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Braseiro da Gávea
In an area more commonly referred to as Baixo Gávea, Braseiro da Gávea is one of several bars in the area responsible for the local residents' chronic lack of sleep. A mixed crowd celebrates here most nights, with patrons spilling onto the facing Praça Santos Dumont.
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Bunker
Featuring big parties throughout the week, Bunker is one of Copacabana's big draws. Its three rooms have different music and you'll find an eclectic mix of Cariocas and tourists against the backdrop of hip-hop, acid jazz, rock, trance and deep house - among other selections. Weekends get crowded - come early and stake out a spot before the masses converge (around ).
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Buraco da Lacraia
This wicked place has entertained for over 12 years. You'll find glamorous and trashy visitors, bizarre drag shows, karaoke, a dark room and other attractions.
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Café Neves
Small but charming, Café Neves is one of Santa Teresa's gems. It faces out onto Largo das Neves, with the occasional tram rattling by in the early evening. The open-sided bar draws a vibrant mix as the weekend nears.
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Cais do Oriente
On the 2nd floor of this 1870s mansion in Centro, jazz, bossa nova and MPB groups perform throughout the year. Most shows happen on Friday or Saturday night; call or stop in to see what's on. Most shows start around . There's also a restaurant.
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Canecão
Near the Rio Sul Shopping, Canecão holds big-venue music concerts - rock, MPB, hip-hop - throughout the year. Tickets are available at Ticketronics outlets or at the Canecão box office (cash only).
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Carioca da Gema
Although it's now surrounded by clubs, Carioca da Gema was one of Lapa's pioneers when it opened in 2000. This small, warmly lit club still attracts some of the city's best samba bands, and you'll find a festive, mixed crowd filling the dance floor most nights. Current favorites are Monday and Friday.
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Caroline Café
A mix of couples and groups of friends out for the night (pre- or post-clubs) fills Caroline Café most nights of the week. The sexy young crowd milling around the tables inside and out makes this place a bit sceney at times.
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Casa da Cultura Laura Alvim
Facing the beach, the charming Laura Alvim cultural center screens foreign (of the non-Hollywood variety) and independent flicks. Its small screening room seats 72.
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Casa da Matriz
Artwork lines the walls of this avant-garde space in Botafogo. With numerous rooms to explore (lounge, screening room, dance floors) this old two-story mansion embodies the creative side of the Carioca spirit. Check the website for party listings.
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Casa França-Brasil
Housed in the Casa França-Brasil, this small 53-seat theater shows French films and an occasional independent classic.
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Casa Rosa
In the first decades of the 20th century, Casa Rosa was one of the city's most famous brothels in Rio's red-light area. Times have changed somewhat and today the demure Pink House is one of Rio's best nightspots. It has a large outdoor patio between several dance floors, where different bands play throughout the night. Saturday is the best night to go, though Casa Rosa's new Sunday roda de samba party also draws its fans - a good mix of Cariocas.
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Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil
Reopened in 1989, the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (CCBB) is housed in a beautifully restored 1906 building. It's one of Brazil's best cultural centers, with more than 120,000 visitors per month. Facilities include a cinema, two theaters and a permanent display of the evolution of currency in Brazil. CCBB hosts excellent exhibitions that are among the city's best. A recent display of African art garnered international attention.
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Centro Cultural Carioca
This handsomely restored 19th-century theater on Praça Tiradentes is a major contributor to the arts in downtown Rio. Its exposed brick walls and large wood-framed windows form the backdrop to superb musical groups (often samba) performing throughout the week, and also has dance recitals, book releases and ongoing exhibitions. A good option for those wanting to escape the Lapa crowds, the scene much more staid, which makes it a good choice for couples. They also teach dance classes here.
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Centro Cultural Laurinda Santos Lobo
The large mansion built in 1907 once served as a salon for artists from Brazil and abroad as socialite Laurinda Santos Lobo hosted her parties there. Villa-Lobos and Isadora Duncan among others attended. Today, the cultural center still plays an active role in the neighborhood by hosting exhibitions and open-air concerts throughout the year.
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Centro Cultural Oi Futuro
One of Rio's most visually exciting new additions is this modern arts center on the edge of Flamengo. With 2000 sq meters of exhibition space spread across six floors, the center features temporary multimedia installations that run the gamut between architecture and urban design to photo-journalism to pop art, to eye-catching video art. The top floor houses an auditorium where visitors can attend concerts and plays, or catch a documentary.
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Centro Cultural Telemar
One of Rio's intriguing new additions, Centro Cultural Telemar is a six-story ultra-modern exhibition space featuring multimedia installations focusing on architecture, urban design and video art. The top floor auditorium has a regular line-up of film screenings and concerts. The first floor functions as a library where visitors can peruse art books and design mags; a listening station features eclectic music.
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Champanharia Ovelha Negra
One of Rio's best happy-hour scenes, Ovelha Negra draws a mix of locals who come for the lively conversation and the 40 different varieties of champagne and prosecco (Italian sparkling white wine) - the specialties of the house. It's a tiny bar, opened in 2005, but with a classic boteco feel.
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Choperia Brazooka
A popular new addition to Lapa, this three-story beer house has lots of nooks and crannies where you can while away the night over ice-cold drafts and tasty finger foods. The 20- and 30-something crowd packs this place, so arrive early to score a table.
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Cine Lapa
In the heart of Lapa, this newly revamped space serves up a steady diet of punk, psychedelic, Brit pop and straight-up classic rock. Live bands sometimes take the stage, and the two-floor space also has a small cinema (seating 40), and plans for club events and art events throughout the year.
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Cine Santa Teresa
This small, single-screen theater (seating just 46) is nicely located on Largo do Guimarães. Befitting the art-loving hood, the cinema screens a selection of independent and Brazilian films.
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Circo Voador
In a curvilinear building behind the Arcos da Lapa, this brand-new theater hosts a wide range of music. The acoustics here are excellent, and after a show you'll find plenty of other musical options in the area. Check the website to see what's on. You can also take classes in capoeira (Afro-Brazilian martial arts), dance and yoga here.
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Citibank Hall
Rio's largest concert house tends to change names every few years, but continues to host top International and Brazilian bands. As well as music shows, Citibank Hall stages ballets, operas and an occasional circus. The Hall, which seats around 6000, is in the Via Parque Shopping Center in Barra. Purchase tickets through Ticketmaster.
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Clan Café
Set against the hillside of Corcovado, the unmarked door of Clan Café hides a large open-air patio covered with abundant greenery. Slow-paced waiters shuffle between the many tables as talented musicians fill the air with sound. Tuesday belongs to chorinho, while MPB rules on Wednesday, and jazz on Saturday. The music starts around .
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Club Six
Near the Arcos da Lapa, Club Six is a huge industrial space housing three dance floors, five bars and a number of spots for lounging scattered about the building. It's a top pick for dancing, with DJs spinning house, hip-hop, trance and MPB till daybreak.
