This lively samba club is housed in a beautiful old building that doubles as a storage warehouse for props and antiques used by the city's film industry. As a result, you will find yourself shaking a leg to a backdrop of mannequins, antique furniture and other relics from the past. Spread over three floors, revelers can chose to enjoy a meal from the restaurant, or just strut their stuff on the dance floor among bohemian locals and tourists alike. The club frequently hosts excellent live music, from samba to forro - check the website for listings. Always packed on weekends.
Rio has its fair share of excellent Italian restaurants. Fiorino on Avenida Heitor Beltrão in Barra da Tijuca is one fine example of this. Serving an authentic Italian feast made with the freshest ingredients available, the joint is associated with Bologna's prestigious organization Accademia Italiana Gastronomica. Housed within a romantic, old house in a residential neighborhood, Fiorino offers a delectable grub that is both visually and gastronomically appetizing. Needless to say, a visit here warrants a happy customer!
The prime location, relaxed ambiance and delicious bar snacks have combined to make Jobi one of the best-loved bars in Leblon. And you've no excuse not to visit the place – with opening hours that extend from 9am to 4am (5am at weekends), there's always a chance to fit in a drink here. The bar has been a favorite post-beach haunt since it opened in 1956, and its location in the lively nightlife strip of Baixo Leblon means Jobi remains packed right into the small hours. Many people rate the bar snacks here as the best in the city – don't miss the bolinhos do bacalhau (deep-fried cod and potato balls).
Its all about the little touches at the Zaza Bistro Tropical, located on the corner of Rua Prudente de Morais and Joana Angelica in a pretty villa that by night is one of the city's most welcoming restaurants. Candles light the collection of tables on the outdoors terrace, whilst the few indoor tables are festooned with rich, deep colors, all waited on by friendly staff. The food is as good as the setting too, with a small but well considered menu offering delicate fusion foods, taking the best of Thai, Indian, and even Jamaican food, often giving it a Brazilian twist. The fish is invariably excellent but if it's the cocktail menu that draws your attention, the Middle-Eastern inspired room upstairs laden with cushions allows you to recline on and ease into the evening.
This unpretentious bar in the heart of Lapa is a lifeline for hungry party-goers. Open 18 hours a day, seven days a week, the 100-year-old bar serves wonderful bar snacks such as crispy bolinhos do bacalhau (codfish balls) as well as hearty main meals. The lamb with brocolli rice and garlic has been named best bar dish in Rio by the Brazilian guidebook Guia Quatro Rodas and makes a perfect stomach-filler before a night out in the clubs and bars of Lapa. Head here at the start of the night for a tasty dinner, then do as the locals do and pop back in again at 4a for a sunrise beer and snack before making your way home.
Ipanema has been home to Casa da Feijoada since more than two decades now. Offering a sumptuous Cariocan fare, rich with fresh local ingredients and flavor, the restaurant is quite popular in the city. Apart from signature dishes like yuca and caldo de feijão, a variety of popular and obscure meats are on the offer. Sporting a cool, casual vibe, the Casa da Feijoada is great place to catch up with friends and savor yummy local delights.
Part of an American chain of restaurants, the Outback is an extremely popular place, with long queues at the door. Here you can enjoy "Aussie" style grilled steaks and onions, like the Prime Minister's Prime Rib and the Rockhampton Rib-Eye, with sundaes and cheesecake for dessert. Do not miss the couvert, with unforgettable whole wheat bread. All in wood with Australian motif, the Outback has the look of an Australian steak house from the fifties.
Nestled in Barra da Tijuca, Eclectico is a bar, restaurant and nightclub all in one. Food is a major point of focus at Eclectica, with a menu as diverse as the establishment's name suggests. Sit-down formal meals range from simple pizzas to risottos and some appetizing chicken, fish and meat dishes, and there's a good range of petiscos for those who just want a little something to soak up the effect of the house cocktails. Meanwhile, there's tapas to be found at Eclectico's new terrace annex bar. The musical emphasis is on fun, frivolous tunes, with regular 70s, 80s and 90s nights. If you're looking for an elegant, romantic night out this may not be your best bet, but locals flock here to eat, drink, sing and dance, making it a good spot to make new Brazilian friends.
Located amidst a quiet, sedate woods in Vargem Grande, Don Pascual is a charming place serving up delicious rustic Italian feast. Done up in whimsical, almost fairytale-like fashion, the restaurant is actually a part of a Bed and Breakfast with the same name. Often reserved for private events, Don Pascual is a delight, both, visually and gastronomically!