Must-see entertainment in Brazil

  • Bip Bip

    Rio de Janeiro

    For years Bip Bip has been one of the city's favorite spots to catch a live roda de samba (informal samba played around a table), despite it being just a…

  • Vila do Samba

    São Paulo

    A 'can't miss' stalwart in São Paulo's live samba scene, Vila do Samba – named as such due to its location inside a charming set of town-house villas – is…

  • Outro Calaf

    Brasília

    The city's top dance floor is everybody's favorite; the excellent live samba, pagode (popular samba), sertanejo and choro keep things pumping. Owner…

  • Teatro de Vermelhos

    Ilhabela

    This extraordinary 1100-seat theater in the jungle was inaugurated in 2016 as part of Ilhabela's new Centro Cultural Baía dos Vermelhos. It hosts the…

  • Espaço Gastronômico

    Alter do Chão

    There's always something worth seeing at this cool music-restaurant space at the east end of the waterfront promenade. There's live carimbó Saturday…

  • Jam no MAM

    Salvador

    Saturday-evening jazz and bossa nova at MAM is a must for music lovers. Go early to see the museum first and catch the views at sunset. Though the venue…

  • Casa do Gilson

    Belém

    Come here for Belém’s best live music. Opened in 1987, Gilson’s attracts crowds with first-rate samba, choro (improvised samba-like genre) and other music…

  • Barretto

    São Paulo

    Hands down one of the best places to see live music in the world, this intimate bar inside the Hotel Fasano recalls prewar Milan and attracts top jazz and…

  • Organ Concerts

    Minas Gerais

    Friday visitors should make a beeline for the glittering gold interior of Igreja Matriz de Santo Antônio for weekly live concerts performed on the church…

  • Bar Forró

    Espírito Santo

    This ever-popular forró-themed bar with its huge dance floor is the center of the action during New Year's, Carnaval and the Festival do Forró in July.

  • Balé Folclórico da Bahia

    Salvador

    The most astounding professional show is put on by this world-renowned folkloric ballet company.

  • Porão do Alemão

    Manaus

    This longtime bar and club features Brazilian and international rock and pop, and has a safe, lively scene popular with tourists and locals alike. There's…

  • Blue Note Rio

    Gávea, Jardim Botânico & Lagoa

    In 2017 the famed NYC jazz club opened this Rio outpost (Blue Note's first venture into South America) in an entertainment complex on the edge of Lagoa…

  • Pedra do Sal

    Rio de Janeiro

    The Monday- and Friday-night street parties here are major draws for lovers of samba, whether they're Brazilian or foreign, rich or poor. The lively samba…

  • Clube Manouche

    Gávea, Jardim Botânico & Lagoa

    Downstairs from the main restaurant in Casa Camolese, Clube Manouche is an intimate music bar designed in the tradition of West Village clubs in New York…

  • Clube do Choro

    Brasília

    A wildly mixed crowd of serious music aficionados – No talking! No standing! – descends on this locals' secret. You can walk here from the hotel sectors,…

  • Rio Scenarium

    Santa Teresa & Lapa

    One of the city's most photogenic nightspots, Rio Scenarium has three floors, each lavishly decorated with antiques. Balconies overlook the stage on the…

  • TribOz

    Santa Teresa & Lapa

    Not for lazy ears, this avant-garde jazz house known to the sonic cognoscenti is unique in Rio for its serious approach to performances. Run by an…

  • Beco das Garrafas

    Rio de Janeiro

    Come to this club to connect to a small part of Brazilian history – and a big part of musical lore. It was on this lane where Tom Jobim and other…

  • Rastapé Casa de Forró

    Natal

    Hugely popular with locals and visitors alike, this massive forró club has a faux abode facade that represents the humble houses of the interior of the…

  • Terça Negra

    Recife

    This great free night of Afro-Brazilian rhythms takes place in the picturesque Pátio de São Pedro two Tuesdays a month. The crowd in the plaza is…

  • Carioca da Gema

    Santa Teresa & Lapa

    Although it's now surrounded by other clubs, Carioca da Gema was one of Lapa's pioneers when it opened in 2000. This small, warmly lit club still attracts…

  • Maze Inn

    Flamengo & Around

    Also known as the 'Casa do Bob' after owner Bob Nadkarni, the once-a-month event here is well worth attending. It's set in the guesthouse of the same name…

  • Opera de Arame

    Curitiba

    Constructed from wire with a glass roof, this theater is among Curitiba’s most unusual and enigmatic landmarks. It is surrounded by the stone quarry park,…

  • Palácio das Artes

    Belo Horizonte

    Near the southern end of Parque Municipal, this arts complex with multiple performance spaces and galleries is the hub of Belo’s theater, dance and music…

  • Theatro Municipal

    São Paulo

    Operas, classical ballets and symphonic music are held in São Paulo’s most ornate theater.

  • Bolero at Sunset

    Brazil

    Almost every Brazilian tourist in João Pessoa heads to the north of the city to Cabodelo (10km from Tambaú) for sunset to see saxophonist Jurandy play…

  • Jockey Club Brasileiro

    Gávea, Jardim Botânico & Lagoa

    One of the country's loveliest racetracks, with a great view of the mountains and Corcovado, the Joquei Clube (Jockey Club) seats 35,000. It lies on the…

  • Renascença Clube

    Rio de Janeiro

    For an authentic slice of Rio, head to one of the massive open-air samba parties that happen several times a week in Andaraí. The setup is simple: a…

  • Beco do Rato

    Santa Teresa & Lapa

    One of Lapa's classic bohemian spots, this tiny bar in a battered part of the neighborhood has excellent live groups playing to a samba-loving crowd. The…

  • Paiol 08

    Santa Teresa & Lapa

    This multilevel bar and live-music venue has an upstairs terrace with great views of the old aqueduct. The stage inside hosts an eclectic lineup of DJs,…

  • Clube dos Democráticos

    Santa Teresa & Lapa

    Murals line the foyer of this 1867 mansion and rhythms filter down from above. Follow the sound up the marble staircase and out to a large table-filled…

  • Favela Hype

    Santa Teresa & Lapa

    Santa Teresa's best-loved clothing shop transforms into a neighborhood party space with live music several times a week. Come on Friday (8pm) for samba…

  • Arena de Pernambuco

    Recife

    This impressive 46,000-seat stadium built for the 2014 World Cup lies 20km west of the city center in São Lourenço da Mata. It is innovative for its green…

  • Terra Brasilis

    Rio de Janeiro

    Just beside Praia Vermelha, Terra Brasilis has gorgeous views of Pão de Açúcar looming overhead. Jazzy Música Popular Brasileira (MPB) bands play from…

  • Clube Finlândia

    Rio de Janeiro State

    Penedo’s Finnish community gathers for traditional Finnish letkiss and jenkkas dances at Clube Finlândia the first Saturday night of every month, and on…

  • Commons Studio Bar

    Salvador

    Rustic-chic, with state-of-the-art equipment, this cool venue is a relatively modern addition to Salvador's nightlife scene. Commons hosts up-and-coming…

  • Trapiche Gamboa

    Rio de Janeiro

    A charming live-samba joint, Trapiche Gamboa is set in a multistory colonial edifice in Gamboa (just north of Centro) and has a friendly, mixed crowd and…

  • Circo Voador

    Santa Teresa & Lapa

    In a curvilinear building behind the Arcos da Lapa, Circo Voador hosts big-name Brazilian and international artists. The acoustics here are excellent, and…

  • Sacrilégio

    Santa Teresa & Lapa

    A short stroll past the Arcos da Lapa you'll find Sacrilégio, a key spot for catching live samba bands in an intimate setting. The garden makes a fine…

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