Rio de Janeiro
By Vagner Luiz
Contents PLACES TO EAT.....................................4 5 great restaurants..............................4 Olympe.................................................5 Eleven Rio ............................................5 Sushi Leblon.........................................7 Quitéria................................................8 Org Bistrô...........................................10 5 cheap restaurants in Rio de Janeiro...11 Harad.................................................12
Fundição Progresso............................19 Mud Bug.............................................20 021.....................................................20 Bar Bukowski......................................21 Boteco Belmont..................................22 Palaphita............................................22 Blá Blá Champanheria.........................23
IMPORTANT WORDS AND PHRASES IN PORTUGUESE......................................24
Refeitório Orgânico.............................13 La Fiducia...........................................14
NEXT CITIES.......................................25
Espeto Brasileiro.................................15
Ilha Grande.........................................26
Bar Brasil............................................16
Búzios................................................30
PLACES TO GO....................................17
Teresópolis.........................................34
Rio Scenarium.....................................18
Paraty.................................................38
Lapa 40 Graus.....................................18
Author.............................................43
Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
R
io de Janeiro is a big and beautiful city. However, since Rio is so big, a person can easily get lost and confused when planning a trip. This Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide will help you, offering tips about places to eat, places to go and other important advice. Ultimately, this Travel Guide will assist you in planning— and executing—the best possible trip to Rio. So, let’s make a list of the best things to do in this wonderful city.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
PLACES TO EAT 5 great restaurants The first part of this Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide is a survey of 5 great restaurants in Rio de Janeiro. Here you will find information about places to eat, including some details about meal prices and particulars about the menu.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
• Olympe Olympe has a French kitchen and offers vegetarian food. The dishes are a mix of French cuisine with typical Brazilian food like manioc and scarlet eggplant. Lunch will cost you between US$46.00 and US$55.00. At Olympe for dinner, expect prices to start aroundUS$120.00 and go up to approximately US$200.00. These price points are for three or four dishes.
• Eleven Rio Eleven Rio is one of the 5 great restaurants in Rio de Janeiro, inspired by European cuisine, mainly from Portugal, and merging that cuisine with Brazilian food. This place, located in Lagoa, is a sophisticated restaurant and the prices across the menu range between US$30.00 and US$120.00.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
• Sushi Leblon As the name implies, this restaurant specializes in Japanese cuisine and it is one of the best places in Rio de Janeiro to get this kind of cuisine. Prices for entrees here are between US$10.00 and US$15.00; the price for a combo plate range from US$30.00, with 17 pieces, to US$170.00for 92 pieces. Sushi Leblon also offers some specialties, like the tuna with foie gras and the spicy red tuna.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
• QuitÊria This restaurant is in Ipanema, located inside the Hotel Ipanema Inn. They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner and serve up dishes that blend Brazilian cuisine with Mediterranean and Asian influences. The couvert costs approximately US$5.00, and entrees range from US$10.00 to US$15.00. Main courses range from US$20.00 to US$25.00 and desserts come in around US$8.00.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
• Org Bistrô The specialty of this restaurant is health food. They work with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes, all of which are created with typical Brazilian foods. Prices range between US$15.00 and US$20.00.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
5 cheap restaurants in Rio de Janeiro Ok, Rio de Janeiro is not a cheap city, but a visitor can find good options to eat at a reasonable price. The first tip for finding this kind of place is to stay away from the tourist sites, like Copacabana Beach. However, to make your life easier, we have compiled a list of 5 cheap restaurants in Rio de Janeiro—but don’t worry: they are also good.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
• Harad This restaurant serves Arabian food and it is located in Botafogo. At Harad you can find dishes for right around US$8.00, and some smaller snacks, such as kibbeh and Arabian sweets, which cost about only US$1.50.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
• Refeitório Orgânico This place is not well known, even among the people who live in Rio de Janeiro, but it is an amazing place to eat. This restaurant is also located in Botafogo and it’s a vegetarian place, with a variety of foods. Prices run between US$2.50 and US$6.00.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
• La Fiducia La Fiducia is an Italian restaurant located in Copacabana. It is one of the best places to eat in Rio de Janeiro with really fair prices. They also have a coffee house, so you can go there just to relax at the start or end of the day. Prices are between US$2.50 and US$10.00.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
• Espeto Brasileiro If you want to eat typical Brazilian food, you have to visit this place. They serve up recipes like feijoada and a delicious mixed grill. This place is also in Copacabana and you’ll pay between US$2.50 and US$20.00.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
• Bar Brasil This place is in Lapa and it is inspired by German cuisine, with a good kassler and many options of sausages. However, you can also find meats, chicken, and of course, a cold beer. The prices for these dishes range between US$10.00 and US$25.00 for two people, or you order from the special menu and pay between US$25.00 and US$40.00.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
PLACES TO GO
N
ow that you know some excellent places to eat, I think a traveler would also want to know about the fun part of Rio de Janeiro. The next section of the Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide includes list of the top 10 bars and nightclubs. First, you need to know that the best nightlife in Rio de Janeiro is in Lapa and not in Copacabana or Ipanema. Just go to Mem de Så Street and choose a bar there or just drink in the street. Now, let’s survey the top 10 bars and nightclubs in Rio de Janeiro!
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
• Rio Scenarium In this place you will see the best of Rio. It’s in Lapa and you will no doubt dance (or at least try) some samba, Brazil’s iconic dance form.
• Lapa 40 Graus In this place, you can try to dance some samba, and note that it’s cheaper than Rio Scenarium. Some of the city’s best samba dancers do their thing here, and depending on the day, you can take some instructional classes too.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
• Fundição Progresso Fundição Progresso is also located in Lapa and they offer samba concerts, so it’s absolutely a place that you have to include on your list of places to go in Rio. You can sit on the balcony and take in a wonderful view of Lapa too.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
• Mud Bug Mud Bug is a sports bar next to the Copacabana Palace. You can dance there, but you can also sit and eat something if you want. The atmosphere is more relaxed and they have DJ and live music. However, if you don’t arrive early enough, you will wait in a long line.
• 021 021 is a nightclub located at Barra da Tijuca. This place is always full, and they play many different kinds of music. On Sundays, the kitchen makes feijoada and the bar serves caipirinhas, a signature Brazilian cocktail made of rum, limes and sugar.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
• Bar Bukowski This rock bar, located in Botafogo, is one of the best places to go in Rio de Janeiro. Inside there are different atmospheres and you can go just for happy hour or to enjoy the whole night. The prices are good and they mix delicious drinks.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
• Boteco Belmont This bar, near the Botanical Garden, has cold beer and a varied menu. This is not a nightclub, but instead the perfect spot to drink a beer, eat something and relax with some friends.
• Palaphita Another place to go is the Palaphita, which has locations in both Gávea andLagoa. On a normal day, it is free to enter, but when they have parties, you have to buy a ticket to get in. The drinks there are not too cheap, so plan ahead.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
• Blá Blá Champanheria Also located at Barra da Tijuca, Blá Blá Champanheria has a sophisticated atmosphere and at the same time it’s informal and relaxed. You can drink the best champagnes here or get other kinds of drinks, eat good food and of course, dance.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
IMPORTANT WORDS AND PHRASES IN PORTUGUESE Obrigado Por favor Com licença/Desculpe Desculpe Me ajuda Sim Não Bom dia Boa tarde Boa noite Quanto custa? Como posso ir para esse lugar? Ônibus Rodoviária Praia Vocês têm quarto disponível? Esse ônibus está indo para … ? Muito caro Onde fica o toilet? O que é isso? Não falo português Eu não entendo Você pode escrever isso? Como se fala … em português? Delegacia Que horas são? Estou perdido Água Comida Café da manhã
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Thank you Please Excuse me Sorry Help me Yes No Good morning Good afternoon Good night How much is it? How can I go to this place? Bus Bus Station Beach Do you have any available room? Is this bus going to … ? Too expensive Where is the restroom? What is this? I cannot speak Portuguese I do not understand Can you write it down? How do you say ... in Portuguese? Police station What time is it? I am lost Water Food Breakfast
Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
R
NEXT CITIES
io de Janeiro is beautiful, but if you have time to go to nearby cities, your trip will be even better. You can visit the mountain cities or go to some other beaches. We selected four cities to talk about here, and if you can get to any of them, you will not regret it.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
1. Ilha Grande In this part of this Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide, I will talk about Ilha Grande, an island 125 km, or about 1 hour and 30 minutes away from Rio de Janeiro. This island is in Green Coast, and it earned this name because of the nature surrounding it and the color of the water there, which is, naturally, green. This island has over 100 beaches, some of which you can only get to by boat. Others you can get to by trail, and some you simply can’t get to at all.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
The Lopes Mendes Beach is considered the most beautiful beach in Brazil and it is in the top 10 of the world, so you must see it. You can get there via a taxi boat or by trail (be aware that by trail it will take 2 hours and 30 minutes). The prices for the boat trip are between US$15.00 and US$50.00, depending on how many beaches you want to see and how long your trip is.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
Papagaio Peak
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
Papagaio Peak View
You can go to Ilha Grande just to see nature and relax, or you can go to scuba dive. To scuba dive, you will spend about US$40.00 to see coral and marine life, or you can go further down to view shipwrecks up close. If you don’t want to dive, but you still do want to see marine life, you can rent a diving mask and snorkel at the beach or in the city center. Alternatively, you can do other types of sports, like stand-up
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
paddle boarding, go to the Papagaio Peak, if you like trekking. One way is about 3 hours and it is indeed a difficult hike. Or, go see the Feiticeira Waterfall, which is a 1 hour and 30 minutes hike and while it’s easier than the Papagaio Peak, it is not easy. In the center, located at Abraão Beach, you can go to the Museum and the Cultural Center and they also have nightlife. It is here that you can get access to all of the boat trips. This is the more structured part of Ilha Grande, with restaurants and many hotels. So if you want a structured place to stay, stay in the Abraão Village, but if you want to stay in a quieter place, go to other parts of the island, such as Palma Beach, where there are only two restaurants and a few guesthouses. You can get to Ilha Grande two ways. One is getting a bus to Mangaratiba and then taking a boat to Ilha Grande. Or you can get a bus to Angra dos Reis and get the boat there. Going by Angra dos Reis is faster, because the boat takes only 50 minutes (going by Mangaratiba takes 1 hour and 40 minutes). Both buses are available at the Rio bus station and many buses leave the city each day. If you hire a car in Rio de Janeiro, you can leave it parked in Mangaratiba or Angra dos Reis.
2. Búzios Búzios, a city located in the Lake Region, is approximately 190 km away from Rio de Janeiro. This city is maybe the most famous city outside of the capital. It has wonderful beaches and good lodging and places to eat. In Búzios, travelers can visit 11 beaches and go to Arraial do Cabo, a nearby city. There you can take a boat trip, and with luck see whales and dolphins, as well as go to the Blue Grotto. Back to the Búzios beaches: the quieter one is Azeda and Azedinha, which looks like a village frozen in time, with calm water and without
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
the noise of the city. There are no restaurants or bars there, just some people selling things, like water and soda. Still, this place is near the center city, which you can reach in just about 20 minutes via a beautiful walk across the beachfront. Travelers can get there by boat taxi too, which you board in the city center or at JoĂŁo Fernandes beach.
João Fernandes is a fancy beach, so the prices there are little higher than other places and you only can get there by car or boat taxi. This beach is more well developed than Azeda and Azedinha, and here you’ll find many restaurants and bars, and you can even do some standup paddle boarding in that calm water.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
If you want a more bustling beach scene, you have to go to Geribรก. If you visit there, be sure and head to the Fishbone, a bar with a DJ at sunset and a place for big parties in the high season. Basically, you can enjoy the beach during the day and then enjoy the bar in the evening. In Geribรก, you will enjoy people watching, and you can surf at this beach, too. In fact, the beach is so big in Geribรก that people can play organized games in the sand, like football.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
If you want to instead run away from the crowded beaches, you can to go to Praia do Forno, which is not usually on the tourist route. Even in the high season, one can find an empty spot. You only can get there by car, but it’s easy to park there. Of course, pack some things to eat and drink, because you won’t find many options for food there, and the beach is far from the city center.
The nightlife in Búzios is on the Rua das Pedras (Stone Street), and there you will find bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. If you want, you can just walk through the street, window shopping and people watching.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
There are many places to stay in this region, too. You can get to Búzios by bus or by car. If you want to go by bus, you have to get the bus at the bus station in Rio. Don’t worry—many buses run each day and it only takes about 2 hours to get there. If you want to go by car, you have to take the Via Lagos route, which has only one highway toll which will cost you approximately US$5.00.
3. Teresópolis Rio de Janeiro is not only a beach town—it has some good mountain destinations as well, like Teresópolis, our third city in this Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide. Teresópolis is a quiet city and a nice place for couples — and for people that likes adventure. However, this can also be a good place for children, since many hotels offer activities for kids. This is also a good place for couples, because it is a romantic city, especially during the winter. You can enjoy a good wine, eat great food, and relax in front of a fireplace in the charming restaurants and hotels in the city. Now, if you are looking for some adventure, this is the right place for you. In Teresópolis you will find the Parque Nacional Serra dos Órgãos (National Park Of The Organ Mountains), where you can do some hiking, anywhere from one to two hours up to a full week depending on the circuit. On the week-long hike, you will cross two cities: Petrópolis and Teresópolis. If you want to see nature or go to a park, but if you’re not into long hikes and want more to relax, the park is also nice. There are natural pools, waterfalls and small trails, like a suspended track, where you walk at the height of treetops. It is very secure, and even kids and people with mobility problems can do it. Alternatively, you can go see the museum about park history.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
Teresópolis is also a good place for shopping. The city offers a great Handicraft Market, and you can find clothes, artisan crafts and many good foods. If you like drinking beer, you can go to the Saint Gallen Village. It’s a German village where you can enjoy typical German food, pubs and the Therezópolis brewery.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
Travelers get to Teresópolis by car or by bus. If you are going by car, you can stop to look at the Dedo de Deus peak (God’s finger peak), which is the featured postcard of the region, and you can see the view of Guanabara Bay. To go by car take roads BR040 and BR116, and expect to spend approximately US$3.50 in highway tolls. It’s about 100 km total, but because of the mountains, this trip can take a little longer.
If you want to go by bus, you can get the bus at the bus station. There is a morning and evening departure and it is a 2-hour trip. However, if you go by bus, you will not be able to stop in the Mirante do Soberbo, the place that I mentioned above, which is where you view the Dedo de Deus peak and take in a broad view of Rio de Janeiro.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
The different places in Teresópolis are not close together and contrary to the cities discussed above, it’s not easy to get from one place to other; thus, the best way to get around Teresópolis is by car. Note, too, that the best place to stay is not in the city center.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
4. Paraty Near Ilha Grande, Paraty is the fourth city of this Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide. It’s easy to get to, since it’s not an island and either bus or go car will work. Paraty is a small, historical city that gives you the feeling that time has stopped, with its historical houses and street stones.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
In Paraty, you can visit beaches and waterfalls, and get to know the natural beauty of the green coast. The beaches are not close, so the best way to visit them is by taking a boat trip around the region, which means you can visit some islands too. They offer many kinds of boat trips and you can choose what’s best for you. Paraty has approximately six waterfalls, but people usually like to go to the Tobogã waterfall, where there is a toboggan in the rocks, promising many adventures. If you are not going to Paraty by car, you can hire a transfer to go to the waterfalls, or you can rent a bike if you want.
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
Next to Paraty, it is the Trindade Village, a kind of hippie village with younger people. You can get there by bus or car if you want to walk in the village. However, if you just want to see the beaches. you can go by boat. This is a good place to go, and the outdoor environment there is wonderful. If you like adventure, you can do some scuba diving in Paraty, and you can hike, climb trees and even do a zip line. You can also rent a diving mask and just snorkel to see marine life. In fact, some boat trips offer that activity—just ask before taking the boat. In August, Paraty has the Festival da Cachaça, a festival surrounding this typical alcoholic drink. At the festival, you can drink different types of cachaça (believe me, there are a lot of varieties, like banana cachaça, honey cachaça and coconut cachaça) and choose the one you like best. You can also eat different types of food (mostly typical Brazilian foods) and see or dance samba, take in concerts and dances and in general have a lot of fun.
Photo by Ricardo Gaspar
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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
Photo by Ricardo Gaspar
You probably will stay in the Historic Center, which is the only part of the city that has nightlife. Just because it is a Historic Center does not mean that it doesn’t offer anything. In Paraty you will find great nightlife, with bars and restaurants and live music. The best part is that everything is close, so you probably are able to go from your hotel to a restaurant or bar just by walking. During the day, you can go shopping in the Historic Center, visit the museum and the church, and find other trips to take around the region. You can go to Paraty by bus or by car. By car, you’ll take Rio-Santos Road, which is a beautiful drive, and in one part of the long journey you’ll take in gorgeous views of the ocean. In all, it’s a 250 km trip, with no highway tolls. If you are going by bus, it will take 4 hours and 30 minutes to reach Paraty.
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Author
V
agner Luiz is a travel expert and brings his passion for his home country to every word of this guide. Vagner earned a degree in Tourism Management in 2008 and has since worked in different fields in the tourism industry, including EMBRATUR - Brazilian Company of Tourism (a division of the Ministry of Tourism) and the Portuguese Trade and Tourism Board based in Dublin/ Ireland.
Vagner collaborates with a team of expert and experienced travelers, writers, photographers and tourism professionals from the different regions of Brazil. vagner@timeforbrazil.com www.timeforbrazil.com
Rio de Janeiro
By Vagner Luiz