How to Order Food Delivery in Brazil as a Foreigner (iFood, Rappi, 99Food and WhatsApp)
Why iFood is hard for tourists (phone number and card rules), what works instead, how to order from restaurants on WhatsApp, delivery to hotels and Airbnbs, and tipping.
Brazilians order food delivery constantly, and the app everyone uses is iFood. The problem: iFood is one of the hardest Brazilian apps for a foreigner to use. Here's why, and the ways that actually work when you're hungry in your hotel or Airbnb.
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The quick answer
| Option | Works for tourists? |
|---|---|
| iFood | Hard: needs a Brazilian phone number, and foreign cards are often refused |
| Rappi | Worth trying, with mixed reports on foreign cards |
| 99Food (inside the 99 app) | Worth trying if your 99 account works; available in fewer cities |
| Ordering by WhatsApp from the restaurant | Yes, and you pay on delivery |
| Asking your hotel or host to order | Yes, the easiest of all |
| Uber Eats | No: it stopped restaurant delivery in Brazil in 2022 |
Why iFood is difficult for foreigners
We read what travellers and iFood itself say on complaint sites and forums, and two problems come up again and again:
- The phone number. iFood has told users that you can't create an account with a foreign phone number. You need a Brazilian (+55) number to receive the verification code.
- The card. iFood has said that cards must be linked to the cardholder's CPF (the Brazilian tax number) as a security measure, and many visitors report that their foreign card is simply refused. The app's own alternatives, Pix and the iFood wallet, need a Brazilian bank account.
The rules can change, and some visitors do manage, so it's worth a try. But don't plan your first dinner around it.
What works instead
1. Order straight from the restaurant on WhatsApp
This is very Brazilian and works well. Many restaurants, pizzerias and snack bars take orders on WhatsApp: you'll see the number on their Instagram, Google Maps listing or the flyers in your building. Send a message, they reply with the menu and prices, and you pay the delivery person on arrival with your card on a portable machine (maquininha). Ask first if they accept "cartão na entrega".
Translating with your phone is fine. Restaurants are used to short messages: what you want, your address and how you'll pay.
2. Ask your hotel or host
Hotel receptions and Airbnb hosts order food all the time. Many will place the order on their own iFood and let you pay them back, or recommend a place that delivers. A small tip for the favour is a nice touch.
3. Try Rappi or 99Food
Rappi is the second-biggest delivery app in Brazil and also delivers groceries and pharmacy items, often very fast in big cities. 99Food lives inside the 99 ride app, so if you already set up 99 for rides, check whether food delivery is available in your city. Some travellers have success with foreign cards on these apps, others don't; test before you're starving.
4. Get a Brazilian number (for longer stays)
If you're staying for weeks or months, a local prepaid SIM from Claro, Vivo or TIM gives you a +55 number for iFood, banks and other Brazilian apps. Registration usually asks for a CPF, so if you're staying long-term, get your CPF first. For a short trip it isn't worth the trouble.
You need data either way
Every option above, WhatsApp included, needs mobile internet, and you'll want it to find restaurants on Google Maps too. A travel eSIM is the simplest way: buy it before the trip and it connects when you land. Keep your home SIM active alongside it so you still get SMS codes from your bank and apps at home.
Saily is a cheaper alternative. Compare plans in the best eSIM for Brazil.
Delivery to hotels and apartments
- Hotels: delivery people usually aren't allowed upstairs. Give your room number and go down to the lobby when they arrive.
- Apartment buildings: most have a doorman (porteiro) or an intercom. Couriers normally wait at the entrance ("descer para buscar", come down to collect). Write your building name, apartment number and a landmark in the order.
- Gated communities (condomínios): tell the gate in advance that you're expecting a delivery.
Tipping and timing
- Tipping delivery people isn't required, but a few reais is appreciated, especially in the rain.
- Restaurants that deliver often add a delivery fee (taxa de entrega). Ask when you order on WhatsApp.
- Brazilians eat dinner late. Delivery is busiest from about 8 to 10pm, especially on Fridays and Sundays (pizza night in São Paulo).
What to order
Try the things Brazilians order at home: pizza (São Paulo-style, with lots of toppings), açaí bowls, hamburgers from local burger joints, Japanese food (hugely popular), and a "marmita" or "PF", a lunch box with rice, beans, meat and salad that costs much less than a restaurant meal. For what to eat in person, see Brazilian dishes worth trying.
Groceries and drinks
Rappi and iFood both deliver from supermarkets and pharmacies. For cold beer and drinks, Brazilians use Zé Delivery. Again, the same phone and card limits can apply, so the corner supermarket or padaria (bakery) is often quicker.
FAQ
Can I use iFood with a foreign credit card?
Often not. iFood has said that cards must be linked to the cardholder's CPF, and many foreign cards are refused. Try it, but have a plan B.
Can I sign up for iFood with a foreign phone number?
iFood has told users that it doesn't allow accounts with foreign phone numbers. You need a Brazilian +55 number.
Is Uber Eats available in Brazil?
No. Uber Eats stopped restaurant delivery in Brazil in 2022.
What's the easiest way for a tourist to get food delivered?
Ask your hotel or host, or message a restaurant on WhatsApp and pay by card on delivery.
Last checked October 2026, based on iFood's public replies to users on Reclame Aqui, traveller reports and the apps' help pages. App rules change often; check in the app before you rely on any of this.
