Casa de Arte e Cultura Julieta de Serpa

Class, beauty, elegance and art at Julieta de Serpa

What else could you want in such a beautiful setting
The neoclassical mansion houses a tearoom, a dining room, a bistro and a club featuring jazz and bossa nova.
Here you can have the loveliest afternoon tea, in grand style
Take your granddaughter to an experience she won´t forget, nor would your friends.
Later join the husbands in the elegant bar
Lunch Tues-Sun noon-4pm; dinner Tues-Sat 7pm-midnight. Afternoon tea Tues-Sun 4-7pm

Praia de Botafogo 340
Flamengo
Tel: 2551-1278

Brazilian Jocquei Club

Our favorite activity on a Monday night is to go to the races
Though races happen four times a week, it is really special to sit in the stands, cheering your horse on, while the night slowly falls and the lights come on over the city.
It only costs R$1 to get in, almost the cheapest entertainment in town (guess you could always go to the beach instead and not pay anything)
You can bet anything from $.50 upward and how exciting it is to go and collect, even if it is only one or two reais.
The food in the restaurant is very good
The building, build in 1926, is of a Luis XV style and will remind you of days past. It is beautiful.
You can get there on any bus that says `Via Jardim Botânico´ or you can park practically in front of the main gate and an old gentleman, who has been for over 25 years, will take care of your car.
NO SHORTS ALLOWED

Praça Santos Dumont, Gavea

Trail to Primata Waterfall

A great alternative to a crowded beach, like on summer´s Sunday

A bit of effort required, but not that much, a hike of about 30 min. will get you there

Make sure you have a bathing suit under your shorts for the water is lovely and cool and clear

On the way you will see plenty of butterflies or this little fellow

As usual, leave your valuables at home and do not proclaim your status as a tourist

From the Av. Jardim Botânico, turn right up Lopes Quintas, turn left on rua visconde Itaúne, then first right, then first left, and rua Sara Vilela to the end.

If the trail turns out to be a bit tougher than expected, when you get back to the car, turn it to the right on Pacheco Leão and have a nice cold beer at the Bar da Graça, Rua Pacheco Leão 780

Braz

I was not going to include Braz here because it is already well known, it may even be in tourist guides
But it is well loved by cariocas as well for its excellent pizza,
the waiting room out front around the tree (where beer is also served)
the pretty garden out back
and in particular, the excellent chopp with a creamy head.
For those of you beer drinkers, who are not used to enjoying a wide white band on top of your draft, I suggest you give it a try. Well worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There may be quite a wait unless you get there before 9pm

Rua Maria Angélica 129
Jardim Botânico
TEL: 2535-0687

Gilson Martins

Gilson Martins is a well-known designer of handbags.
Most of his handbags have a Rio design.
Not only can you find something nice for yourself but possibly also something for a friend at home like the little bag I like to use when going to nightclubs. It perfectly fits some money, a credit card, lipstick and cigarettes.

Volleyball on the beach

Should you want to feel like a real carioca, come and play volleyball on the beach.
Pelé has sessions every week-day morning, starting at 7am. If you just want a pick-up game rather than a practice session, just show up before 9am.

Ipanema, in front of rua Garcia D´Avila, tel: 9702-5794

Arpoador -

Arpoador is a neighborhood between Ipanema e Copacabana.
The rocks are a favorite place for fishermen and lovers of the sunset.Where else can you see people cheering when the sun dips into the ocean?
Have a caipirinha with us and cheer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today I went there around 11am for a walk on the rocks and much to my surprise found out that the corner of the beach is a gathering point for elderly people. This being Rio of course men had on sungas and the ladies bikinis. I felt very comfortable there. And they were chit-chatting a mile a minute. In Brazilian that is called ^jogando conversa fora^, throwing away chit-chat. It was really nice to see, after all, who wants to see old people in a nursing home?

There you will also find the Devil´s beach (Praia do Diabo). It is a very good surfing beach.

Trail up Pedra Bonita and hang gliding

If you have driven to Barra, or along São Conrado, you will probably have seen the hang gliders floating along beneath the blue sky. Well, they jump from high up a mountain surrounded by the Tijuca Forest.
Anyone can do it, as you will be accompanied by expert flyers.
From the parking lot for the hang gliding a 1250 m. trail leads up the Pedra Bonita.
For the hike you need stamina, but it is well worth the effort. Make sure to take some water.
The view is spectacular.
The location is a bit difficult to find. Once in São Conrado, keep to the right following signs for Estrada do Joá, right onto Gabriel Garcia Moreno. The access to the parking lot will be a sharp turn to the left after a good 10 minutes.
There is a nice look-out on the way.

Parque Penhasco Dois Irmãos

Many places in Rio provide lovely vistas but are outside the usual tourist trek.
This park is located at the end of Leblon and provides a lovely view over the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, Ipanema and Leblon beaches, all the way to Copacabana.
Access it by car (or a long walk) up the Rua Igarapava, which in turn starts on Rua Visconde de Albuquerque, which runs along the canal

Castelo da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz

The central building of the Fundação Osvaldo Cruz, the Pavilhão Mourisco, is the only neo-moorish building still existing in Rio. The construction started in 1904 on orders of Oswaldo Cruz, a very well known physician, bacteriologist and epidemiologist.
Oswaldo Cruz implemented obligatory vaccins for children against smallpox and many other important measures.
The park is lovely and in it there is a wonderful museum (Museu da Vida).
Good place to visit with children

Who could imagine such a lovely place right on Av. Brasil 4365?

Majórica

Super tradicional Churrascaria (a restaurant where the main dish is based on :churrasco:, anything prepared on an open grill), founded in 1962

You can choose your own piece of beef, pork or fish and request it cooked to your liking.

It will be perfection.

The building dates from the beginning of the 20th century.

The waiters too have been around for a while. The service is attentive and friendly.

R. Senador Vergueiro, 11 Flamengo
2205-6820

Prainha

Where can you eat a grilled fish while sitting in your bathing suit right by the ocean?

Only at the Prainha, and of course they have a lot more tempting offerings, this just happens to be my favorite. The Prainha is a fairly small beach, about 1 hour south-west of Rio, well worth the time spent in the car. Just don’t attempt it on the week-end in the summer, the time may triple and you’ll have to park your car about 2 miles from that wonderful grilled fish.

One end of the beach is very popular with surfers but mostly the sea is calm and family-friendly.

To get there point your car in direction Barra, go either thru the tunnel or the Av. Niemeyer. After passing thru Sao Conrado, you will go thru another tunnel after which you should follow the signs which say Praia and that will take you to the beach. Follow the beach all the way to the end and keep on going.

Largo do Boticário

A charming reminder of Old Rio.

The Rio Carioca flows alongside a little square, surrounded by homes which were built in a neocolonial style, in the twenties with……….. retrieved from homes in the center of Rio which were being destroyed to give way to high rises and businesses.

The Rio Carioca is the reason inhabitants of Rio are called Cariocas. In those days the river provided the city with clear waters (no longer so unfortunately). The Tamoyo Indians believed that a bath in the river would increase a women’s beauty and the virility of a man.

One of the houses has a musharabi, much used in Arab countries, a fanciful stonework which hid the women looking out of the windows. Although quite popular in Spain and Portugal at the time, they were forbidden in Brazil by the King Jo’ao VI, because he was afraid of assassins.

Mistura Carioca

Many of the night spots in Lapa (the center for night spots in Rio) are getting bigger and bigger and more popular and louder.

Not so with Mistura Carioca, at least for now. It an intimate place, with a small stage for the very accomplished musicians who play a wonderful SAMBA. Your feet will positively start moving on their own volition.

The service is good and there is plenty of room on the second floor if you just want to relax and listen to the music. And just look at the great smile on the doorman above.

Rua Gomes Freire, 791,

21 2221-6833

Cafe Colombo

A Victorian tearoom and restaurant that has been open since 1894. It's the perfect place to kick back with some coffee and pastries after touring Centro or taking your lady friend/s for a lovely lunch.

For a few years now Café Colombo has an offspring in Copacabana, right by the ocean in the military fort. It provides a lovely view over Copacabana Beach and the Sugarloaf.

Rua Gonçalves Dias, 32
Centro

Manolo

Simple and good
Ask for a chopp half and half (meio meio)
Rua Bambina at the corner with Marques de Olinda
From there you can easily get to Laranjeiras by going up the hill, where there is a lovely view over the Sugarloaf

Eva Klabin Foundation

The Eva Klabin Foundation is one of the most attractive and least known little museums for classical art.
It can only be visited with a guide, which are available Wednesday thru Sunday from 2:30 to 4pm.

The collection, which is one of the most important in Brazil, is comprised of over 1000 pieces from all four continents and spanning over 50 centuries.

It also has a small room in which classical music is performed. There will be performances every Thursday in November, at 8:30pm. The fee is R$35.00 and a tour of the museum is included at 7pm.
Make sure to call to reserve your seat as seating is limited.

Av. Epitácio Pessoa, 2.480 – Lagoa – cep 22471-001
Telefone: 21 3202-8550

Toca do Baiacu

A very democratic place......all drunks welcome

The beer is good and you can sit on one of the busiest commercial streets of Old Rio.

They used to have a custom of ringing a bell each time a pretty girl walked by. This custom was abandoned several years ago when neighboring establishments complained that women were no longer walking past, either they did not want the attention or else were afraid the bell would not ring.

Ask for Michael when you go, you'll get special service, especially if you buy him a beer.

Rua do Ouvidor almost at the corner with 1 de março

The Lagoa mascot

Have you seen him? His name is Humbert

Friend and protector

A great success, not only because he is a sweetie but, standard poodles are practically non-existent in Rio

Talk to him, tell him you've seen him here and you will win a prize

Most easily seen in January and February

Museu Casa do Pontal

Charming museum a bit out of town but well worth the trip, especially when combined with a visit to "Prainha"

The collection includes about 5000 pieces of folk art representing all aspects of life, mostly from rural Brazil

Collected, and donated to the city, by Jacques van Beuque, who lived in Brazil for many years

Estrada do Pontal, 3295 Recreio dos Bandeirantes .

Open from Tuesday thru Sundays, 9:30am to 5pm, R$8 per adult (2007)

***And if you are 18 or older make sure not to miss the little hidden room of erotic art. It is great fun.

Quick Galeto

The best galeto (spring chicken) in the city
Only R$8.90 (2007) for the simple dish, of course, though the fries are also delicious
Open since 1972
It sells an average of 500 galetos a day (they must be doing something right, right?)

Rua Duvivier 25, Copacabana

Bar Luiz

The best chopp in Rio

The longest coil - 55m (did you know that the longer the coil the creamier the foam?)

One of the oldest bars in the center of town, built in 1887 by the son of swiss immigrants

Open from noon until the last guest departs

The menu consists of German food like Kassler Ripchen, sausages, potato salad etc.

Rua da Carioca 39

Or else go to the modern offspring where the beer is also delicious and the foam creamy

Right in front of the Copacabana Palace

You can see the world go by and enjoy the breeze from the ocean

Caçula

A traditional arts and crafts store in the center of Rio. anything you can imagine for crafts you will find here.
Worth a visit just to look

• Glass beads, yarn for crochet or knitting, paints, mosaics, woods etc
• Supplies of traditional carnaval products
• Craft lessons mornings and afternoons
  
  Rua Buenos Aires 255 - Centro
• 21 3861-9028

Adega Pérola

A casual and charming place

About 100 diferent savory tidbits, mainly seafood

Secret recipes brought from the Madeira Islands

Very cold beer to relieve your thirst

Open since 1961

Open Mondays thru Saturdays from 10am thru midnight

Rua Siqueira Campos, 138 Copacabana - Zona Sul - 2255-9425

Credit cards accepted (AMEX excepted)

And don't forget a last sip for the road - how about pinguinha mineira? (firewater from Minas Gerais)

Arco do Teles

The Arco do Teles is an arch which used to be part of three luxury homes. The whole complex was built in 1755 and most of it was destroyed by fire in 1790
Behind the arch is a picturesque alley (Travessa do Comercio) with buildings dating from the 19th century.

In the evenings (from 5pm) onwards it becomes a great big outdoor happy hour where office workers gather for a few chopp (local beer) and a chat before heading home.

Arcos da Lapa

• The Carioca Aqueduct, known as Arcos da Lapa, was built in 1726 (?) to bring water to the city of Rio from the Carioca River, which can still be seen in the "Largo do Boticario".


• In the 1980s it was converted into a bridge to carry the streetcar up to Santa Tereza, now known as neighborhood where artists live and work


• It is considered the greatest architectural achievement of Brasil in the colonial period.


• At night it is a hopping area, a great place for people to hang out. There are numerous bars and happenings. There is also the Circo Voador, a venue for shows