Restaurant in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Two Michelin Stars. Book far ahead.
Mee holds back-to-back Michelin Stars (2024 and 2025) and brings a serious Asian-influences kitchen to Copacabana at the $$$$ price tier. Under chef Jean-François Rouquette, it is the most distinctive option in Rio for fine dining that steps outside the Brazilian-cuisine mainstream. Book well in advance — demand is consistent and tables are hard to secure.
Yes — if you want a Michelin-starred meal in Copacabana with a distinct Asian-influenced identity that sets it apart from the Brazilian-forward fine dining rooms dominating the city's top-table scene. Mee has held a Michelin Star in both 2024 and 2025, which places it in a small club of consistently recognised restaurants in Rio de Janeiro. For a first-timer to the city's fine dining circuit, it offers a clear point of difference: this is not a churrascaria, not a seafood palace, and not a modern-Brazilian tasting menu. It is a polished, high-format restaurant built around Asian culinary influences, operating at the $$$$ price tier. Book it with intention.
Mee sits at Av. Atlântica, 1702 in Copacabana, placing it in one of the most recognisable addresses in South America. The energy here reads formal without being stiff — this is a room that expects a certain register from its guests, and the ambient feel reflects that. Noise levels stay low enough for conversation, which makes it a better choice for a dinner with someone you actually want to talk to than for a group celebrating loudly. The atmosphere is controlled, composed, and measured , closer to the cadence of a Tokyo kaiseki room than a buzzy Zona Sul bistro. If you are arriving from the beach or from a daytime tour of the city, plan time to change; the room's mood calls for it.
Chef Jean-François Rouquette leads the kitchen. His presence signals that this is a kitchen operating with serious technical ambition , the Asian Influences designation is not decorative. The menu takes that direction seriously, which means first-timers should arrive without expecting Brazilian classics. You are here for something structurally different from what most of Rio's fine dining rooms offer.
Booking difficulty is rated Hard. With two consecutive Michelin Stars and a location at one of Copacabana's most prominent hotel-adjacent addresses, demand is consistent. Do not expect a same-week table during high season or around Carnival. If you are travelling to Rio with a fixed date in mind, secure your reservation as early as possible , several weeks in advance is a conservative minimum. No booking method or phone number is listed in verified data, so your leading approach is to contact the venue directly through the hotel or property it is associated with, or to check availability through a concierge service if you are staying nearby.
Reservations: Required; book as far in advance as possible, especially during peak travel periods. Budget: $$$$ price tier , plan for a high-spend evening per head consistent with Michelin-starred fine dining in Brazil. Dress: No dress code is listed in verified data, but the room's atmosphere strongly implies smart attire; treat it as you would any formal Michelin-starred restaurant. Location: Av. Atlântica, 1702, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro. Hours: Not confirmed in verified data , check directly before arriving. Groups: The formal tone of the room makes large, celebratory groups a poor fit; smaller parties of two to four will get more from the experience.
Mee is not a venue you should approach with takeout or delivery in mind. The entire proposition here is the room: the controlled atmosphere, the service register, the pacing of a multi-course format. Asian-influenced fine dining at this level depends on sequence, temperature precision, and presentation , none of which survive a delivery journey. If you are looking for Asian-influenced food in Rio that travels well, this is the wrong address. Mee is a destination you visit, not an order you place. The value of the $$$$ spend is inseparable from the in-room experience. For comparable Asian culinary ambition in a different Brazilian city context, [Kazuo in São Paulo](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/kazuo-so-paulo-restaurant) is worth noting, as is [MAIN TOWER Restaurant & Lounge in Frankfurt](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/main-tower-restaurant-lounge-frankfurt-on-the-main-restaurant) for international comparison of the Asian-influences fine dining format.
Rio's top-tier restaurant set includes [Oteque](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/oteque-rio-de-janeiro-restaurant), [Lasai](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/lasai-rio-de-janeiro-restaurant), [Oro](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/oro-rio-de-janeiro-restaurant), [Casa 201](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/casa-201-rio-de-janeiro-restaurant), and Mee , all operating at $$$$. The choice between them comes down to what kind of meal you want, not which is objectively better. See the full comparison below.
If Mee is your anchor booking for a Rio trip, the city's dining scene around it rewards exploration. [Mr. Lam](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/mr-lam-rio-de-janeiro-restaurant) offers a different register of Asian-influenced cooking in the city if you want a second point of comparison. For a broader picture of where to eat, drink, and stay, the [Pearl Rio de Janeiro restaurants guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/rio-de-janeiro) is the most useful next step. You can also explore [bars](https://www.joinpearl.co/bars/rio-de-janeiro), [hotels](https://www.joinpearl.co/hotels/rio-de-janeiro), [wineries](https://www.joinpearl.co/wineries/rio-de-janeiro), and [experiences](https://www.joinpearl.co/experiences/rio-de-janeiro) across the city. For context on Brazil's broader fine dining circuit, [D.O.M. in São Paulo](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/dom-so-paulo-restaurant), [Origem in Salvador](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/origem-salvador-restaurant), [Birosca S2 in Belo Horizonte](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/birosca-s2-belo-horizonte-restaurant), [Orixás North Restaurant in Itacaré](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/orixs-north-restaurant-itacar-restaurant), [State of Espírito Santo in Rio Bananal](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/state-of-espirito-santo-rio-bananal-restaurant), and [Mina in Campos do Jordão](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/mina-campos-do-jordo-restaurant) all represent the range of what serious dining looks like across the country.
Yes, it is one of the more credible choices in Rio for a formal celebration dinner. Two consecutive Michelin Stars (2024 and 2025) provide the kind of external validation that makes the spend feel justified on a birthday, anniversary, or client dinner. The controlled atmosphere and serious kitchen make it more appropriate for intimate occasions than for large group celebrations. If you want a Brazilian-rooted experience for the same occasion, Oteque or Lasai are the direct alternatives at the same price tier.
Verified menu data is not available. What is confirmed is that the kitchen operates under chef Jean-François Rouquette with an Asian Influences cuisine designation, backed by two Michelin Stars. In kitchens of this format, the tasting menu or chef's selection is almost always the intended way to eat. Ordering à la carte, if available, will give you less of what the kitchen is actually doing. Ask on booking which format is offered and commit to the full menu experience.
The room's formal tone and Michelin-starred format make it a poor fit for large groups. Parties of two to four will have the leading experience. If you are booking for a group of six or more, contact the venue well in advance to ask about private dining or group suitability , no confirmed capacity or group booking policy is available in verified data. At the $$$$ price point, a large group dinner here will be a significant per-head spend, so confirm all logistics before committing.
Three things: first, this is not a Brazilian-cuisine restaurant , the Asian Influences direction is genuine, so arrive expecting something structurally different from most Rio fine dining rooms. Second, the atmosphere is formal and quiet; it rewards guests who dress accordingly and are not looking for a high-energy night out. Third, booking is Hard , do not leave this to the last minute if you have a fixed travel date. The Michelin recognition (back-to-back Stars in 2024 and 2025) means demand is consistent, and the Copacabana location draws both visitors and local regulars.
At the $$$$ price tier with two consecutive Michelin Stars, the structured menu format is where the kitchen's value is concentrated. Kitchens of this type are built around sequence and progression; eating a single dish or a reduced format gives you a fraction of what the experience is designed to deliver. If the price point is a stretch, this is not the venue to compromise on format , consider Casa 201 for a French fine dining alternative, or Oro for a different take on the same price bracket. But if you are coming to Mee, commit to the full format.
No dress code is confirmed in verified data, but the room's profile , Michelin-starred, $$$$ price tier, Copacabana address , strongly implies that smart to formal attire is the appropriate register. Treat it as you would any comparably recognised fine dining room. Arriving in beachwear or very casual clothing will feel out of place. If you are coming directly from elsewhere in the city, factor in time to change before your reservation.
| Venue | Cuisine | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mee | Asian Influences | Michelin 1 Star (2025); Michelin 1 Star (2024) | Hard | — |
| Oteque | Modern Brazilian, Modern Cuisine | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Lasai | Regional Brazilian, Modern Cuisine | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Oro | Contemporary Italian, Brazilian, Modern Italian | Michelin 2 Star | Unknown | — |
| Lilia | Italian, Brazilian | Unknown | — | |
| Casa 201 | French | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
Comparing your options in Rio de Janeiro for this tier.
Yes — Mee is well-suited for high-stakes nights. Two consecutive Michelin Stars (2024 and 2025) give it the credibility to anchor a celebration, and the Av. Atlântica address in Copacabana adds a sense of occasion before you even walk in. At $$$$ pricing, expect to spend accordingly. If your group wants a Brazilian-forward experience instead, Oteque or Lasai are the stronger alternatives.
The kitchen operates under chef Jean-François Rouquette with an Asian-influenced approach, which is the defining reason to come here rather than to Rio's Brazilian fine dining rooms. Specific menu details are not published in available documentation, so call ahead or check with the venue directly to confirm current formats and seasonal offerings before booking.
Groups are possible but require advance planning. Mee is a $$$$ Michelin-starred room with high demand, so larger parties should book as far ahead as possible and confirm group minimums or private dining options directly with the venue. Parties expecting a relaxed, flexible format will find the formal setting less accommodating than a bistro or casual Asian restaurant in Rio.
Book well in advance — this is a hard reservation with two Michelin Stars and a prominent Copacabana location. The cuisine is Asian-influenced under chef Jean-François Rouquette, which makes it distinct from the Brazilian tasting menus at Oteque or Lasai. Budget for a $$$$ spend and expect a formal, structured dining experience rather than a casual or sharing-plates setup.
At $$$$ pricing with back-to-back Michelin Stars in 2024 and 2025, Mee justifies the spend if you want Asian-influenced fine dining in Rio — a format no other restaurant at this level in the city offers. If you're primarily drawn to Brazilian cuisine, the same budget at Oteque or Lasai delivers more direct local relevance. Mee earns its price for the specificity of its culinary identity, not just the credential.
A $$$$ Michelin-starred address on Av. Atlântica points clearly toward formal or smart-formal dress. While specific dress code policies are not published, arriving underdressed at a two-Star room in Rio's most prominent hotel corridor is a risk not worth taking. Err toward a dinner jacket for men and equivalent for women; confirm with the venue if you have specific concerns.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
