Rio de Janeiro is an incredible tourist destination, famous for its breathtaking natural beauty and paradisiacal beaches.

But don´t be fooled into thinking that the many wonders of the city are limited  to the sunset at Arpoador.The city offers a vibrant night scene which rivals the best in the world.

And to help visitors to enjoy the most of it, Riotur selected some must-see places to visit at night.

Discover what Rio has best to offer at nightfall and make your journey even more unforgettable.

Click to download in PDF: Routes Cariocas – RIO NIGHTLIFE

DIAS FERREIRA STREET

If there´s one thing Cariocas like it´s casual tours, something light as meeting  friends , preferably somewhere you can go in slippers.

Dias Ferreira Street is an ideal place for those who got a tan in the beaches of the South Zone and look for something more casual to enjoy the night.Bars. restaurants and nightlife, the most beloved street in Leblon does not disappoint its visitors.

Location: Rua Dias Ferreira – Leblon

BOSQUE BAR

Bosque is a nightclub located in Jockey Club, thus the  aesthetics of nature with an exclusive view overlooking Jockey is part of the aesthetic of the bar/nightclub.

Upbeat music, drinks, DJ, good food and an ideal spot to take a picture with the Christ Redeemer in the background, building  the experience of being in Bosque Bar.

Location: Avenida Bartolomeu Mitre, 1314 – Gávea

LOW BOTAFOGO

In addition to a lot of options, Baixo Bota( Low Bota) introduces to its visitors a totally different experience. For  having a differentiated audience, the streets that make up Low Botafogo do not  require a dress code and include all kinds of audiences.

Besides bars and restaurants with excellent gastronomy, the pole is located close to Canastra Rosé, which is the ideal place to eat, drink and dance.

Location: Rua Voluntários da Pátria – Botafogo.

CASA COPA BACANA

Still on the Atlantica Avenue, is located Casa Copa Bacana one of the most fun  bars of Copacabana.

Copa Bacana offers Music, a dancing floor, food, beverages is what Copacabana has to offer.The bar was once frequented by distinguished visitors as Janis Joplin. Besides, it also offers a privileged view of the most famous beach of Rio and an elegant and charming decoration.

Location: Avenida Atlântica, 1910 – Copacabana

URCA’S WALL

Speaking of a beautiful and privileged view, it is not necessary to be inside a restaurant to appreciate the beauty of Rio.

Next to the mentioned districts, Leme and Copacabana, we have Urca.A beautiful neighborhood that has the most famous and popular Urca´s Wall.

The Wall is a great place to get together with friends,  get to know new people. and appreciate a beautiful sunset with a view to the summit of the Sugar Loaf at Guanabara Bay.

After the sunset, the night gets busy on the wall, with music in the bars that surrounds it and much fun. The Wall is the ideal place for those who are looking for a more casual location to  start the weekend or even celebrate a birthday..

Urca offers a lot of nightly excitement ,with several bars that surround it and many parties.

Location: Avenida João Luiz Alves S/N – Urca

LAPA

Next to Urca, the center of town is a synonym of movement for those who enjoy and would like to know the true Carioca Bohemia.

Lapa, famous for its beautiful and architectural arches, is a point for Cariocas on every weekend, and certainly one of the most lively places and full of bars in Rio.

Famous for its caipirinhas, Lapa is an accessible and a must-see destination in the city.

Location: Lapa – Center

ROOFTOP SELINA

One of the must-see places in the immensity of Lapa is the Selina´s Rooftop.

Music, charm, dance and drinks, the rooftop is perfect for those who are looking for a privileged view of the Arches of Lapa and an instagrammable place to take some pictures.

Selina is an excellent option for those who look for the ideal place to gather with friends to watch the sunset and start the evening with a lot of excitement. 

Location: Rua Visconde de Maranguape, 9 Center

CIRCO VOADOR

Still in Lapa, Circo Voador is one of the favorite places of the Cariocas. Besides being the stage for shows and parties, it also hosts activities aimed at education and culture. Its activities are one of the  many items that carry meaning for the neighborhood bohemia.

Next to the Circus, there is also Fundição Progresso, (Progresso Foundry), another popular music stage, besides a series of show houses, bars and restaurants.

Location: Rua dos Arcos, S/N – Lapa

PROGRESSO FOUNDERY

Behind Circo Voador is the famous Fundição Progresso, that just like the Circo, is a stage of popular music among Cariocas and the scenery of many bohemian nights of Lapa´s regulars. Fundição Progresso is famous especially for welcoming famous artists and implementing projects like the “ National Contest of Carnival Marches.”

Location: Rua dos Arcos, 24 until 50 – Lapa

RIO SCENARIUM

At the heart of downtown and next to Lapa we find Rio Scenarium restaurant.

Known for its eccentric decoration and unconventional structure, Rio Scenarium is also a historical heritage of the city and keeps in its vintage collection/decoration items that belong to one of the most famous families of Rio de Janeiro.

Besides its decoration and structure the restaurant communicates with carioca culture and every Saturday it serves an amazing Feijoada and a lot of Samba, besides events and shows that are posted in its website.

Location: Rua do Lavradio 20 –  Centro.

PRAINHA SQUARE

With the sculpture of the Afro-Brazilian dancer Mercedes Batista, blessing the bohemian souls, Prainha Square has become a point of the Cariocas.

Prainha Square, besides being a great place to sit down and gather with friends without formality, it has restaurants/ classic bars in the carioca weekend such as: Casa Porto, Bafo da Prainha, Dois de Fevereiro and Tendinha Club.

Location: Largo da Prainha – Saúde/Centro

SALT STONE 

We have the famous Pedra do Sal, Pagode, Samba and Funk, these music styles distributed in every corner, that mixes all carioca music diversities in one place.

After all, what is more carioca than diversity itself? Bars and food stalls and beverages make up Pedra do Sal, which is busier on Mondays.

Location: Rua Argemiro Bulcão – Saúde/Centro

G.R.E.S UNIDOS DA TIJUCA 

The Samba of Pedra do Sal is famous and acclaimed, but where else  to enjoy samba than in a Samba school? Very close, we have G.R.E.s.Tijuca, located in the district of Santo Cristo.

Grêmio Recreativo da Escola de Samba is the ideal place to know more about Samba and the history of the Samba school.

Location: Rua Rivadávia Correa, 60 – Gamboa.

G.R.E.S PARAÍSO DO TUIUTI

Leaving the South Zone we arrive in the famous district of São Cristovâo, which is responsible for

hosting Grêmio Recreativo Escola de Samba Paraíso do Tuiuti, a Samba School full of history of carioca carnivals.

The school which has a crown as its symbol, with a lyre on the top end, flaked by laurel branches from its base, is very lively and it is open to the public.

Location: Campo de São Cristovão, 33 – São Cristovão

SÃO CRISTÓVÃO FAIR 

Close to downtown and Tijuca beyond the mentioned samba school, São Cristovão has one of the most lively fairs of the city and is very close to G.R.E.S. Paraíso of Tuiuti.

Location: Campo de São Cristovão, 33 – São Cristovão

G.R.E.S ESTAÇÃO PRIMEIRA DE MANGUEIRA

Beside São Cristovão, the district of Mangueira has a samba school that was named in its honor. The Estação Primeira de Mangueira, or simply Mangueira, is famous for its colors: green and pink, and for being one of the most beloved schools of the carioca people.

Mangueira was the first school to create the composer´s wing, which included women, and the famous Brazilian composer, Cartola, was one of its founders. Nowadays, G.R E.E..S.can still be found in the district on which it was founded and is open to the public.

Location: Rua Visconde de Niterói, 1072 – Mangueira

G.R.E.S ACADÊMICOS DE SALGUEIRO

Still about the recreational units of the samba schools, in the district located next to Mangueira called Icaraí, we find the headquarters of the famous samba school G.R.ES. Acadêmicos do Salgueiro. The school was the first association to invite visual artists to manufacture its parades. In 1959, the couple of artists Dirceu and Marie Louise Nery were responsible for the school parade.

A escola nasceu na Tijuca mas hoje se encontra no Andaraí, e tais bairros fazem parte do complexo de bairros da Grande Tijuca.

Location: Rua Silva Teles, 104 – Andaraí 

SAMBA DO TRABALHADOR

Not only the samba schools cheer up this musical style, but also the street sambas, as the Samba do Trabalhador(Worker´s Samba) which is also located in the district of Andaraí,at the Renascenca Club, in an old stronghold of the black carioca movement.

This  place is special, it was founded at the end of the fifties as a place of fun and black statement and includes a lot of samba and pagode.

The club has a patio with a large Caramboleira( Star fruit tree) and many fruits that fall ripe from the tree for the delight of the public and samba dancers. Samba do Trabalhador occurs every Monday.

Location: Rua Barão de São Francisco ,54, – Andaraí

G.R.E.S UNIDOS DE VILA ISABEL  

Just as G.R.E.S. Estação Primeira de Mangueira, G.R.E.S of Vila Isabel was named from the name of its neighborhood. Nowadays  G.R.E.S. is open for all kinds of publics that wish to know a little more about its history..

Location: Boulevard 28 de Setembro, 382 – Vila Isabel

VARNHAGEM SQUARE

Following by the Grande Tijuca, we find the famous Varnhagen Square, that hosts several popular bars located in Tijuca such as Buxixo,, Só Kana, and Garota da Tijuca, that have become points for locals of Tijuca and is the ideal place to go with friends after a Maracanã football match.

The square, that is pure excitement and bustling, is marked by its closeness with the North Zone and the South Zone, and is the ideal place for meeting diverse people in one place.Bet on a casual outfit and get to know the region!

Location: Praça Varnhagem – Tijuca

LOW MÉIER

Next to the famous Tijuca we have Meier, an eccentric district and root Carioca. Who frequents the     gastronomic pole of low Meier will not be disappointed!

Location: Rua Tenente Cerqueira Leite – Meier

G.R.E.S PORTELA

Between Cachambi and Madureira, we find Owaldo Cruz district. Oswaldo Cruz has already been sung by singer Arlindo Cruz, and not just was the focus of a song but still is a very special district for cariocas, besides much history the district hosts Grêmio Recreativo da Escola de Samba da Portela.

Portela, whose colors are blue and white is the favorite school of many cariocas and is admired by many.When in Oswaldo Cruz, don´t miss the opportunity to visit and know more about the history of such a beautiful samba school.

Location: Rua Clara Nunes, 81 – Oswaldo Cruz.

G.R.E.S IMPÉRIO SERRANO

Talking about Arlindo Cruz and one of his most popular songs, we arrive in the neighborhood that was his greatest inspiration: Madureira. The district features a lot of bohemia and nightly activities, and is part of carioca culture in an unique and classic way.

Location: Avenida Edgard Romero, 114 – Madureira 

VIADUTO DE MADUREIRA

Talking about Arlindo Cruz and one of his most popular songs, we arrive in the neighborhood that was his greatest inspiration: Madureira. The district features a lot of bohemia and nightly activities, and is part of carioca culture in an unique and classic way.

Location: Viaduto Negrão de Lima – Madureira

CACIQUE DE RAMOS

As well as the above mentioned  Grande Tijuca , the North Zone is famous to split in sub-areas as well as Leopodina Zone, which gathers several districts and despite having the name of the neighboring district  is located in Olaria, where both make part of the Leopoldina Zone.

Cacique de Ramos emerged from the meeting of Carnival groupings of young people of the neighborhood of Ramos in the carioca North Zone. Cacique has helped great names of carioca samba to flourish , and highlight a new instrumentation such as: tantã, hand clapper and the banjo- and to consolidate the pagode of Cacique de Ramos as an intense hub of sociabilities.

Location: Rua Uranos, 1326 – Olaria

G.R.E.S IMPERATRIZ LEOPOLDINENSE

Still  in the Leopoldina Zone, at this time in Ramos, the champion of Rio Carnival 2023 is based in this neighborhood and bears in its name the characteristic and the pride of the sub-area of the North Zone of Rio .

Don’t lose the opportunity to know the history of Imperatriz Leopoldinense in its headquarters, and celebrate and sing the samba lyrics of the school!

Location:  Rua Professor Lacé, 235 – Ramos

G.R.E.S MOCIDADE INDEPENDENTE DE PADRE MIGUEL

Leaving the North Zone, we arrive in the West Zone, famous for its night activities and much fun.Next to Marechal Hermes we have the district of Padre Miguel.

Padre Miguel is a passionate district and its residents never think about leaving it. Besides being an excellent district, where everyone knows each other, it is also the headquarters of Grêmio Recreativo da Escola de Samba Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel, or just Mocidade, as it is popularly known.

Location:  Avenida Brasil, 31146 – Padre Miguel 

UPTOWN – PRODUCERS MARKET 

During the day it is just a shopping mall like any other, some stores, restaurants and the  food plaza. But at sunset it becomes a point for the residents of the West Zone.

Shopping Uptown offers customers a comfortable and simple  experience. and the music cheers up people who  meet just to have a chat or eat and drink. 

Location: Avenida Ayrton Senna, 5500 – Barra da Tijuca 

ESPAÇO HALL

Still on Ayrton Senna avenue, the biggest party of Rio de Janeiro, Espaço Hall is a very famous showhouse.

It runs every day of the weekend,  but only on Saturdays occurs the Planet party! 

Location: Avenida Ayrton Senna, 5850 – Barra da Tijuca

RUA OLEGÁRIO MACIEL

Olega (popularly named by its visitors), is ideal after the beach for those who choose to enjoy the day on the  beaches of the West Zone. The best days to enjoy Olgário: Fridays and Saturdays , the perfect place for an after beach or before a party.

Location: Rua Olegário Maciel – Barra da Tijuca

NIGHTCLUBS STREET

Beyond Olegario , its visitors usually mark their presence in one of the most popular nightclubs of Rio de Janeiro, which are located a few steps away from Olegario itself.

All in, Vitrinni, Lalu Lounge and Close are not to be missed carioca nightclubs and always create an indescribable experience for its clients, presenting  shows and special  attractions.

Location: Rua Olegário Maciel – Barra da Tijuca

SALINAS ARTE E SAL

After Barra da Tijuca, following Lucio Costa avenue, in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, Salinas restaurant is an exceptional place which reflects the beach characteristics of the district.

The restaurant has a beautiful view of Praia do Recreio and is lively, with music,, food and quality  beverages, besides having an exclusive space dancing area on the second floor. In front of Salinas, there are kiosks as Clássico Beach Club, that are just a few steps away and offer the same experience for its customers.

Location: Avenida Lucio Costa, 16580 – Recreio dos Bandeirantes.