Pici Trattoria arrived in Ipanema to bring a little bit of Italy to the city’s South Zone. With a charming environment, the place gathers a selection of over 100 pictures of major Jazz stars on the walls. The menu includes well-known dishes such as the spaghetti carbonara, which follows the traditional recipe to the letter; no sweet cream, with pancetta and long pasta, as well as the Pici – rustic pasta originated from Siena in Tuscany, which the establishment is named after – made with tomato sauce, artisanal sausage and shiitake.

The pastas are handmade by the chef. Among the choices for antipasto, one highlight is the Carne Cruda, raw meat made with truffle and egg yolk. The house’s wine list, handpicked by Gustavo Gill, offers 70 brands with good variety and fairly attractive prices. But those who love their own cellar will be delighted to know that the restaurant is wine friendly and doesn’t charge a corkage fee.