Blog

  • Prainha: A paradise for surfers & nature lovers

    Prainha: A paradise for surfers & nature lovers

    Prainha is possibly the most beautiful beach of Rio de Janeiro, thanks to its outstanding natural beauty. Located in an unspoiled and protected area (Grumari APA – Environmental Protection Area) and surrounded by hills covered with tropical rainforest, prainha  is a paradise for surfers and nature lovers. The big and tubular waves are described as the best in Rio (many national and international surf competitions are held here) and the beach keeps a wild nature. There are a couple of kiosks where you can have sandwiches, juices and açaí, but prainha is still a secluded spot. Quite crowded on weekends but very quiet in weekdays. Come in the morning, because the sun hides behind the mountains in mid-afternoon.

    Location. Prainha is located in Rio de Janeiro’s west side, past Barra da Tijuca and Recreio dos Bandeirantes. Access to the beach is on Avenida Estado da Guanabara.

    Getting there. There is a service of “Surf Bus” doing the following stops: Largo do Machado (Flamengo) – Botafogo – Copacabana – Ipanema – Leblon – São Conrado – Barra da Tijuca – Recreio dos Bandeirantes – Macumba – Prainha. Phone: +55 21 8702-2837.

     

  • Satyricon: Feel the flavor of the best Mediterranean seafood in town

    Satyricon: Feel the flavor of the best Mediterranean seafood in town

    Satyricon is considered the best seafood restaurant in Rio de Janeiro. Expensive and very elegant, this old-school place offers an Italian menu. As an appetizer, try the sea food tasting one: oysters, tuna, salmon, lobster, mussels and crab served on a layer of ice. Simply gorgeous. The house specialty is the pargo, baked fish crusted in salt. Among wines our favorite is the white Talinay from Chile. While you eat, have a look to the guests: it is very likely that a VIP is seated just beside you. Suggested dress code: chic.

    Satyricon
    Rua Barrão da Torre 192
    Ipanema – Rio de Janeiro
    Phone: +55 21 2521 0627
    Website: www.satyricon.com.br

  • La Carioca Cevicheria: Discover Peruvian Cuisine

    La Carioca Cevicheria: Discover Peruvian Cuisine

    This tiny and lovely restaurant in Jardim Botânico is specialized in the most typical of Peruvian dishes -ceviche: fresh row fish marinated in lime juice, spiced with chilli pepper and often served with coriander and onion. La Carioca offers all types of ceviche, from traditional recipes to Mediterranean and Oriental gastronomic inventions. Try also the octopus and don’t forget to taste the grape-brandy called pisco, the national drink in Peru (as cachaça is in Brazil). If you want to be more sober, choose the house beer La Carioca.

    La Carioca – Cevicheria
    Rua Maria Angelica 113 A
    Jardim Botânico – Rio de Janeiro
    Phone: +55 21 2226 8821
    Email: holaquetal@lacarioca.com.br
    Website: www.lacarioca.com.br

  • Bráz: Try a traditional Italian Pizza

    Bráz: Try a traditional Italian Pizza

    This is the trendy place to be for an Italian pizza. Located in Jardim Botânico, Bráz is a stylish, old school Italian pizzeria, with a vintage design and an easygoing atmosphere. Pizzas are rolled by hand and cooked in a wood oven in the wide open kitchen. Ingredients come from the typical Neapolitan tradition: Caputo 00 flour, San Marzano tomatoes and Italian olive oil. Bráz offers more than 26 varieties of pizza, divided into 4 categories: specialities, classic, traditional and contemporary. It also makes home deliveries in Jardim Botânico, Gávea, Leblon and Ipanema.

    Bráz
    Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday from 6.30 pm to 0.30 am. Friday and Saturday from 6.30 pm to 1.30 am.
    Rua Maria Angelica 129
    Jardim Botânico – Rio de Janeiro
    Phone: +55 21 2535 0687 (anche per consegne)
    Website: www.casabraz.com.br

  • How to Buy Tickets

    How to Buy Tickets

    Online Tickets

    Some reliable websites where you can choose and buy tickets online for the Sabadrome Parade:

    About Sambadrome sectores

    The Sambadrome consists of a long parading avenue bordered by concrete numbered bleachers. Odd-numbered bleachers are on one side, even-numbered on the other. Numbers increase towards the end of the alley. The best sectors are 4 to 11 (in the middle of the parade).

    • Sector 1. Only grandstand seats reserved to Samba Schools.
    • Sector 9 is the only one having bleachers with allocated and numbered seats. It offers a great visibility of the parade and is less crowded than the others. Of course tickets are more expensive. Perfect for having some peace, but not for partying and mingling with Cariocas.
    • Sectors 12 and 13. Allocated chairs at the end on the parade. Affordable tickets.

    Typology of Seats

    Each sector has different types of seats:

    • Grandstand. Concrete bleachers. Tip: bring a pillow and mingle with people!
    • Allocated chairs. Only in sectors 12 and 13, at the end of the parade. These are the cheapest numbered seats.
    • Front boxes. Also called frisas, front boxes are located on the parade avenue. Each box has 6 numbered chairs and a table. A chair coast between 400 and 1.900 US$.
    • Luxury Suites. Called camarotes, these are the VIP lounges attended by the Brazilian and international jet set. For 12, 24, 36 and 48 people, they are ideal when it rains (they are the only covered places of Sambadrome) and when it’s too hot (they have air conditioning). A butler will also serve you a nice supper. The coast is around 2.200 US$ per seat.
  • Carioca da Gema: Listen to Live Samba

    Carioca da Gema: Listen to Live Samba

    Carioca da Gema (meaning something like “carioca coming from the very yolk”) is a mecca of Samba. Located on the most eventful street of Lapa, this place is entirely dedicated to live music. Artists perform on a traditional stage and people dance samba just in front of them. The atmosphere is irresistible, as the samba music, which is the popular art of turning sorrow into joy. Not to miss, especially on weekends.

    Carioca da Gema
    Avenida Mem de Sá 79
    Lapa – Rio de Janeiro
    Phone: +55 21 2221 0043
    Website: www.barcariocadagema.com.br

  • Toca do Siri: Don’t miss the specialities from Bahia & the best crab ever

    Toca do Siri: Don’t miss the specialities from Bahia & the best crab ever

    A paradise to the ones who love crab: Toca do Siri – Boteco Baiano is a great botequim offering traditional specialities from Bahia. Here is our perfect lunch: moqueca de siri (stuffed crab) and fish soup. Simply outstanding. Have a seat on the lovely terrace also for a caipirinha at sunset: the atmosphere is lively and charming, especially on weekends, when the area is close to traffic. Don’t miss this place for no reason in the world.

    Toca do Siri
    Rua Francisco Ottaviano 50
    Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro
    Phone: +55 21 2267 0894
    Email: sirimole@sirimole.com.br

  • Galitos Grill: Taste the best and cheapest grilled chicken in town

    Galitos Grill: Taste the best and cheapest grilled chicken in town

    ‘Galitos grill’ offers you the best, and particularly cheap, Galito na brasa (grilled chicken) of Rio. It’s the perfect place for a healthy and tasty lunch. The service is not perfect, but the quality is super and it’s quiet affordable. We like it. This is for sure a very Carioca place. Not a lot of Gringos are around there. I really enjoyed the speciality, the galeto na brasa with tapioca and rice, and I’ve also appreciated  the chicken nuggets (not the healthiest food ever, but they were great!). There are three restaurants Galitos Grill spread over the city: Ipanema, Copacabana and Leblon. Don’t miss the best grilled chicken in town and feel like a local!

    Galitos Grill
    Rua Farme de Amoedo, 62 (Ipanema)
    Rua Souza Lima, 16 (Copacabana)
    Av. Ataulfo de Paiva, 209 (Leblon)

  • Armazēm Café: Take a break with a good Brazilian coffee

    Armazēm Café: Take a break with a good Brazilian coffee

    In Portuguese “armazém” means grocery store, and this chain of grocery stores is entirely dedicated to Brazilian Arabica coffee. With stores in Ipanema, Leblon and Centro, Armazēm Café wants to transform the typical Carioca habit of cafesinho in a sophisticated tasting (the slogan is “Coffee tasting of coffee”). Ask for an Italian-style espresso at the counter (it is served with a delicious pastry) or buy pure Brazilian coffee in its many versions. Enjoy an Irish coffee, a cappuccino or a coffee milkshake, and think to the broad Brazilian coffee plantations where all began.

    Armazēm Café Ipanema
    Rua Jangadeiros 28, Ipanema
    Phone: +55 21 2521 9610

    Armazēm Café Leblon
    Rua Ataulfo de Paiva 375, Leblon
    Phone: +55 21 3874 5923

    Armazēm Café Centro
    Rua do Ouvidor 77, Centro
    Phone: +55 21 2292 6985

    Website: www.armazemdocafe.com.br

  • Terzetto Café: Have lunch in Praça General Osório

    Terzetto Café: Have lunch in Praça General Osório

    Revisited Italian cuisine just in front of Praça General Osório metro station, in Ipanema: Terzetto Café offers nice meals in a delicious atmosphere. At the counter you can have pies, sandwiches, bakery, confectionery, delicatessen and coffee. The restaurant menu offers pasta, fish, shellfish, good Brazilian meat and rich desserts. There is a well-stocked wine shop and you can do take away. Prices are average.

    Terzetto Café
    Rua Jangadeiros 28 lj D, Ipanema
    Phone 1: +55 21 2247 3243
    Phone 2: +55 21 2267 0446
    Email: cafe@terzettocafe.com.br