Rio de Janeiro Nightlife: 31 Best Local Bars & Nightclubs in Rio de Janeiro

Circo Voador

By Marina

Good location, right in the heart of Lapa and easy transportation. The live shows really stand out. The atmosphere is very relaxed and fun. There are concerts every weekend and sometimes even during weekdays. You might find options from different genres of music like rock, samba, reggae, funk, and many more.

by Marina

Bar do Mineiro

Eating 8 3

By Giovana

Best Feijoada in Santa Teresa!

Bar do Mineiro

8

If you want to try a real and traditional brazilian dish in a very local and bohemian style this is the best place! Come on sundays afternoon, have a good beer, order an amazing feijoada and try awesome caipirinhas! Arrive early as it gets full very fast.

by Giovana

Comuna

Eating 9 3

By Marina

Burger and beer

Comuna

9

Ok, you certainly didn't come to Rio to find a memorable burger. And the place is full of hipsters who are around 25 years old. But who cares? They serve 3 or 4 kinds of burgers, the famous one is the Pala burger: meat seasoned with dark beer plus cheese and home-made sauce. And from the new menu try the X-Wilson, a tribute to the security guy.

by Marina

São Salvador

Nightlife 5 0

By Giovana

Great nightlife and handcraft fair!

São Salvador

5

It's a good place to have a beer, relax and enjoy great - and free!- music. Very local place, you can feel a little of the carioca's style. You can find different types of people, what make a very rich culture place. If you want to get to know a little more about Brazilian music, São Salvador is a nice first step.

by Giovana

Fosfobox

Nightlife 5 0

By Marina

Electronic music

Fosfobox

5

Tiny as a matchbox, the name of this underground nightclub is easy to explain ( fosforo means match in Portuguese). Electronic music is very well represented here. It’s a good place to go if you are somewhere else and want to continue the party as the scene start very, very late, sometimes at 2am.

by Marina

Caverna

Nightlife 5 1

By Marina

Drinks & Rock'n'Roll

Caverna

5

Had enough botecos already? Then let this gastrobar surprise you. Pop in for memorable hamburgers and delicious drinks in a trendy atmosphere with a rock'n'roll vibe. Be prepared. It's always crowded.

by Marina

Samba do Trabalhador

Nightlife 8 1

By Giovana

Traditional samba in Rio

Samba do Trabalhador

8

This is super local! It's almost the best and more famous local samba place for who really enjoy the tradicional rhythm! A real 'roda de samba' in a suburban neighbourhood of Rio Arrive early, grab a beer and a good place near the musicians. Enjoy the real samba with the best samba singers and feel the real spirit of samba de raiz!

by Giovana

Bar Urca

Eating 7 3

By Vinicius

One of the best sunsets in the city

Bar Urca

7

See the sunset in Bar Urca is one of the things locals like most. They can brag about the beauty of the view while drinking beers and eating traditional bar foods. There is no better option after a day in the beach than going to Bar Urca for that experience. You can also go to the second floor to the restaurant without missing the outstanding view.

by Vinicius

Academia da Cachaça

Nightlife 6 1

By Marina

Cheers!

Academia da Cachaça

6

Besides decor - the tacky brazillian flag on the ceiling is kinda cute - Academia is the place for a well balanced feijoada washed with caipirinhas made of several local fruits like pitanga, siriguela, limão-galego and the most traditional one, the lemmon version.

by Marina

Pavão Azul

Nightlife 8 3

By Marina

Copacabana’s true gem

Pavão Azul

8

This long-time Copacabana’s favorite occupies a kind of weird location right in front of a Police Station. Run by two Portuguese sisters, food here is quite serious. Drop by for a beer or a caipirinha, chat on the street and make new friends. There are 2 bars, quite the same, one in front of the other.

by Marina

Canastra Bar

Nightlife 3 1

By Marina

Boteco Chic

Canastra Bar

3

With an French accent as It’s run by 3 French guys, they do serve reasonably-priced wine and of course, as we are in Rio, beer. Try Ipanema from another point of view: Have a sit in one of the sidewalk tables from this unpretentious bar and enjoy the friendly vibe.

by Marina

Bukowski

Nightlife 4 2

By Marina

It's only rock'n'roll but we like It. :)

Bukowski

4

Three dance floors playing rock'n'roll in an old mansion with an open garden. Enjoy the carioca nightlife. Do you want to meet new people? It's almost impossible to leave this place without talking to somebody new.

by Marina

Samba at Arco dos Telles

Nightlife 5 1

By Giovana

best samba in town!

Samba at Arco dos Telles

5

It's for sure best samba in town. Where you can really feel and experience what the traditional samba is, what is not shown in carnival and television. Where you can see people celebrating life, singing, and dancing in the streets with all the joy and freedom. Excellent place to enjoy good music, drink some beers and experience brazilian culture.

by Giovana

Samba Luzia

Nightlife 2 1

By Marina

Rooftop samba

Samba Luzia

2

Affordable tickets and beer, great live music and a rooftop – where the concert happens – where you can fell that you’re just over the Guanabara bay. If you want to listen to some samba and you are not in the mood for Lapa, that's your place.

by Marina

Democráticos

Nightlife 3 2

By Giovana

Forró/Samba dance and great live music!

Democráticos

3

It's the best ballroom in the city, where you can see beautiful dancing and enjoy great music. The music here are the best in terms of forró music. Everyone is super friendly and open to dance with beginners, don't be shy and ask someone to teach you some basic steps. They have a safe storage places, so you can dance without have to carry you bag.

by Giovana