Rio Guide

Category: Nightlife

  • 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

  • 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

  • Jobi: Have a beer at a typical “boteco” in Leblon

    Jobi: Have a beer at a typical “boteco” in Leblon

    Another well known botequim in Leblon, opened in 1948 and very popular among carioca. Have a typical beer on tap (chop), finger food and mingle with locals after dinner. Among the appetizers we suggest fried cassava with jerked beef. Take your time, because unlike other boteco in the area, Jobi doesn’t have a closing time: they just go on until the last customer leaves the place (and in Rio it can be very late!).

    Jobi
    Avenida Ataúlfo de Paiva 1166, Leblon
    Phone: +55 21 2274 0574
    9.00 am until last customer

  • Bracarense: Have a drink at the most legendary “boteco” in town

    Bracarense: Have a drink at the most legendary “boteco” in town

    This tiny and very traditional boteco in Leblon is a mecca for Cariocas. Every day, after the beach, the bar is packed with people. If you are lucky, you can have a seat at one of the tables outside, or at the counter inside. If you don’t find place, don’t worry: people are drinking everywhere around. Easygoing atmosphere, waiters offering chope (cold beer on tap), delicious Brazilian appetizers: here are the ingredients of success. Opened in 1848, Braca (as it is nicknamed by Cariocas) has been listed as the best bar in Rio by The New York Times. Have a caipirinha or taste one of the traditional dumplings (with shrimps, cheese or meat). And don’t expect to leave the table sober.

    Open
    Monday to Friday: 8.00 am to 12.00 pm
    Saturday and weekdays: 9.00 am to 12.00 pm
    Sunday: 10.00 am to 10.00 pm

    Barcarense Rio de Janeiro
    Rua José Linhares 85, Leblon
    Phone: +55 21 2294 3549
    www.bracarense.com.br

  • Baretto Londra: Visit the most exclusive nightclub of Rio

    Baretto Londra: Visit the most exclusive nightclub of Rio

    Radio Londra is the nightclub of the expensive Hotel Fasano, in Ipanema, designed by Philippe Starck. Leather sofas, brick walls, a big Union Jack and dim lighting create a rock atmosphere, exclusive but intimate. This is the place to dress up, taste one of the award-winning cocktails, as the Sour Apple Martini, and dance until 2.00 am. If you come in weekends, especially after midnight, be ready to wait in line.

    Fasano Rio de Janeiro
    Open every day from 5.00 pm to 2.00 am
    Avenida Vieira Souto 80, Ipanema
    Phone: +55 21 3202 4000
    www.fasano.com.br

  • Bar Astor: Breathe the trendy atmosphere of Rio nightlife

    Bar Astor: Breathe the trendy atmosphere of Rio nightlife

    Directly from São Paulo, bohemiam cuisine, vintage atmosphere, fashionable people: Astor Cafe, in front of Ipanema beach, is the perfect place for a beer after the beach, a dinner or a caipirinha. Well known for its chopp (draught beer) and nice food, Astor is first of all a meeting point for wealthy cariocas. The terrace is often crowded, as the tables and the counter inside, where the atmosphere is sophisticated. The first Astor ever opened São Paulo.

    Opens
    From Monday to Wednesday: 16.00 am to 1.00 am
    Thursday: 16.00 pm to 2.00 am
    Friday and Saturday: 12.00 pm to 3.00 am
    Sunday: from 12.00 pm to 10.00 pm

    Astor Rio de Janeiro
    Av. Vieira Souto, 110 – Ipanema
    Phone: +55 21 2523 0085
    www.barastor.com.br

  • Rio Scenarium: Discover one of the 10 best nightclubs in the world

    Rio Scenarium: Discover one of the 10 best nightclubs in the world

    Listed by The Guardian among the 10 best nightclubs in the world, Rio Scenarium is the temple of samba music in Rio. Located in Lapa, this 3 floors period building holds an astonishing mix of vintage stuff: an old pharmacy dating back to 30s, ancient Chinese ceramics, seasoned barber chairs and plenty of freak objects. This living museum offers every weekend samba live music, DJ sets, good drinks, shows and also a restaurant (reservation needed). Rio Scenarium is closed during the week and is visited by about 2.000 people (locals and tourists) every weekend.

    Rio Scenarium
    Phone: +55 21 3147 9005
    Reservations: +55 21 3147 9000
    Rua do Lavradio, 20
    Website: www.rioscenarium.com.br

  • Copacabana Palace: Have a drink at the luxury swimming pool of this legendary hotel

    Copacabana Palace: Have a drink at the luxury swimming pool of this legendary hotel

    Copacabana Palace passed into legend as the first luxury Hotel in South America. With its 1920s white neo-classical façade, it opened in 1923, becoming soon after the temple of the roaring 20s in Rio, when gambling was legal in Brazil. Designed by the French architect Joseph Gire, it is now a very expensive hotel ideal for a drink. Take a caipirinha at the lavish bar of the swimming pool and think that before you a lot of celebrities did the same. For exemple Marilyn Monroe, Nelson Mandela, Madonna, Walt Disney, Rolling Stones, Rita Hayworth, Brigitte Bardot, Michael Jackson, Diana and Luciano Pavarotti.

    Copacabana Palace
    Avenida Atlântica 1702
    Phone: +55 21 2548 7070
    Phone USA: 800 237 1236
    Phone UK: 0845 077 2222
    Email: reservas@copacabanapalace.com.br
    www.copacabanapalace.com

  • Lapa at night: Spend a wild night watching samba and drinking caipirinha

    Lapa at night: Spend a wild night watching samba and drinking caipirinha

    Looking for a place to spend a wild weekend in Rio? Lapa could be the answer. Traditionally home to samba music, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night Lapa becomes the temple of nightlife. Crowded of people and full of music, is a must to be for young people. Have a drink at one of the many restaurants on the streets or dance in a nightclub until dawn (the best is Rio Scenarium).

  • Gávea 00: Dance in the trendiest disco in town

    Gávea 00: Dance in the trendiest disco in town

    Set in the Planetarium of Gávea, this is the cool place to be at night in Rio. Typically carioca, with a wide patio to hung out and a fascinating view of the Planetarium dome, Gávea 00 officially opens the crazy carioca weekend. With international DJs and a trendy restaurant and bar, this lounge is at its best from Thursday to Sunday night.

    Don’t forget an identity document and pick up your drink card at the entrance. As always in Rio, you will pay everything at the end.

    Gávea 00
    Avenida Padre Leonel Franca 240
    Gávea, Planetário
    Phone: 55 21 2540 8041
    www.00site.com.br