Brazil's Soul, Hillcrest's Heart
Since 2002, Café Bossa Nova has been bringing the bold, soulful flavors of southeast Brazil to Little Rock's Hillcrest neighborhood — one scratch-made, love-fueled plate at a time.
Cafe Bossa Nova | Our Story
Born in Hillcrest, Rooted in Brazil
In 2002, a family kitchen opened on a quiet Hillcrest corner — not a steakhouse, but the authentic, scratch-made local food Brazilians actually grew up on. Over two decades later, that mission hasn't changed by a single grain of farofa.
The Name Says Everything
Bossa nova — the genre that wrapped samba's rhythm in jazz's cool elegance — is the philosophy behind every decision here: warm but never fussy, vibrant but never loud, full of heart without a hint of pretension.
Every Dish Is an Act of Love
From the moqueca (coconut-kissed seafood stew) bubbling in its clay pot to the coxinhas (golden, chicken-filled croquettes) that earned a rave from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — everything here is made from scratch, because shortcuts and good food don't coexist.
Little Rock Made It Home
The community loved Café Bossa Nova so fiercely that the kitchen grew right next door into a full bakery — and in 2024, the ARK Times named it a finalist for best restaurant in all of Arkansas, alongside some of the state's most celebrated tables.
Come Share the Magic
You don't need a passport to taste Brazil — just walk through that yellow-awninged door in Hillcrest, pull up a chair, and let us take care of the rest.
