Borgo Del Vino in Areal: Our Complete Experience at the Tuscan Refuge 1 Hour from Rio (Is it Really Worth It?)
There are places you visit and forget about. There are places we like.
And there are those that make you get out of the car, take a deep breath and think: “How come this is so close to Rio and I’ve never been here before?”
That’s exactly how we felt when we arrived at Borgo Del Vino in Areal.
We went in search of a different pizzeria.
We came back with a complete experience of enogastronomy, cinematographic scenery and a real sense of international travel – just 1.5 hours from Rio de Janeiro.
If you’re searching:
– Is Borgo Del Vino worth it?
– How much does it cost to eat there?
– Do you need to book?
– Is it just pizzerias?
– Can you do a round trip?
– Is it worth staying?
Here’s our full, honest and detailed experience.
Quick summary – Borgo Del Vino Areal
📍 Location: Rodovia BR-040 km 38 – Estrada Julioca – Areal – RJ
🚗 Distance from Rio: approximately 100 km (1h20 to 1h40 by car)
🍕 Opening hours Pizzeria: Tuesday to Sunday, from 4pm
📲 Reservation required via Instagram @pizzeriaborgodelvino
💰 Average couple dinner: R$500 to R$800
🍕 Pizzas: R$159 to R$198
🍷 Vinícola Família Eloy’s own wines
🏨 There’s a boutique hotel on site
🍇 There’s a winery with tastings
🐶 Pet friendly
🌅 Best time: arrive at 4pm to catch the sunset
💡 Ideal time: 3 to 4 hours for the full experience.
🌄 The Arrival: When You Realize It’s Not Just a Restaurant
We left Rio in the early afternoon.
The road is quiet, especially along the BR-040. As you climb the hills, the climate changes. The air becomes fresher. The landscape becomes greener, more open, quieter.
When you enter Estrada Julioca, you can already tell that you’re arriving at something different. And then you see it.
A stone village.
A central square.
A tower.
A chapel.
Soft lighting.
Vineyards in the background.
It doesn’t look like a restaurant.
It doesn’t look like a hotel.
It looks like a European movie set.
The first sensation is to slow down.
Borgo del Vino is located in Areal, in the charming Serra Fluminense. In fact, if you’re putting together an itinerary for the region, take a look at our complete guide to the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro.
How much does it cost to eat at Borgo del Vino?
Prices at Borgo del Vino vary depending on the choice of menu and drinks. On average:
– Starters: R$ 78 to R$ 118
– Specialty pizzas: R$ 159 to R$ 198
– Desserts: from R$ 55
– Drinks: R$ 40 to R$ 50
– Reservation fee: R$ 150
The average price per couple, with starter, pizza and drinks, can vary between R$350 and R$600, depending on the harmonization chosen.
Leaving the capital? Check out our complete guide to where to stay in Rio de Janeiro to put together your itinerary.
🏛 The Concept: A Tuscan Villa in Serra Fluminense
Borgo Del Vino is a complex that brings together:
– Pizzeria
– Don Eloy restaurant
– Boutique hotel
– Winery
– Theme square
– Chapel
– Medieval tower
– Lobby bar
– Pool bar
– Own vineyards
It is a scenographic and architectural project inspired by Italian medieval villas.
But it’s not artificial in the negative sense.
It’s well executed.
It’s harmonious.
It’s consistent.
Every detail has been thought of.
🍕 Our Experience at Pizzeria Borgo Del Vino
Now let’s get down to business.
What We Asked For (Real Experience)
✔ Bruschetta Classica – R$ 118
✔ Pizza Il Padrino – R$ 164
✔ Pizza Parma – R$ 159
✔ Glasses of house wine
Our final bill was between R$500 and R$600 for two people.
🥖 Bruschetta – R$ 118
The presentation is already impressive.
Crunchy bread.
Generous topping.
Balanced seasoning.
It’s not that bruschetta that’s “pretty in the photo but bland in taste”.
It whets the appetite without stealing the show from the pizzas.
🍕 Pizza Il Padrino – R$ 164
Mozzarella.
Pomodoro sauce.
Basil pesto.
Parma ham.
The pasta is the big difference.
Thin.
Slightly crunchy underneath.
Aerated edge.
Not heavy at all.
The truffle oil gives it an identity, but doesn’t overdo it. It was our favorite.
🍕 Pizza Parma – R$ 159
Classic.
Elegant.
Balanced.
Quality ham.
Fresh rocket.
Light sauce.
It’s that pizza that looks simple but shows technique.
🍷 Vinícola Família Eloy: The Big Difference
Here’s what really elevates Borgo Del Vino. They produce their own wines.
The technique used is double pruning – common in the production of winter wines in Brazil.
Highlights:
– Syrah Syrah 2023 (award-winning)
– Exclusive labels
– Artisanal production
Pairing pizza with wine produced right there completely changes the experience.
You’re not just having dinner.
You’re experiencing wine tourism.
🏊 Pool Bar Menu (Detailed Values)
The menu at the Cardapio-Piscina pool bar shows that the complex goes far beyond the pizzeria.
Entries
Salmon carpaccio – R$ 98
Salmon tartare – R$ 119
Mare Doré (fried squid and prawns) – R$ 99
Mini pastries (prawns, meat and cheese) – R$ 79
French fries – R$ 59
Sandwiches and Burgers
Mini hamburger – R$ 99
Hamburger Del Borgo – R$ 109
Burrata with Parma – R$ 145
Salmon panino – R$ 89
Classic toast – R$ 69
Classic Drinks
Caipirinha – R$ 52
Negroni – R$ 53
Old Fashioned – R$ 54
Dry Martini – R$ 54
Fitzgerald – R$ 55
Original Drinks
Limonata Frizzante – R$ 58
Giardino Segreto – R$ 60
Vista Fiorita – R$ 58
Monti al Tramonto – R$ 62
Desserts
Brownie with ice cream – R$ 59
Gelato of the day – R$ 36
Fruit of the day – R$ 36
You could spend the whole day there just exploring the menu.
✨ Do you want to live this experience too?
If after reading all this you’re already imagining the golden sunset, the truffled pizza coming out of the oven and the glass of wine in your hand… then don’t put it off.
Borgo Del Vino requires advance reservations and the busiest dates tend to sell out quickly – especially on weekends.
📲 Make your reservation directly through the official Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/pizzeriaborgodelvino/
🌐 Find out more details on the official website:
https://borgodelvino.com.br/
If you want to make it a full weekend, it’s also worth checking out the suites at the boutique hotel inside the village – the experience changes completely when you sleep there.
🏨 Hotel Borgo Del Vino
The boutique hotel is part of the experience.
Suites from 35m² to 50m².
Tuscan-inspired decor.
Intimate atmosphere.
Ideal for:
– Romantic weekend
– Wedding proposal
– Anniversary
– Complete wine and food experience
🍇 Winery experience
You can:
– Schedule tastings
– Get to know the vineyards
– Understand the double pruning technique
– Take part in guided pairings
It’s an educational and sensory experience.
💰 Is it expensive?
Yes. It’s premium. But it’s consistent with:
– Structure
– Scenario
– Own production
– Full experience
You’re not just paying for food.
You’re paying for atmosphere.
📸 Is it Instagrammable?
Extremely.
Tower.
Vineyards.
Square.
Chapel.
Sunset.
It’s impossible to leave without incredible photos.
🐶 Pet Friendly?
Yes. We saw several pets roaming around.
🎯 Who is it worth it for?
– Romantic couples
– Wine lovers
– Fans of Italian cuisine
– Those who want to get away from the obvious
– People who value experience
❗ For Those Who Might Not Be Ideal
– Those looking for a cheap restaurant
– Those who want a quick meal
– Those who don’t value scenery
– Those who don’t drink wine
🌅 Best time to go
16h.
Catch the sunset.
Walk around the village.
Have a leisurely dinner.
🧭 Is it worth doing the round trip?
Yes. But if you can, sleep.
The experience is much more intense when you slow down.
If you’re staying overnight in the region, check out our guide to where to stay in Petrópolis and the surrounding area.
💬 Our Final Conclusion
Borgo Del Vino is not just a pizzeria.
It’s not just a hotel.
It’s not just a winery.
It’s a sensory refuge.
It’s the kind of place that makes you slow down.
Toast without haste.
Feel the moment.
We went.
We lived.
We paid.
And we would come back.
If you want to experience something different just an hour from Rio, put Borgo Del Vino on your list.
Because there… Sunsets really do have a different flavor. 🍷🌅 and they conquer the heart from the first bite to the last sip of wine.
Is Borgo Del Vino worth visiting?
If you’re looking for:
✔ A different restaurant near the river
✔ A romantic setting to celebrate something special
✔ An artisanal wine experience
✔ A cinematic sunset
✔ A weekend away from the obvious
So yes – put Borgo Del Vino on your list now.
👉 Save this post for when you plan your next getaway.
👉 Send it to the person who would share this pizza with you.
👉 And once you’ve been, come back and tell us what you thought.
Because some experiences aren’t just about eating.
They’re for living. And this is one of them. 🍷🌅✨
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