Bola Bar

Bola Bar is a quintessential Belo Horizonte boteco (informal bar) that has been a local institution for decades. Located on a busy corner in the Padre Eustáquio neighborhood, it's always buzzing with conversation, clinking glasses, and the aroma of fried snacks. The bar's interior is simple, tile floors, wooden stools, and a long counter, but the real action spills onto the sidewalk, where plastic tables and chairs fill the pavement. The star of the show is the coxinha: a teardrop-shaped croquette filled with shredded chicken and catupiry cheese, fried to golden perfection. Bola Bar is said to serve some of the best coxinhas in the city, and they sell by the dozen. Pair them with a ice-cold chopp (draft beer) or a caipirinha. The energy is infectious, with groups of friends laughing, waiters weaving through tables, and the occasional street musician passing by. It's a place to linger for hours, soaking up the genuine hospitality of Minas Gerais.

Don't miss

• Order the coxinhas, crispy outside, creamy inside, they're the best in town.
• Enjoy a cold chopp (draft beer) served in a frozen mug.
• Sit outside on the sidewalk to people-watch and feel the local vibe.
• Try the bolinha de queijo (cheese balls) for another tasty snack.

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Bola Bar

Cheapest way inInhotim - one of the largest open air museums in the World4.6★ · 48 travelers~10 hoursFree cancellationFrom$135 per personSee dates →

Know before you go

• Cash is preferred; cards accepted for larger tabs.
• Coxinhas sell out fast on weekends; go early.
• Sidewalk tables are first come, first served; be prepared to share.
• It can get noisy, great for groups, less ideal for quiet conversation.

A bit of history

Bola Bar opened in the 1950s and quickly became a neighborhood staple, known for its coxinhas and cold beer. The name 'Bola' refers to the ball shape of its famous snack, though coxinhas are actually teardrop-shaped.