Guidebook for Rio de Janeiro
Food Scene
Pizzaria Famiglia Volpato - Forno a Lenha
69 R. Pereira de SiqueiraExcellent pizza. Delivery only.
Picturesque setting near the Rio Zoo, and the National Museum (former imperial palace) All on the grounds of beautiful park (which could use some maintenance!) About 20 min. to park entrance.
38 locals recommend
Restaurante Quinta da Boa Vista
Picturesque setting near the Rio Zoo, and the National Museum (former imperial palace) All on the grounds of beautiful park (which could use some maintenance!) About 20 min. to park entrance.
Praça Varnhagen
MANY restaurants on and near this square. Lots of movement on weekends.
Great roast heart of palm and a refreshingly different menu based on German culinary.
47 locals recommend
Otto Bar e Restaurante
380 Rua Conde de BonfimGreat roast heart of palm and a refreshingly different menu based on German culinary.
China Town
13 R. Afonso PenaDecent Chinese food.
Good Lunch Buffet (Weigh and Pay) by day and has a Pizza "rodizio" (all you can eat) at night.
10 locals recommend
Da vinci Restaurante
210 R. São Francisco XavierGood Lunch Buffet (Weigh and Pay) by day and has a Pizza "rodizio" (all you can eat) at night.
La Mole - Tijuca
74/78 R. Marquês de Valençapseudo-Italian restaurante. Decent quality.
A tipical "Chopperia" restaurant. Nice atmosphere. Also good for watching football/soccer.
7 locals recommend
Restaurante Caçador Praça Afonso Pena
33 R. Martins PenaA tipical "Chopperia" restaurant. Nice atmosphere. Also good for watching football/soccer.
Sindicato Do Chopp
Another "Chopperia" (draft beer house). Good menu.
Conversa Fora na Brasa
59 R. Campos SalesChopperia near the metro station.
VERY good lunchtime buffet, by kilo. Not the cheapest, but you will be satisfied.
restaurante fazenda urbana
VERY good lunchtime buffet, by kilo. Not the cheapest, but you will be satisfied.
Brasa Gourmet
881 R. Mariz e BarrosBuffet by Kilo, open for dinner too. Excellent BBQ meat.
Cantina e Pizzaria Del Otto
EXCELLENT thin-crust pizza. Very good Italian menu.
Restaurante Turino
114 R. Santa SofíaVERY good Italian restaurant.
Everything Else
End/beginning of Metro line 1. Not closest to us, but the square it is on has many shops and services. Good to stop there on the way out or in if you need something.
22 locals recommend
Saens Peña
Rua Conde de BonfimEnd/beginning of Metro line 1. Not closest to us, but the square it is on has many shops and services. Good to stop there on the way out or in if you need something.
Novo Rio Bus Terminal station
1 Av. Francisco BicalhoRio bus station.
Domestic Airport Santos Dumont (SDU). Although much closer than the international airport, can take longer to get to in AM traffic.
293 locals recommend
Rio de Janeiro Airport RJ Santos Dumont
s/n Praça Sen. Salgado FilhoDomestic Airport Santos Dumont (SDU). Although much closer than the international airport, can take longer to get to in AM traffic.
RIOgaleão - Tom Jobim International Airport
s/nº Av. Vinte de JaneiroOfficiall called Praça Castilhos França, It's known as Praça Afonso Pena, with a Metro station. Seasonal fairs here and a nice place for a stroll.
Praça Castilhos França
Officiall called Praça Castilhos França, It's known as Praça Afonso Pena, with a Metro station. Seasonal fairs here and a nice place for a stroll.
Praça Carlos Paolera
Closest Metro station to us. About 5-10 min walking.
Arts & Culture
Maracanã
Portão 3 Av. Pres. Castelo BrancoDrinks & Nightlife
Bar do Adão Tijuca
130 R. dos ArtistasProbably the best "pasteis" (similar to empanadas) in Rio.
Benditho Bar
47 R. Baltazar LisboaGreat selection of craft beers from Brazil and the world. good bar food too.
Bar dos Chicos
119A R. Gen. Canabarro"Chopperia" restaurant. Some other "Botecos" nearby.
Bar do Costa
150 R. Tôrres HomemThis is a very lively corner in Vila Isabel, with restaurants and bars on each corner!
Shopping
Tijuca Shopping Mall. Not my favorite place, but has a wide variety of shops/restaurants/services. Also a cinema.
Via Uno
987 Av. MaracanãTijuca Shopping Mall. Not my favorite place, but has a wide variety of shops/restaurants/services. Also a cinema.
The square which also has a metro station is surrounded by every time of shop imaginable.
Praça Saenz Peña
Praça Saenz PeñaThe square which also has a metro station is surrounded by every time of shop imaginable.
Shopping Tijuca
987 Av. MaracanãMassive shopping mall with food court, cinemas and more.
Essentials
probably the cheapest around. only cash and debit though. don't go at rush hour!
264 locals recommend
Mundial
71 Rua Siqueira Camposprobably the cheapest around. only cash and debit though. don't go at rush hour!
Supermarket for fresh suit and produce. Excellent quality. Also has a juice/snack/salad bar inside.
454 locals recommend
Hortifruti
281 Av. Prado JúniorSupermarket for fresh suit and produce. Excellent quality. Also has a juice/snack/salad bar inside.
Another branch of Mundial, which tends to be MUCH busier than the Conde de Bonfim store. But, it is near the metro station.
145 locals recommend
Supermercados Mundial
192/194 R. RiachueloAnother branch of Mundial, which tends to be MUCH busier than the Conde de Bonfim store. But, it is near the metro station.
Confeitaria Rita de Cássia
28 Rua Conde de BonfimNice Bakery
Big supermarket with reasonable prices, and they accept credit cards. Not too close for lugging back your groceries! Can walk/bus there and taxi back though.
69 locals recommend
Supermercados Guanabara
520 R. MaxwellBig supermarket with reasonable prices, and they accept credit cards. Not too close for lugging back your groceries! Can walk/bus there and taxi back though.
Sightseeing
The Carnival Stadium. Metro stations Praça 11 or Central are the closest, depending on which side seats you have (odd or even numbered)
272 locals recommend
Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí
Rua Marquês de SapucaíThe Carnival Stadium. Metro stations Praça 11 or Central are the closest, depending on which side seats you have (odd or even numbered)
The entrance to the Floresta da Tijuca (Tijuca Forest) Park is at this square, which is about 30 by bus from the Praça Saens Peña (where the metro line ends). A GREAT place for hikes, picnics etc.
Praça Afonso Viseu
The entrance to the Floresta da Tijuca (Tijuca Forest) Park is at this square, which is about 30 by bus from the Praça Saens Peña (where the metro line ends). A GREAT place for hikes, picnics etc.
Probably the reason you come to Rio! The 422 city bus near us goes to the incline railway station in about 30 min.
1936 locals recommend
Christ the Redeemer
Probably the reason you come to Rio! The 422 city bus near us goes to the incline railway station in about 30 min.
Site of the Sunday hippie-fair, a Metro station and near the Arpoador beach. About 40 min by metro.
9 locals recommend
Praça Gen. Osório
Site of the Sunday hippie-fair, a Metro station and near the Arpoador beach. About 40 min by metro.
The bohemian/artsy district. Worth a visit. No direct public transport. Must take 2 buses or 1 metro and 1 bus.
42 locals recommend
Largo do Guimarães
s/n R. Alm. AlexandrinoThe bohemian/artsy district. Worth a visit. No direct public transport. Must take 2 buses or 1 metro and 1 bus.
Unidos de Vila Isabel
382 Boulevard 28 de SetembroVila Isabel Samba School
Estacio de Sa
206-208 Av. Salvador de SáEstácio Samba school
Shed Unidos da Tijuca
60 R. Rivadávia CorrêaUnidos da Tijuca Samba School
GRES Academic Willow
104 R. Silva TélesSalgueiro Samba School
Barra Beach. Probably one of the best in the city, but traffic to/from can be a nightmare. Good news is there is a bus from nearby us to there.
504 locals recommend
Barra da Tijuca Beach
Barra Beach. Probably one of the best in the city, but traffic to/from can be a nightmare. Good news is there is a bus from nearby us to there.
"City of Samba" where many of the Samba Schoold have workshops for building the famous carnival floats. Other activities happen around carnival time.
36 locals recommend
Samba City
60 R. Rivadávia Corrêa"City of Samba" where many of the Samba Schoold have workshops for building the famous carnival floats. Other activities happen around carnival time.
Quinta da Boa Vista
s/n Av. Pedro IIFormer palace of Emperor Dom Pedro II, and its gardens.