Clubbing

Bukowski Club

Also good on Sat
Approach index: 5
Entrance: R$40
Get there at: 9pm
Ages 25 to 50
Dress rock
A real phenomenon: packs whenever they open and stays packed till late! One of the few rock and roll bars in Rio with many ambiances (3 bars, 3 dance floors) and DJs playing at the same time. Perfect for singles!
R. Álvaro Ramos, 270 – Botafogo www.barbukowski.com.br

Teatro Odisseia

Good on weekends
Approach index: 4
Entrance: Over R$30
Get there at: 10pm
Ages 20 to 35
Dress casual
A favorite music show hall in Lapa, with top Brazilian MPB and rock artists performing regularly. The place always packs, adding to the experience. Ages 20 to 38 | Approach index: 4 | Get there at: 9pm | Dress casual. Rua Mem de Sa 66, Lapa | Also good on Thu-Sat

Street Party

Lapa

Also good on Sat
Approach index: 3
Entrance: Free
Get there at: 9pm
Ages 25 to 65
Dress casual
Lapa is great any day of the week, specially on Fridays and Saturdays: you have a choice of over 12 bars and areas to hang out at, most of them with live Brazilian music. A definite must.
Anywhere in the Lapa neighborhood

Arco do Teles

Also good on Wed-Fri
Approach index: 4
Entrance: Free
Get there at: 6pm
Ages 30 to 50
Dress casual
A series of happy-hour bars filled with downtown’s “what-a-day-I-need-a-drink” crowd. Be sure to check out the live pagode at “Kamikase”…free!
Arco do Teles, Centro

Live Music

Lapa 40 Graus

Also good Wed to Sat
Approach index: 5
Entrance: Over R$30
Get there at: 8pm
Ages 25 to 40
Dress nice
One of the best places in Lapa: 5 floors. The first floor has a botequim with live music and a pool hall, the second a lounge, the third another pool hall and the fourth a large dance floor and stage featuring Rio´s top names in Samba and other sounds. Amazing! Lots of dancing. Come early and stay till the wee hours. Rua do Riachuelo 97, Lapa | www.lapa40graus.com.br

Circo Voador

Good on weekends
Approach index: 5
Entrance: Varies
Get there at: 9pm
Ages 20 to 50
Dress nice
One of the best and largest concert venues in Rio, fitting roughly 10k hip music lovers. Manages to get big Brazilian artists almost every night! Check the line up on their site.
Lapa www.circovoador.com.br

Chilling

Canastra Wine bar

Also good Tue to Sat
Approach index: 5
Entrance: free
Get there at: 7pm
Ages 27 to 45
Dress nice
A bar that had everything going against it: The french owners chose a former bike-repair shop in the darkest, dingiest part of Ipanema to open a wine bar for the hipster crowd. Usually a recipe for failure. But no! And thank God, cause their food is incredibly delicious, affordable, and they pack every night they open! C’est incroyable!
Rua Jangadeiros 42, Ipanema

Botequim Belmonte do Leblon

Good all week
Approach index: 5
Entrance: Free
Get there at: 7pm
Ages 20 to 50
Dress nice
A large chain of botequims with exceptional draught beer, Spanish tapas, Brazilian bar food and Rio’s best pastel de camarao (shrimp turn-overs). Lot’s of fun at any time of the day, every day. Look for a crowd on Rua Dias Ferreira in Leblon