Tucked deep in the heart of San Francisco’s South of Market, Bossa Nova’s exterior is so unassuming you’ll probably walk straight past it if you don’t know where to look. Housed in an unremarkable cement building on the corner of 8th and Minna, the only indication of the restaurant’s existence is a small sign above its entrance. Walk inside, however, and you’re instantly transported to a vibrant Brazilian restaurant and bar that feels like it’s been plucked straight out of Rio de Janeiro. It’s exactly this underground feel that makes Bossa Nova the current darling of the cool agency set - a discerning breed of San Franciscans who are drawn here after work from their revamped warehouse offices nearby.

Inspired by Brazil’s ghetto housing areas, or favelas, Bossa Nova’s candle and wrought iron ceiling centerpiece give it an eclectic feel. While the restaurant is small, the owners have put this limited space to good use, with a large communal table in the middle, smaller ones around it and a large bar area on one end. On the plus side, this small space makes for a cozy and vibrant atmosphere. On the downside, you may very well have to wait for a table if you don’t arrive early, especially given the restaurant’s popularity and the fact that you can’t make reservations. When we arrived at 6:30 p.m., there were only two other tables seated. Within 45 minutes however, the restaurant was completely full.

We were greeted by our friendly, uber-cool waiter who seated us just in time for the cocktail happy hour (weekdays between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.) After umming and aahing over the various caipirinha flavors like raspberry, passion fruit and watermelon, we finally settled on a mango version, as well as a cucumber mojito. It’s no surprise that these cocktails are Bossa Nova’s specialty: ours were fruity and fresh, and not too sweet or strong so that your gills turn green. All in all, they’re oh-so-drinkable and we’d make a return visit here just for these alone.

Although Bossa Nova’s appetizer menu is limited, each item on the menu has been carefully chosen. We chose the fried plantains with green chilli sauce as well as the Brazil nut-encrusted goat’s cheese with Cipollini onion jam. Both were mouthwateringly Moorish and the perfect way to prep the palate. As with the appetizers, the mains are simple but original with a decidedly Brazilian flair. We shared the flatiron steak skewers, which were succulent and soft in a red wine and peppercorn sauce. Next came the Rio-style Moqueca, a seafood stew with shellfish like mussels, scallops and shrimp cooked in a coconut milk sauce. Together with a side of coconut rice, this dish served in a cast iron pot was the highlight of our evening: creamy but not too rich, steamy, fragrant and flavorful.

No Brazilian restaurant would be complete without some swing-your-hips music to accompany your meal, and Bossa Nova is no exception. From Thursdays to Sundays, live DJs spin Brazilian beats from Astrud Gilberto to Antonio Carlos Jobim, while on Sundays you can watch a live bossa nova band for a truly authentic experience.

Casual enough for drinks and dinner on a weekday evening, and swinging enough to become a semi-club on weekends, Bossa Nova pulsates with the rhythms of Latin America. With the jazzy music and vivacious crowd, this is a restaurant definitely more suited to a celebratory gathering rather than an intimate third date. If you’re happy with this though, you’re good to go. And with a mojito in hand, sexy music in the background and a Brazilian feast before you, this is by far the best way to spend an evening in Rio De Janeiro without actually going there.

Bossa Nova
139 8th St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
Tel: (415) 558-8004
www.bossanovasf.com

-Written by Catherine Parker (cathparker@gmail.com)

Ms. Parker lives in San Francisco and is a frequent contributor to Vezeo.

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