Must see nightlife in Rio de Janeiro

Top Choice

Run by a trio of Frenchmen, Canastra has become one of the top nightlife destinations in Ipanema. Most nights, the crowd spills out onto the streets, and…

Top Choice

A great spot for a sundowner, Palaphita Kitch is an open-air, thatched-roof wonderland with rustic bamboo furniture, flickering tiki torches and a…

Tucked away on an otherwise quiet backstreet, Bar 1928 specializes in cocktails and superior bar food. The street-side veranda gets packed early on…

A gorgeous multilevel garden with fairy lights is the centerpiece of this charming cocktail bar. Beautifully conceived cocktails (around R$30) showcase…

This excellent family-run cafe provides true ‘farm to cup’ service. Several kinds of coffee (all grown on the family farm in Minas Gerais) are roasted on…

CoLAB is one of Botafogo’s increasing number of lively bar/restaurants attracting a predominantly young crowd with a combination of international cuisine,…

This excellent little coffee shop, hidden down an alleyway off bustling Largo do Machado, is well worth searching out. The expert staff – including a…

A pillar of Rio's growing microbrew-loving community, Brewteco has nearly two dozen taps featuring unique craft beers – nearly all of which are from Rio…

This stylish bar with outdoor seating has lovely views over the city (looking north). You can enjoy decadent cocktails (including a caipirinha made with…

Not visiting São Paulo? No problem. One of Sampa's best bars has now become a mainstay of post-beach revelry on prime real estate along the Ipanema…

Located in the heart of Ipanema, this supremely stylish cocktail bar and restaurant, complete with swanky rooftop terrace, feels like it has been plucked…

WineHouse is a stylish yet unpretentious wine bar – a welcome break from Rio’s traditionally expensive and starchy wine-drinking scene. A blackboard lists…

Helping to lead Rio's craft-beer revolution, Hocus Pocus opened this beer hall in 2016 to provide its fans with easy access to its brews. There are over a…

This creative space is equal parts bar, art gallery and independent bookseller (and indie publishing house). There’s always something afoot in the…

Although cachaça has a sordid reputation in some parts, at this bar the fiery liquor is given the respect it (nearly) deserves. Along with dishes of…

For an authentic samba experience, head to this simple, brightly lit, tile-covered eating and drinking den. You'll find a samba de roda (table with samba…

This much-loved neighborhood bar and restaurant has a marvelous setting near Urca’s bayside waterfront. At night, young and old crowd along the seaside…

You'll find one of Rio's most glam bars here inside the Hotel Fasano, offering a vision of decadence matched by few of the city's night spots. The…

One of the classic botecos in Rio, Belmonte is a vision of Rio from the '50s. Globe lights hang overhead as patrons down ice-cold drafts from the narrow…

Overlooking leafy Largo do Machado, Adega Portugália has an ideal location for enjoying a bit of open-air drinking and eating in an untouristy corner of…