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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
Salvador
The most astounding professional show is put on by this world-renowned folkloric ballet company.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
São Paulo
Operas, classical ballets and symphonic music are held in São Paulo’s most ornate theater.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…