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