Haru Sushi Bar

The story

Haru Sushi Bar – Authentic Japanese Cuisine in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro | Michelin Recommended

In Copacabana, Haru Sushi Bar works with a clear purpose: “to become as Japanese as the Japanese themselves.” That sentence, printed on the restaurant’s own materials, sums up the quiet ambition of this Rua Raimundo Corrêa address. The kitchen, led by executive chef Menandro Rodrigues, draws directly from Japanese techniques and ingredients, without shortcuts or fusion for its own sake.

Rodrigues is a certified scholar of Japanese cuisine. He holds a proficiency certificate from the World Sushi Skills Institute in Japan and has been guiding Haru since 2014. His background—son of a talented cook, a self-described passionate student of both food and beverages—shows in the care given to each plate. The restaurant is also a registered Japanese Food Supporter (JETRO), a designation that underlines its commitment to authenticity.

The Omakase Experience

The most direct way to experience that commitment is through the omakase menu. Served in a private room on the second floor, the tasting menu functions almost like a class in Japanese culinary history. It is available only at specific times, Tuesday through Sunday, and requires advance reservation. The restaurant’s own website describes it as “an unforgettable gastronomic experience” and “almost a lesson in the history and culture of Japan.”

A New Home Upstairs

Haru originally operated with a handful of sidewalk tables. It has since moved into a larger space, ascending a marble staircase to a modern, airy dining room that seats 55. Fish mobiles hang from the ceiling, and the room doubles the restaurant’s former capacity. The move allowed the team to expand the menu while keeping the same rigorous sourcing of fresh fish that earned them their reputation.

Recognition and Atmosphere

The restaurant holds a Michelin Recommended distinction for 2026, a natural fit for a kitchen that treats Japanese cuisine with both humility and precision. The atmosphere is elegant but not stiff; the outdoor seating, private room, and notable sake list make it suitable for everything from a quiet lunch to a celebratory dinner. Haru Sushi Bar brings the best of Japan to Rio de Janeiro—and does so without fanfare, simply by cooking well.