Rio’s nightlife is legendary with Copacabana and Leblon playing host to beach bars that churn out music and mojitos all night long. The drinking establishments along Avenida Atlantica are perfect for nursing a drink and watching on the truly incredible assortment of people that stalk up and down Copacabana in the dark hours. There are free concerts held on the sands of Copacabana and Ipanema, and in Botafogo during the summer months when samba sounds laced with rock and pop can be heard - check the local press for details.
Speaking of samba, if you want to see a show performed by professionals then head for the many samba schools that put on performances during the week or a local gafieiras (samba hall). One of the more spectacular shows is Beija Flor (telephone 21 791 1353) that takes place at 10pm half way up Sugarloaf Mountain. The entrance fee is relatively pricey at R$70 but it does include dinner and a show performed against the backdrop of an incredible view.
Alternatively, mingling with the laid-back locals is another favourite occupation and the numerous bars and clubs scattered about Lapa stay open until all hours. Bear in mind that if you are a single lady or a group of men then you may have difficulty getting into certain venues and taking taxi’s between bars and clubs is advised.
You tend to pay an entry fee when you arrive at a club (R$23 upwards) and are then given a card that your drinks are recorded on and you pay the total at the end of the night. Do not lose your card otherwise you will have to pay a sum that is far more than you would have drunk. There is also usually a minimum consumption of R$23-35 on top of this. The music is a hybrid of Brazilian and European pop unless you specifically head to a dance music venue, but then you may not care if the rum is starting to flow through your blood…
Check out Caderno B (an entertainment pull-out section that comes with the Jornaldo Brasil) or O Globo for details about Rio’s nightlife.
Clubs in Rio include:
El Turf
Opposite Jardim Botanico, Praca Santos Dumont, 31
Opening hours - 9pm to late (but no one arrives before 11pm)
Where the smart set hang out. Dress appropriately and party the night away with Brazil’s most beautiful.
00 (Zero Zero)
Avenida Patre Leonel Franca 240, Gavea
Telephone - 2540 8041
Half conservatory, half enclosed club, this highly fashionable venue is the place to shimmy away with cool young cariocas.
Baronetti
Rua Barao da Torre 354, Ipanema
Telephone - 2247 0351
This cavernous club can be found underneath the stylish and upmarket bar upstairs with American house DJ’s forcing you to tap those toes.
Bunker 94
Rua Raul Pompeia 94, Copacabana
Telephone - 2521 0367
With three rooms and two dance floors, there’s no excuse for sitting out the eclectic tunes that bounce around the walls including 80s rock, R&B and Brazilian pop.
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