Links
There's a huge wealth of information on Brazil and Rio de Janeiro out there on the web--if you know where to look. So here we present an ever-growing list of the absolute best of Brazil and Rio.
First, let's get the business out of the way:
Visas -
Consulate General of Brazil in Washington
Consulate General of Brazil in Houston
Consulate General of Brazil in Los Angeles
Consulate General of Brazil in Miami
Consulate General of Brazil in New York
Consulate General of Brazil in San Francisco
Consulate General of Brazil in Chicago
Now that that's over, let's take a look at some fun stuff. Some of these are not "links" in the sense that they have a website you can visit, but they're places you should definitely not miss while you're in Rio.
Restaurants -
Giuseppe Grill - Our personal favorite steakhouse in Rio, and voted "Best Meat in Rio," by Veja magazine 2008. They have fantastic steaks at very reasonable prices and a great wine selection. Plates start around R$40 reals per person and include the main dish and one side item of your choice. They have a location in Centro (Rua da Quitanda 49), but it closes around 6pm. Your best bet is to head to the Leblon location at Avenida Bartolomeu Mitre 370, where they're open quite late. While you're in Rio, you've definitely got to check this place out.
Giuseppe Cucina - The sister restaurant of Giuseppe Grill above, this house's specialty is fantastic Italian. They also have both Centro and Leblon locations, with similar hours of operation. In Centro, head to Rua Sete de Setembro 65, or in Leblon, Avenida Ataulfo de Paiva 630.
Porcão - No list would be complete without this hugely popular churrascaria. Simply put, if you haven't been to Porcão, you need to go. A huge buffet of salads and seafoods, with waiters delivering a variety of delicious meats right to your table on skewers, this place is what Brazilian barbeque is really all about. There's an Ipanema location at Rua Barão de Torre 218, but if you want to do it right, head to Porcão Rios at Avenida Infante Dom Henrique, S/N, Aterro do Flamengo. This particular location was voted one of the "1000 Places To See Before You Die," and for good reason. The view of Sugar Loaf mountain here is absolutely spectacular. This restaurant is also consistently voted best in it's class.
Carretão - This is another churrascaria, similar to Porcão, but not as upscale. The buffet is not nearly as large, but the meat is fantastic, and the price can't be beat. At the Ipanema location (Rua Visconde de Pirajá 112), prices are R$32.90 Monday thru Friday, and R$38.90 weekends and holidays. In Copacabana (Rua Siqueira Campos 23), prices are R$31.90 Monday thru Friday, and R$35.90 weekends and holidays.
Entertainment -
Lapa - What is Lapa? It's Rio de Janeiro's bar/nightclub/entertainment district. Sure, there are tons of individual establishments all over Rio, but you won't find such a high concentration packed into the same area like you will here. There are rock clubs, hip-hop clubs, blues bars, samba bars... There's something here for every taste. It's downtown, the Centro area. Best bet for first timers is to take a taxi there. If you've been around a bit, you might get by on the metro. Be aware, though, as there are pick pockets walking around Lapa looking for tourists to "bump into." Play it smart and you'll be fine here.
Rio Scenarium - One of our favorite clubs in Lapa, Rio Scenarium is decorated with eccentric antiques, reflecting the part of the district's history. There's live music on the first floor--one band starting around 7 or 8pm, and another band taking the stage at 10. Samba is usually the music of choice. The second floor and third floors are cut away allowing for a view of the stage and dance floor down below. The food here is outstanding and very reasonably priced, so a good plan is to get there around 7 or so and have dinner, then stay later for the dancing. Weekends are the best time to be there, but it can get quite packed after 11pm or so when the disco area opens up. A good mix of Brazilians can always be found here, with older folks tending to get there early, and give way to the younger crowd as the night goes on.
Worldwide Services & Friends -