A guide to nightlife day by day for the famous party city of Rio de Janeiro. Here you’ll find where to party in Rio with insider recommendations for each location.
For more information on what to do in Rio, check out my post Ultimate Guide to Rio.
Mondays
· Head for some chaos at Pedra do Sal
What is it? Pedra do Sal is a street party with samba and funk in downtown Rio.
If you want an authentic party experience, this is definitely a good place to start. Here you’ll find the cheapest of caipirinhas in the largest of quantities. Be careful, though. If you’ve never had a caipi, they’re full of sugar and full of alcohol – a dangerous combination. You’ll only want one (or two) for the whole night! Or you’ll be waking up with part-time memories and pounding headache.
The street is fairly small, so it gets crowded quite easily. And the vibe can be uncomfortable if you aren’t in the mood for a heavy drinking scene. For female travelers, it can feel especially unsettling. I remember trying to walk through the crowd (which is always way overly populated by men) and feeling like a piece of meat walking past hungry eyes and drooling mouths.
The area also isn’t the safest at night, so you need to be aware of what’s around you (or who).
Cost: FREE
Recommendation: Take an uber to and from. Bring little cash and keep your cellphone at home. 7pm-late
TUESDAYS
· Canastra and chill, Ipanema
What is it? For partygoers in Rio that want something a little calmer than the chaotic mess that Monday feels, Canastra is the place to go. Canastra is a nice, quaint wine bar that accumulates crowds on Tuesday nights.
The crowds like to stand around on the street in front of the bar and before you know it, you’re in another street party. A much calmer street party.
Canastra has a delicious food menu (I recommend the burrata appetizer!) and a ton of wines to choose from.
Cost: FREE
Recommendation: Head here after sunset at Posto 8 and arrive early if you want a table or have fun standing up like most of the people!
· Dance, dance, dance at 00 Club
What is it? Nightclub with electro & house
Where is it? Gavea
Wednesdays
· Chorinho da Gloria, Gloria
What is it? Chorinho is an instrumental Brazilian popular music genre. Chorinho da Gloria is a group of musicians that get together every Wednesday to play for other music-lovers.
Literally chorinho in English means “little cry,” but you won’t find anyone crying here. The vibe of this party is upbeat and energetic. With crowds of people flocking around the musicians, beer in hand from 7-10pm.
Cost: FREE
Recommendation: Arrive early or you’ll miss the music.
· Learn a new dance at Aquarela, Leme
If you’re in the mood for some partner dancing to a different type of Brazilian music genre, I highly recommend forró!
What is it? Forró is a music genre from Northeast Brazil. It’s sort of a mix between Afro-Brazilian samba, European polka, salsa and ballroom dance.
Aquarela is a hostel in the favela of Babilonia, Leme. The owner is a forró fanatic and has been hosting forró classes on the rooftop of the hostel weekly since my time volunteering there. The instructors she brings are always amazing and the price she charges for a class is super reasonable.
Plus, it’s a great place to meet other traveling foreigners and locals alike!
Cost: 10 reais
Recommendation: Arrive on time. You don’t want to miss any of the class! And get a caipi while you’re there!
· Dance your feet off at Funidação Progresso, Lapa
What is it? Funidação Progresso is an industrial building residing just a block off the main party strip in Lapa.
The location itself is a beautiful, spacious place that fills up quite quicky on Wednesdays for forró. At 9pm there’s always a “free” forró class, but you have to make sure to arrive before 9pm to guarantee your free entry. (There’s usually a Friend List to add your name to on FB before 6pm that evening in order to get in at a discounted price.)
A lot of foreigners usually show up around 9ish, but if you can stick it out until midnight, you’ll be sure to see some really fantastic forró dancers, and you might even get to steal a dance with one or two.
Recommendation: If you’re working with a budget, arrive on time and get your name on the friend list. Every hour after 9pm, entry prices increase.
Thursdays
· Get your twerk on in the highest place in Vidigal
What is it? Vidigal is a pacified favela that lies just a little further down the beach from Leblon.
At the top of this favela, you can find the biggest club in the neighborhood, Bar 180 Alto Vidigal.
The journey up is in itself, quite adventurous. You could climbs the 30-35mins to get to the top, take a taxi (there are special taxis that go up the favela and only they are allowed to drive up, so if you come from a different district by uber, you’ll have to switch vehicles at this point), or you can take the most popular ride up by moto-taxi.
Once you’ve made it to the top, you’ll have stunning views over Rio with well made-cocktails and great music.
This bar sometimes hosts funk parties as well, so be prepared to get your twerk on!
Cost: There’s always an entry fee by night. Only cash.
Recommendation: Ride up by moto-taxi
· Want a crazy party, but without the crowds? Try Lapa on a Thursday
Here you’ll find people partying indoors and on the streets (especially on Fridays and Saturdays). It’s best experienced at nighttime during the week if you’re trying to avoid the craziness.
Use caution, stay aware.
Cost: Each establishment charges its own entry fees. (If you’re traveling in a larger group, feel free to try and haggle your entry fare.)
Recommendation: Arrive with a set amount of cash. Careful with your cellphone and other belongings – always stay alert here.
Locations to check out:
- Bar do Cachaça – order a Gabriela (a delicious and a specialty from Paraty)
- Leviano Bar – 2 ambiances (with salsa and bachata on Thursdays)
- Aquaducto (the Arches) – a lot of times you’ll find live samba playing under the arches, feel free to join in, the more the merrier
- Carioca da Gema – famous location for samba (quite touristy and for that, very pricey)
- Circo Voador – great concert venue
FRIDAYS
· Enjoy some live jazz inside a house of art
What is it? The first Friday of every month there’s a Maze Jazz Event in the neighborhood of Catete
Arguably the best jazz night in Rio.
Cost: 50R
· Dance your heart out at The Week
What is it? Rio’s biggest and best gay club with electronic music and lots of people.
Recommendation: Arrive early to avoid the queue. Starts at 00:00
Fridays & Saturdays
· Lose yourself in the crowds of Lapa – but hang onto your things! It’s a bumpy ride!
On Fridays and Saturdays, Lapa hosts its own street party and as I just mentioned above this is the neighborhood everyone talks about when it comes to partying.
Here you can find all kinds of party. From samba to capoeira to forró and hip hop. Just keep in mind that Lapa isn’t the safest area of Rio to be in – especially during the day and especially if you’re traveling alone.
It can be heavily packed with tourists and foreigners alike, meaning there are a lot of petty thefts that happen here at night – use caution.
Cost: FREE
Recommendation: Watch your belongings. Try to travel in a group. Keep your cellphone at home or well-hidden.
Locations to check out:
- Kriok – DJ (all types of music)
- Sacrilegio – live samba, DJ (all types of music), etc.
SATURDAYS
· If you’re feet aren’t sick of dancing yet from all the party in Rio, check out Samba dos Guimaraes
What is it? A nice roda de samba with weekly rotating bands
Starts at 20:00
SundayS
· Take it easy, waterside at Pedra do Leme
What is it? Pedra do Leme is the iconic rock at the end of Leme beach.
On Sunday nights here you’ll find a chill evening with DJ and bars along the rock.
Cost: FREE
