Entertainment in The North
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Av Pinheiro Machado
The corner of Avs Pinheiro Machado and Presidente Dutra is the epicenter of Porto Velho's nightlife. Three bars in row - Emporium, Estação do Porto and Buda's Bar - serve up beer, mixed drinks, and a cool, bohemian-ish atmosphere that draws a mixed-age crowd. Weekends are busiest, of course, and occasionally feature live music.
Further down Av Pinheiro Machado - to about Rua Goncalves - are several more small bars, restaurants and cafés, if you're looking for something bit mellower (or just a bite to eat).
reviewed
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Cine Líbero Luxardo
Belém had three art film houses at last count: Cine Olimpia and Cine Estação are the most convenient to the center. The former hosts international film festivals while the latter shows Brazilian and international art films on weekends. In the Centur complex, Cine Líbero Luxardo shows similar fare, usually for three- to seven-day runs.
reviewed
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Casa do Gilson
Frequently voted as having Belém’s best live music, to no one’s surprise. Opened in 1987, Gilson’s draws intellectuals and hipsters alike with first-rate samba, choro (improvised samba-like music) and other music, and terrific food and atmosphere to boot – don’t miss the patinha de carenguejo (crab cake). It’s between Ruas Nova and Tambés.
reviewed
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Orla Taumanan
Boa Vista's recently-refurbished waterfront, known as Orla Taumanan, has a handful of open-air beer gardens that fill up most weekend evenings and nights. While Orla Taumanan is well lit and a popular watering hole at night, the surrounding streets can be a bit seedy - be alert walking home, or just take a cab.
reviewed
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Riverbank Area
For something a bit edgier, the riverbank area by the Madeira-Mamoré train station has a slew of outdoor stands serving beer, and a couple of floating docks that double as bars. Saturday and Sunday nights has live music and dancing; things can get a bit seedy as the night wears on, so definitely be alert.
reviewed
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Laranjinha Bar
On the waterfront in Ponta Negra, Laranjinha is a good place to start out your night. You can order beer and burgers, and check out live music and dance shows, held most nights at the bar’s large outdoor stage. A small cover charge may be added to your bill if you’re there for the show.
reviewed
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Bohêmio Cervejaria
Cool, laid-back bar with dark wood tables and a huge bank of beer bottles as modern art against the back wall (pray for no earthquakes). There’s live music most nights – and a R$3 to R$4 cover when there is – varying from rock to pop to MPB (Música Popular Brasileira).
reviewed
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Cine Rio
Cine Rio is a one-screen theater located on the 2nd floor of Rio Shopping, a small mall on Av Carlos Gomes, between Rua Joaquim Nabuco and Av Brasília; at least five people are required to run the movie, and some nights a quorum is not to be had.
reviewed
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Spettus
For the quintessential Brazilian pastime of sitting around a plastic table with cold beers and hot munchies, head to this popular but low-key watering hole, tucked away in a mostly residential neighborhood, between Av Gov José Malcher and Rua Boaventura da Silva.
reviewed
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S69
Boa Vista’s most prominent gay club makes the most of its once-weekly schedule, with dancing and drinking until dawn. This is actually a GLS spot – gay, lesbiana, e simpatizante (gay, lesbian, and down straight people) – and foreigners are welcome.
reviewed
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Cervejaria Amazonas
As much as Brazilians love beer, it’s remarkably difficult to find a brew any darker than lemonade. This boutique brewery is an exception, with an amber and a dark (though not a true stout) among the five handcrafted beers brewed and served on the premises.
reviewed
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Ecko Lounge
You can pick your pleasure here – the main dancing area pulses with techno music, while the lounge area has acoustic music and a mellower vibe. Cover is R$40 most nights; the VIP pass is a pricey R$100, but includes open bar.
reviewed
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Mormaço
At the end of a pier overlooking the river, this open-air club is hard to find but worth the effort. Known by some as the Templo do Rock (Temple of Rock), it offers some of the best dancing in the city.
reviewed
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Bar do Armando
Near the opera house, this is a traditional rendezvous place for Manaus’s intellectual and bohemian types, but all sorts of people crowd around the outdoor tables for beers and conversation.
reviewed
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Transit
Transit caters to a young and somewhat less-moneyed crowd. There’s a lively open-air bar and dining area, and a stage for live music – from rock to bossa nova – Thursday to Sunday nights.
reviewed
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Cine Olimpia
For art-house fare, Cine Olimpia is the most convenient to the center. It shows Brazilian and international art films on weekends. It hosts international film festivals.
reviewed
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Cinema 1-2-3
For Hollywood flicks, try Cinema 1-2-3 located behind Iguatemi Shopping. Tickets are R$12 from Friday to Sunday, $10 Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and R$7 on Wednesday.
reviewed
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Bar do Parque
This outdoor bar is a popular spot for beers and people-watching. Prostitutes may approach male travelers here, but the area isn't intolerably seedy thanks to plenty of foot traffic.
reviewed
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Choparia São Marcos
On the noisy corner of Av Floriano Peixoto, this is another traditional bar recommended for chope and bolinhos de bacalhau (cod fish balls).
reviewed
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African Bar
Across from the state tourist office, this longtime club often stages samba groups on Saturday nights. Check the posters by the door for upcoming events.
reviewed
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Cine Estação
For art-house fare, Cine Estação is the most convenient to the center. It shows Brazilian and international art films on weekends.
reviewed
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Moviecom Cinemas
Moviecom Cinemas shows mostly Hollywood films at its top-floor location in Shopping Pátio Belém on Travessa Padre Eutíquio.
reviewed
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Cinépolis
Cinépolis is located at a megamall, with seven screens, including one for 3D films, and supercomfy stadium seating.
reviewed
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Purão do Alemão
Purão do Alemão, located on Estrada de Ponta Negra, is lively, safe bar frequented by tourists and locals alike.
reviewed
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Coração Blue
Coração Blue is good for dancing, with a different theme every night, including forró and ‘Tourist Night.’
reviewed
