Entertainment in Rio De Janeiro
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Maracanã Football Stadium
For a quasi-psychedelic experience, go to a futebol match at Maracanã at Brazil’s temple to football (soccer). Matches here rate among the most exciting in the world, particularly during a championship game or when local rivals Flamengo, Vasco da Gama, Fluminense or Botafogo go head-to-head.
reviewed
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Baronneti
One of Ipanema’s few nightclubs, Baronneti has a sleek and trim interior with two dance floors. Given its prime Zona Sul location, you’ll find a young, well-heeled crowd here. Eclectic DJs and fruity cocktails keep the fans returning.
reviewed
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Academia da Cachaça
Along with traditional Brazilian cooking, this indoor-outdoor spot serves over 500 varieties of cachaça. For a treat (and/or a bad hangover), try the passion-fruit batida (cachaça and passion-fruit juice).
reviewed
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Londra
Rio’s glammiest bar is inside the newly opened Hotel Fasano, and offers a vision of decadence matched by few of the city’s nightspots. The cozy space, designed by Philippe Starck, has an enchantingly illuminated bar, leather armchairs and divans, and a DJ spinning a good mix of world electronica. As you might imagine, the crowd is pure A-list, the cocktails are pricey (R$15 to R$26), and unless you’re a model (or have one draped on your arm), prepare for a long wait at the door.
reviewed
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Sacadura
A new addition to Rio’s nightlife, Sacadura is located a few doors down from Trapiche Gamboa in an otherwise fairly deserted stretch of Gamboa. It offers a mix of Música Popular Brasileria (MPB), samba-rock and jazz in a big open venue with exposed masonry and dim lighting. Despite the loud rock pounding from onstage, the crowd was fairly staid when last we stopped by. It’s located north of Centro – take a taxi.
reviewed
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Banca Do Blues
A rather nondescript banca (newspaper stand) by day transforms into a serious jam fest for blues bands certain nights of the week. It’s a great street scene, with folding chairs, vendors selling beer and the clash of electronically amplified chords firing up the blues-loving crowd. The schedule changes, so call before making the trip. At the time of writing, bands were playing on Friday night, starting at about 7pm or 8pm.
reviewed
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Adega Flor de Coimbra
In the same building that was once the home of Brazilian painter Cândido Portinari, the Adega Flor de Coimbra has been a bohemian haunt since it opened in 1938. Back in its early days, leftists, artists and intellectuals drank copiously at the slim old bar looking out on Lapa. Today, it draws a mix of similar types, who drink wine and sangria with Adega’s tasty bolinhos de bacalhau (codfish croquettes) or feijoada.
reviewed
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Bar do Copa
Inside Copacabana’s most recognizable landmark, this poolside bar received a dramatic R$4million makeover in 2009, raising the stakes in the hotelier design game. The ceiling, with its 10,000 points of light, aims to mimic the night sky, while crystal chandeliers, glowing column-sized luminaries and gilded mosaics add a vaguely futuristic element to the spacious lounge. There are live bands and DJs; Palace guests get in free.
reviewed
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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, (romantic, intimate samba) while Música Popular Brasileria (MPB) rules on Wednesday, and jazz on Saturday. The music starts around 9pm.
reviewed
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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 (residents of Rio) 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 1am).
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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Lapa Capadócia
Watched over by an enormous statue of São Jorge (St George, an important saint/deity in the Afro-Brazilian pantheon), Lapa Capadócia offers a combination of live music, tasty appetizers and ever-flowing chope (draft beer) to small, chatty crowds. There’s an outdoor space in the back (that may eventually host a small creperie) and an upstairs, though overall the place feels small and intimate.
reviewed
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Clube Guanabara
Located on the edge of Guanabara Bay, this laid-back space provides a great setting for live samba and choro (romantic, intimate samba). Musicians gather around a few plastic tables, while young and old dance and mingle over tall bottles of Skol beer. Best of all is the pier at the end of the club, where you can take a break from the music and get an eyeful of the city coastline.
reviewed
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Jockey Club Brasileiro
One of the country’s loveliest racetracks, with a great view of the mountains and Corcovado, the Joquei Clube (Jockey Club) seats 35,000 and lies on the Gávea side of the lake. Tourists are welcome in the members’ area, which has a bar overlooking the track. Races are held on Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The big event is the Brazilian Grand Prix (the first Sunday in August).
reviewed
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Saturnino
Another newcomer to the scene, Saturnino was quick to become a neighborhood favorite. In a large room with high ceilings and touches of tropical decor, the stylish 20-something crowd mingles over chope (draft beer) and fruity cocktails (that could use a touch more alcohol). The open-sided patio in front is a particularly fine vantage point for people-watching.
reviewed
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Ponto da Bossa Nova
On a lively street sprinkled with bars, Ponto da Bossa Nova is a cozy wood-lined space with a small outdoor patio that makes a peaceful spot for sampling daily lunch specials (R$13 to R$17), appetizers like carne seca com aipim (jerked beef with fried cassava) and well-made caipirinhas. True to its name, there’s live bossa nova on Tuesday and Saturday nights.
reviewed
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Bar d’Hotel
The waves crashing on the shore are just part of the background of this texture-rich bar overlooking Ipanema beach. The narrow bar is like a magnet for the style set, who gather in the intimate space to enjoy tropical drinks to the backdrop of sea and ambient electronic music. The adjoining restaurant serves high-end fusion fare (mains around R$60).
reviewed
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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 ballet, opera and an occasional circus. The hall, which seats around 6000, is in the Via Parque Shopping Center in Barra. Purchase tickets through Ticketmaster.
reviewed
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Bracarense
Opened in 1948, Bracarense is a classic Carioca watering hole, famous for its simple, unpretentious ambience and its heavenly salgados (bar snacks). A steady stream of neighborhood regulars enjoys over 20 varieties of the snacks (try the aipim com camarão – cassava with shrimp) to the accompaniment of icy-cold chope.
reviewed
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Casa D’angelo
Opened in 1914, this low-key restaurant, café and bar is a Petrópolis institution, where regulars amble in for a cafezinho (coffee – short, black, strong and usually quite sweet) or a beer at all hours. It’s especially worth visiting on Saturday, when a tasty and inexpensive feijoada (black bean and pork stew) is served.
reviewed
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Parada da Lapa
In an annex next to Fundição Progresso, this multi-level bar and live-music venue has an upstairs open-air terrace with magical views of the Lapa arches. The stage inside hosts an eclectic line-up of live samba, MPB, jazz, rock and cabaret performances, plus football (soccer) matches broadcast on the big screen on Wednesday nights.
reviewed
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Nuth Lounge
This club (pronounced ‘Nooch’) is one of the city’s favorite dance spots, despite its location in Barra. Expect a friendly, well-dressed crowd grooving to DJs spinning electro-samba, house and hip-hop. There’s also a newer Nuth Club (Av Epitácio Pessoa 1244) in Lagoa that attracts much the same beautiful crowd.
reviewed
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Guapo Loco
This colorful Mexican restaurant and bar is one of Leblon’s livelier spots for the under-30 crowd. Things get rowdier as the night progresses, helped along no doubt by the wide variety of tequilas on hand. Guapo Loco also serves decent quesadillas, tacos and fajitas if hunger strikes after working the tiny dance floor.
reviewed
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Melt
The sinewy Melt club is one of those places that couldn’t possibly be anywhere but Leblon. Models and their admirers lie draped around the candlelit lounge, while wait staff glide between the tables delivering colorful cocktails. Upstairs, DJs break beats over the dance floor, occasionally accompanied by a few percussionists.
reviewed
