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  • Osklen: The coolest sport apparel brand in Brazil

    Osklen: The coolest sport apparel brand in Brazil

    Osklen is just the coolest sport apparel brand in Brazil. It is quiet well known also abroad, but still for the fashion addicted customer. Once in Rio don’t miss to grab at least their trunks. Even if it’s quiet expensive, they have cool shops and, overall, it worths a visit. And we also like their politically correct behavior in the city (they take care of some green zone here and there).

    There are 13 shops in Rio de Janeiro.

    Main Osklen Shops

    Osklen Ipanema
    Rua Maria Quitéria 85
    Ipanema – Rio de Janeiro
    Phone 1: +55 21 2227 2911
    Phone 2: +55 21 2227 2930

    Osklen Leblon
    Shopping Leblon
    Avenida Afrânio Melo Franco 290
    Leblon – Rio de Janeiro
    Phone: +55 21 2430 5122

    Osklen Gávea
    Shopping da Gávea
    Rua Marq de São Vicente, 52
    Gávea – Rio de Janeiro

  • Livraria da Travessa: Photo books & culture

    Livraria da Travessa: Photo books & culture

    It was 1975 when the Cariocas get this bookstore whose name appeared to be a curious vague allusion to the Cold War, Sartre, or the military dictatorship: Wall (Travessa). Right in the middle of Ipanema, the stronghold memory of bossa nova (with Vinicius and Tom still present), the scene of political activism, fashion, avant-garde art and counterculture, was there, and Travessa was elected as meeting place for the political discussion. The poets of the so called ‘poesia marginal’ made it their special place for recitals and performances. Their handmade books circulated only there (pure rarities nowdays). The Travessa libraries are spread all over the city; the one located in Ipanema and Leblon also feature an extremely pleasant café, with some good cold dish (the carpaccio is pretty good).

    Location:

    Centro – CCBB
    Rua Primeiro de Março, 66 térreo
    cep. 20.010-000 .t. (21) 3808-2066
    Opening hours:
    From Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 21h pm.

    Centro – Ouvidor
    Travessa do Ouvidor, 17
    cep. 20040-040 .t. (21) 2505-0400
    Opening hours:
    From Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 19 pm.

    Centro – Rio Branco
    Av. Rio Branco, 44
    cep. 20090-004 .t. (21)2519-9000
    Opening hours:
    From Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 19 pm.

    Centro – 7 de Setembro
    Rua 7 de Setembro, n. 54
    cep. 20.050-009 .t. (21) 3231-8015
    Opening hours:
    From Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 20 pm.
    Saturday from 9 am to 14 pm.

    Ipanema
    Rua Visconde de Pirajá, 572
    cep. 22410-002 .t. (21) 3205-9002
    Opening hours:
    From Monday to Saturday, from 9 am to 24 pm.
    Sunday and holidays from 10 am to 24 pm.

    Shopping Leblon
    Av. Afrânio de Melo Franco, 290 – loja 205 A
    cep. 22430-060 .t. (21) 3138-9600
    Opening hours:
    From Monday to Thursday 10 am to 23 pm.
    Friday and Saturday, from 10 am to 24 pm.
    Sunday and Holidays from 12 am to 23 pm.

    Shopping Barra

    Av. das Américas, 4.666 – nível américas loja 220
    cep. 22640-102 .t. (21) 2430-8100
    Opening hours:
    From Monday to Saturday, from 10 am to 23 pm.
    Sunday and Holidays from 12 am to 22 pm.

  • ¡Venga!: Share a Spanish-style tapa with friends

    ¡Venga!: Share a Spanish-style tapa with friends

    ¡Venga! is the first Tapas bar of Rio de Janeiro, featuring a typical Spanish food. The first ¡Venga! has been opened in 2009, and it became immediately a hotspot in the Rio culinary scenario.
    The idea was to connect the carioca spirit with the culture of Tapas, one of the most social way to eat. Tapa means sharing small portions of food with family and friends.
    Moreover, the chance to try various options in the same time make the Tapas one of the most eclectic dining experiences.
    Here you will find: the excellent Pata negra ham, the tasty paprika octopuss and a stylish ambient and furniture.

    Leblon – Río de Janeiro
    Calle Dias Ferreira, 113-B
    Tel.: (21) 2512-9826
    Monday, from 18 pm; from Tuesday to Sunday, from 12:00 am.

    Ipanema – Río de Janeiro
    Calle Garcia D’Ávila, 147–B
    Tel.: (21) 2247-0234
    From Monday to Sunday from 12 am.

  • Braseiro da Gávea: Have a filet steak & mingle with Cariocas

    Braseiro da Gávea: Have a filet steak & mingle with Cariocas

    Located on the most eventful street of Baixo Gávea, a typical carioca meeting point, the easygoing restaurant Braseiro offers gorgeous filet steaks (picanha), grilled sausages and meat on the BBQ. Very crowded on Thursday evenings, when Braseiro becomes the meeting point of crowds of young people. While waiting, sip a cerveza (beer), a chopp (draft beer) or a caipirinha and melt with the locals.

    Braseiro da Gávea
    Praça Santos Dumont 116
    Gávea – Rio de Janeiro
    Phone: +55 21 2239 7494
    Website: www.braseirodagavea.com.br

  • La Fabrique: Have a fish moqueca in a sophisticated atmosphere

    La Fabrique: Have a fish moqueca in a sophisticated atmosphere

    Charming and sophisticated, this restaurant is located on the street running along the beach of Leme. At La Fabrique you will eat Spanish-style tapas, crepes, pata negra ham and Brazilian specialities as the fish moqueca. Good choice of wines, lovely interiors and very cozy atmosphere.

    La Fabrique
    Opening hours: every day from 11.00 am to 12.00 pm
    Avenida Atlántica 994
    Leme – Rio de Janeiro
    Phone: +55 21 2541 2416
    Website: www.lafabrique.com.br

  • Felice Cafe: Try the best ice cream in town

    Felice Cafe: Try the best ice cream in town

    Known for having the best Italian-style ice creams of the city, Felice Cafe is also a perfect place to have a seat in Ipanema. Located in a lovely colored building, it serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. Try the Thai-style shrimps, the Brazilian hamburger or a Greek salad. Be lazy and breathe the atmosphere of Ipanema sipping a tropical juice. Food is delicious, prices are average and the service very kind. If you seat outside, don’t expect a quick lunch. Just relax and follow the wave.

    Felice Cafe
    Rua Gomes Carneiro 30
    Ipanema – Rio de Janeiro
    Phone: +55 21 2522 7749
    Email: felice@felice.com.br
    Website: www.felice.com.br

  • Lapa shops & street market: Buy antiques in Rua Lavradio

    Lapa shops & street market: Buy antiques in Rua Lavradio

    The area around Rua do Lavradio and Rua do Senado (Lapa) is dotted by fancy antique shops, where you can hunt colonial pieces of furniture, typical Brazilian objects and vintage staff. Don’t expect prices to be really affordable: if you want a design Brazilian souvenir, you are going to pay it. But the atmosphere is authentic and some second-hand shops (brechós) very interesting. And, above all, the area is very charming, with its colored colonial buildings and nice pubs to relax. Come here in weekends, when Lapa is at its best. And if you happen to be here on the 1st Saturday of the month, don’t miss the stands of the lovely Rio Antiques Fair.

    Lapa vintage shops
    Rua do Lavradio & Rua do Senado
    Lapa (Rio de Janeiro)

  • Ipanema Hippie Market: Discover the Brazilian handcraft, every Sunday

    Ipanema Hippie Market: Discover the Brazilian handcraft, every Sunday

    If you want to buy Brazilian handcraft, there is the nice Sunday market of Ipanema, in Praca General Osorio. Easy going atmosphere, paintings from the favelas, clothes and tissues from Bhaia and souvenir of the city. Come early on Sundays and have lunch in one of the many restaurants on Praca General Osario. Ipanema hippie market opens on Sandays from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm.

     

  • Lapa Steps (Selarón’s Staircase): Visit the Masterpiece of Rio Street Art

    Lapa Steps (Selarón’s Staircase): Visit the Masterpiece of Rio Street Art

    This crazy and colorful tiled stairway is the work of Chilean artist Jorge Selarón, self-taught. Having traveled the world, Selarón moved to Rio in 1983, in a tiny house just in front of the desolate stairway connecting the areas of Lapa and Santa Teresa. 215 steps that he entirely covered with majolica collected in urban areas of Rio or donated by visitors from all around the world. Since 1990, Selarón has laid over 2000 tiles, mainly red-colored: unique pieces representing a “tribute to the Brazilian people”. He also planted greenery and never finished to embellish the stairway. If you come here in the morning and you will probably see him, at work as usual. If you want, bring your own tile and he will add it to his work*.

    Nowadays Selarón’s Staircase (Escadaria Selarón) is a famous place in Rio, set of international spots and videoclips. Jorge Selarón became an honorary citizen of the city of Rio de Janeiro.

    Where
    Lapa Steps runs from Rua Joaquim Silva and Rua Pinto Martins (Rio de Janeiro)

    *To collaborate with the project, send your tile to:
    Jorge Selarón
    Rua Manoel Carneiro 24, Lapa
    Rio de Janeiro-RJ
    CEP: 20021-360

  • Arches of Lapa: the ancient Carioca Aqueduct

    Arches of Lapa: the ancient Carioca Aqueduct

    This impressive Roman-style aqueduct, also called the Carioca Aqueduct, was built in 1723, at the time of colonial Brazil. Located in Centro, Arcos da Lapa was supposed to solve the big issue of water supply in the city of Rio. Indios and African slaves worked to build the 42 stone arches composing the aqueduct, which is 270 mts long and nearly 40 mts high. Since 1896 this huge architectural work has been also used as a viaduct for the new cable cars climbing up the hill of Santa Teresa. The famous yellow cable car (Bondinho de Santa Teresa) crowded with people became the symbol of the neighborhood. Unfortunately on August the 27th 2011 a tragic accident caused the death of 6 people, and the bonde service was suspended.