Diamantina's food is squarely comida mineira — the traditional cooking of Minas Gerais, built around beans, pork, greens, and corn. Por-kilo (pay-by-weight) restaurants dominate the lunch trade, offering a rotating selection of dishes. The quality ranges from fine to excellent; choose by looking at how busy the kitchen is. Evenings are quieter, with fewer places open, and the serenata culture means people tend to be drinking and wandering rather than sitting for a formal dinner.
The local sweet — doce de leite, quince paste, and various colonial-era confections — is sold at the Mercado Municipal and in shops along Rua Direita. Cachaça from local producers is sold everywhere and is generally of good quality.