2013 Rio Carnival dates: February 8th until February 12th
Rio Carnival usually happens in February, but it can be also in March. It officially starts on Saturday, lasts 4 days and finishes on Fat Tuesday with the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday, 40 days before Easter.
São Conrado is a wide sandy beach stretching between Leblon and Barra da Tijuca. It is a very quiet neighborhood with a breathtaking view of Dois Irmãos Mountain and of the magnetic Pedra da Gávea (Gavea Rock). The strong water swells make of São Conrado the perfect beach for surfing the waves. On the beach is also the hand gliding and paragliding company, where you can book your flight over Rio. The beautiful bicycle path running along the beach is lined with kiosks.
This tiny beach is a hidden jewel surrounded by a powerful nature. Heavenly located in Joatinga, it is quite difficult to reach (therefore extremely quit). The waves and the current are strong, so you will see more surfers than swimmers here. If you don’t surf, don’t worry: the real magic of this beach is the outstanding natural location, with a view of the islands, the fishing boats on the horizon and the sun turning gold the sand.
Considered one of the most famous beaches in the world, Praia de Copacabana is nicknamed the “Little Princess of the Sea”. Its ancient name Tupi was Sacopenapã: “the sound and the flapping wings of the herons” and its golden age was the 30’s through the 50’s, when Copacabana Palace was the meeting pont of international jet-setters. The 4 km sandy beach, stretching from Posto 2 (lifeguard watchtower 2) to Posto 6 (lifeguard watchtower 6), is bordered by two historic forts: Fort Copacabana (1914) and Fort Duque de Caxias (1779). Along the beach runs the well-known promenade representing ocean waves (designed by the Brazilian architect Roberto Burle Marx and achieved in 1970). Have a coconut water at one of the many kiosks and enjoy the wonderful view of Rio bay. Enjoy the bicycle lane skirting the beach, rent a sun umbrella and, if you wish, have a swim (but the water here is not the best: Copacabana is closer than Ipanema to the bay). Come here in weekends, when Avenida Atlântica is closed to traffic and Cariocas enjoy the promenade by bike, skate or rollerblades. This is also the place to be at New Year’s Day, when more than 2.000.000 people gather here to party (twice as many than there were on February the 18th 2006, when the Rolling Stones had their legendary concert in Rio).
The “belle époque” symbol of the city: Confeitaria Colombo, founded in 1894 at the time of Dom Pedro II, is nowadays a sumptuous tea room in the heart of Centro. Huge lavish halls, belgian mirrors, Italian marbles and traditional Portuguese sweets (whose recipes are older than 100 years) create a timeless atmosphere. Taste the handmade cookies, cakes, tropical juices and imagine King Albert of Belgium doing the same (he was here in 1920). Try the small sandwiches, the shrimp pastry or the Norwegian codfish balls and imagine Queen Elizabeth of England walking in the these saloons (as it happened in 1968).
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday: 9.00 am to 8.00 pm
Saturdays and holidays: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
Confeitaria Colombo
Rua Gonçalves Dias 32, Centro (Rio de Janeiro)
Phone: +55 21 2505 1500
Email: contato@confeitariacolombo.com.br
Website: www.confeitariacolombo.com.br/site
A popular (and quite expensive) place to eat D.O.C. Italian pizza in Rio. Ingredients are authentic (olive oil included) and pizza makers really expert. You can see them throwing up the dough in the air and catching it in midair, with a very Italian ability. Of course pizzas are cooked in wood stoves. Prices can be disappointing for a westerner (a pizza costs about 25 €): that’s because in Brazil pizza is considered a sophisticated meal, with a lot of imported ingredients – and also because Capricciosa is a very trendy restaurant.
Capricciosa also does deliveries in Zona Sul and São Conrado (Monday to Saturday from 7.00 pm – Sunday from 6.00 pm).
Deliveries Zona Sul: +55 21 2527 2656
Deliveries São Conrado: +55 21 2494 2212
Capricciosa Ipanema
Rua Vinicius de Moraes 134, Rio de Janeiro
Phone 1: +55 21 2523 3394
Phone 2: +55 21 2523 1169
Capricciosa Copacabana
Rua Domingos Ferreira 187, Rio de Janeiro
Phone 1: +55 21 2255 2598
Phone 2: +55 21 2255 1626
Capricciosa Jardim Botânico
Rua Maria Angélica 37, Rio de Janeiro
Phone 1: +55 21 2527 2656
Phone 2: +55 21 2527 3283
www.capricciosa.com.br
Just in front of the beach of Urca, this is the sixth branch of the chain Boteco Belmonte, a very typical pub in Rio (the first Boteco Belmonte opened in 1952 in Flamengo). Brazilian meat, cold draft beer (chopp) and seafood appetizers are the specialities of this easygoing restaurant, ideal for lunch or just for a drink. If you like futebol, come here in weekends, when cariocas gather around the TV of the pub to support their team.
Boteco Belmonte Urca
Avenida Portugal 986, Urca
Phone: +55 21 2543-1268
Website: www.botecobelmonte.com.br
Contemporary cuisine, very pleasant veranda in the heart of Ipanema, design interiors: since 1998 Bazzar is a very popular restaurant among cariocas, especially on Sundays. The main courses are better than the appetizers and the tapas (try for example the delicious local lobster or the fish cevice). Desserts also are great (taste the cinnamon ice-cream with baked apples).
Inside the library Travessa there is another branch of Bazzar.
Opening Hours
Everyday from 12.00 pm to 1.00 am
Sunday: from 12.00 pm to 22.00 pm
Bazzar Restaurant
Rua Barão da Torre 538
Ipanema – Rio de Janeiro
Phone: +55 21 3202 2884
Website: www.bazzar.com.br
This is a restaurant for meat lovers with a great location (on Rio Bay) and some rules to follow. On your table you will sea a round card, one side green, the other red. Turn it green side up and the waiters will serve you cuts of roasted meats directly from the spit, according to Gaucho tradition. When you need a break (and you will need it, no doubt) turn your card red side up and try the big buffet offering salads, cheeses and Brazilian specialities. You can eat as much as you want, because the price is fixed (only drinks and desserts are extra). Don’t miss the unique panoramic terrace with a view of the Sugarloaf.
Fogo de Chão
Av. Repórter Nestor Moreira, s/n – Botafogo
Phone: +21 55 21-2279 7117
Sophisticated and always packed with people, this hip Japanese restaurant in the heart of Leblon has won several awards for its innovative cuisine. Among the specialities, try the Spice Red Tuna, the Crab Cake or the delicious Tempura. If you are lucky (and if you arrive before 8.00 pm), you can have a seat at the Sushi Bar inside or at a table outside. But be aware: the line can be very long.
Open
Monday to Friday: 12.00 pm to 4.00 pm & 7.00 pm to 2.00 am
Saturday: 12.00 pm to 2.00 am
Sunday: 1.00 pm to 12.00 am
Sushi Leblon
Rua Dias Ferreira 256, Leblon
Phone: +55 21 2512 7830
www.leblon.com