourdough, que saem diariamente da cozinha própria.
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The sourdough revolution has yet to take hold in Rio, so this modern bakery is something of a pioneer. A range of superb sourdough loaves are baked on…
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For those who love a classic, traditional coffee with fresh bread or a nice slice of cake, Slow Bakery is the ideal option. The breads are made with 100% natural and prolonged fermentation and the menu includes a selection of cheeses and many other varied and delicious items from the Slow Market. Respect for handmade products, appreciation for the people who produce them, the choice of primary ingredients and care for partners and customers are some of the outstanding qualities of Slow Bakery and will make your World Coffee Day unforgettable!
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Slow Bakery was part of the new wave of places that opened in Botafogo over the last few years that blended a hipster vibe with really excellent food and drinks. Their sourdough bread is absolutely delicious (buy a loaf to take away or simply take a seat and enjoy some delicious bruschetta or a fat sandwich). But back to the coffee: it’s very good, they have various different preparation methods (they are big fans of the different filter methods such as Clever, Hario v60, Aeropress)
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Padarias também estão apostando em pizzas, entre elas algumas das melhores e mais premiadas do Rio, como o Talho Capixaba, que há muito pouco tempo passou a vendê-las em suas duas filiais, em Ipanema e Gávea (no Leblon, ainda não), The Slow Bakery, que revolucionou este mercado a partir de 2014, quando abriram a primeira loja (virtual) e a Artesanos Bakery – trio dedicado à fermentação natural, assunto que dominam como poucos.
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Slow Bakery in Botafogo is more than just a place to grab a quick coffee. This artisanal bakery and cafe is dedicated to the slow food movement, offering a range of homemade breads, pastries, and light meals that are perfect for fueling long work sessions. The cafe’s industrial-chic decor and communal tables create a collaborative atmosphere that’s great for remote workers and digital nomads looking to connect.
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Carioquíssima e guiada pela sustentabilidade, a padaria artesanal começou com entregas de bicicleta. A matriz fica em Botafogo, que agora abre aos domingos, com filial no Jardim Botânico (a loja do Leblon fechou este ano e deu lugar à Absurda). Tudo é produzido na casa ou vem de pequenos produtores.
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The Slow Bakery now has four sites across Rio so it’s worth marking them all on your map. It has an emphasis on slow and has what we’re calling the best bread in the city – insanely good sourdough. There’s a ton of natural wine here too and they even have Brazilian naturals on tap.
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All bread baked in The Slow Bakery in Rio de Janeiro is made with natural yeast and long maturation. Slow's production of sourdough breads starts at least 30 hours before baking. Some reach 72 hours of maturation, all made with a natural yeast of more than 150 years old.
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One of my favorite cafes in Rio is Slow Bakery, which as the name suggests is actually an artisanal bakery. It’s located in Botafogo, about 10 minutes’ walk from the Botafogo subway station. Food is great, and I love their chai latte.
The heart of the internet
Greetings from Aus 🦘, this weekend the F1 is in Brazil and I like to make a cuisine from the host country while watching it. This race will fall on Monday morning for me so I'm just chasing some breakfast options.
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Fica, CoLab, and The Slow Bakery opened their doors here last year. Located close to one another, each is increasing Rio’s standards for good coffee and good service—a combination still somewhat rare in the city.
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The Slow Bakery: An artisanal bakery and cafe reminiscent of a Brooklyn coffee shop. There are plenty of tables to work from inside, as well as an open-air rooftop terrace.
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The Slow Bakery has become a hive of activity as customers queue up to purchase the baked goods that will come out of the oven between 9 a.m.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit