Nightlife in Rio de Janeiro: Best Bars, Clubs, & More

Rio de Janeiro nightlife

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If you're traveling to Rio de Janeiro anytime soon, chances are you're planning to party. Whether you've got an image in your head of caipirinhas on the beach, of samba dancers at the annual Carnival, of live music at a famous restaurant in Ipanema or simply pounding beats inside a nightclub, Rio de Janeiro is Brazil's premier party city. A trip Rio de Janeiro also presents an excellent opportunity to discover traditional Brazilian music like bossa nova and samba, whether performed live or played over a stereo while you drink or dance. Here's how to make sense of Rio's sprawling nightlife scene, irrespective of the Rio de Janeiro nightlife experience you're craving.

Bars in Rio de Janeiro

Just want to have a cocktail, be it a classic Brazilian caipirinha or something else? Here are some of Rio's best bars throughout the city:

  • Bar Astor: Although it's located right on Ipanema Beach, this seaside spot is not somewhere you can stroll into with your flip flops and bikini. Serving up craft cocktails and fresh oysters, Bar Astor is the very picture of coastal chic.
  • Bar Urca: It's hard to say what's most to like about Bar Urca, which like other establishments in Urca, offers stunning views of Guanabara Bay. Here's one: If you tire of looking out on the water with beer and wine, you can order yourself some delicious fresh-caught seafood.
  • Bar do Mineiro: If it's an authentic evening out you're seeking, look no farther than this Santa Teresa institution. Although it's not open particularly late (and it's as famous for its feijoada stew as it is for cocktails made with cachaça rum), there are few more real spots to say "saude" in Rio.
  • Galani: Searching for rooftop bars in Rio de Janeiro? Many a search will end at Galani, which sits atop Caesar Park Hotel in Copacabana, and where it's a competition between expertly-mixed cocktails and stunning ocean views to see which will captivate you more. Galani is open to the general public as well as to guests at the hotel, though you'll be much more tempted to return often if you're staying here.

Of course, if you're less concerned about where you drink and more intent on getting a buzz, alcohol is served basically everywhere in Rio, including on the beach.

Rio de Janeiro Nightclubs

If dancing the night away is what you're craving after a long day on the beach (or exploring amazing Rio architecture), these Rio clubs might be more up your alley:

  • Clube dos Democraticos: Located in Rio's underrated downtown, this mid-19th-century space is more than just a traditional nightclub, to be sure—and not just because the music is just as often samba as it is more pounding sorts of house music. If you're craving a night out and don't mind a trek from the beach, this spot could be for you.
  • Comuna: Like Clubes dos Democraticos, Comuna (which is located in Botafogo) is more than just a nightclub. However, while it certainly lives up the other labels it gives itself ("alternative art space" and "cultural center" among them), don't be fooled—this is a fine spot to get your dance on.
  • Fosfobox: Probably the most notable example of a European-style dance club in Rio, with techno and EDM music as plentiful as the young and energetic people who frequent it, Fosfobox is conveniently located in the heart of Ipanema. The crowd here is decidedly international, and so is the selection of music and the DJs that spin it.
  • Carioca de Gema: Housed in an old mansion in Lapa, Carioca de Gema bears some similarities to Clube dos Democraticos, both in physical terms as well as the experience you can have within it. It also serves food, which is great if you need some fuel to power your maybe-questionable dance moves.

If it sounds like there aren't a huge number of massive nightclubs in Rio, it's because they're not. On the other hand, Brazilians aren't shy to dance anywhere there's music and booze, so if you feel confident in your moves, simply be prepared to move your body anywhere.

LGBT Nightlife in Rio


  • Galeria Café: Located right in the heart of Ipanema, Galeria is one of the premier gathering places for Rio de Janeiro's LGBT community (although it doesn't explicitly advertise itself as a Rio de Janeiro gay bar, but rather an "inclusive and welcoming space.")
  • La Cueva: Having been open since 1964, La Cueva Bar & Disco is Rio de Janeiro's longest continuously operating LGBT establishment. Though its relatively dark interior can at times make it feel like the "cave" its name suggests it is, the music that pulses through here late into the night will make you want to do anything but hibernate.
  • TV Bar: Situated in Copacabana not far from the beach, TV Bar is a place to drink, dance, and partake in other gay-friendly delights that is as convenient as it is completely delightful. It takes its name from the fact that massive TVs plaster the bar's walls, though you can never be sure of the images that will dance across the screens.
  • Tô nem Aí: With a name that literally means "I don't care" in Portuguese, this Ipanema watering hole is ambivalent to being labeled as a gay establishment, even if its clientele is primarily LGBT. Whether you come here for a cocktail, to watch football on TV, or to try and find the sexy guy or gal you saw on Ipanema Beach earlier in the day, this is one of the top gay-friendly bars in Rio, even if it feigns not be classified as such.

Rio de Janeiro is one of the gayest cities in the world, which means that you're likely to feel welcome (and not to be alone) as an LGBT person, couple or group, even if you're not at an explicitly gay establishment.

Live Music in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro's live music scene is not as robust at what you find in, say, São Paulo, but that doesn't mean you can't find live rock and pop music. For example, it's not uncommon to hear musicians playing on Ipanema or Copacabana Beaches, although these are more often than not buskers or "unofficial" artists, as opposed to anyone on a stage. (At least outside of Rock in Rio, a music festival that comes to Rio de Janeiro every September and October.)

A big exception to this, of course, is traditional Brazilian musician like bossa nova and samba. Popular Samba venues in Rio de Janeiro include Bip-Bip in Copacabana and Casa Rosa in Laranjeiras, while Bossa Nova blares from Vinícius Show Bar in Ipanema most every night of the week. Additionally, many mainstream pop and rock artists come through Rio during their South American tours, which means your trip could conceivably coincide with one.

Rio's Best Late-Night Eats

Brazilians eat dinner relatively late by North Americans standards as is, but here are some guaranteed spots to whet your appetite at (almost) any time of night:

  • Garota de Ipanema: Although this Ipanema institution (where the song "The Girl from Ipanema" was written) is "only" open until 2 am, it's still the perfect place to satisfy your (relatively) late-night craving. In particular, the tender grilled beef here tends to hit the spot after a day on the beach.
  • Eclipse: Perhaps Rio's most-famous 24-hour eatery, Eclipse, is most famous for its wide variety of stone-fired pizzas, which are particularly tasty long after the sun has set. Coming closer to dawn than dusk? Enjoy a selection of perfectly greasy breakfast options.
  • Cervantes: Like Eclipse, Cervantes is located in Copacabana, not far from the beach, and specializes in the sort of comfort food that tends to define late-night cravings. However, unlike the pizza and eggs most people seek at Eclipse, Cervantes specializes in sumptuous grilled sandwiches, filled with meat, cheese, and a slice of pineapple that's become its signature.
  • Boteco Cabidinho: The Portuguese word boteco can mean many things, but generally refers to a casual street-side eatery that also serves booze. To be sure, if for some reason you happen to tire of the shrimp empanadas for which this Botafogo bar and restaurant is famous, the draft beer never stops flowing.

Speaking of botecos, there are many such places without websites or internet buzz that are open all hours of the night and worse dropping a few reai at. Keep your eyes open—and don't be shy to practice your Portuguese, especially if you're a bit tipsy.

Rio de Janeiro Carnival

One Rio de Janeiro nightlife aspect that sits in a category all its own is the city's annual Carnival celebration, which takes place every March (and sometimes begins in late February). Drawing literally tends of thousands of visitors from all over the world, and centered around parades and street celebrations that incorporate traditional Brazilian dance and music (not to mention debauchery of a more universal sort), Carnival is the epitome of nightlife in Rio de Janeiro, even if it is limited to a few days a year.

If you're planning a trip to Rio de Janeiro and want to make sure you can be there for Carnival, begin planning as early as possible (at minimum, September of the previous year). Also, know that regardless of how early you book, you'll pay a hefty premium to stay in the city center during Carnival. You'll be lucky to find accommodation at all if you wait too long to iron out the details!

Tips for Going Out in Rio de Janeiro

No matter how you choose to say "saúde" the next time you visit Rio de Janeiro, there are some general tips you should keep in mind:

  • Pace yourself. It's not uncommon for the party in Rio de Janeiro to start around lunchtime on Copacabana or Ipanema and stretch until after sunrise the next morning. There's nothing wrong with letting loose, but drink responsible (and hydrate mindfully) to avoid getting sick.
  • Be careful who you dance with (or accept a ride from), especially if you've had a lot to drink. Rio de Janeiro is not the safest the city in the world—and the more drunk you are, the more likely harm is to befall you.
  • Limit the amount of cash you carry on your person. Brazil has reasonable acceptance rates for credit cards and other cashless payments, which means you needn't burden yourself (and, potentially, place yourself at risk) by carrying tons of cash with you.
  • Explore different facets of Rio de Janeiro nightlife. What's the point of visiting a colorful, eclectic city like Rio and limiting yourself in any respect? Whether you visit several different types of establishments in a single night or try to see a different side of Rio's party scene each day, variety is the spice of (night)life.
  • It's not uncommon for locals (and some tourists) to party on the beach or street. Assuming you're in a relatively safe part of the city, you needn't be inside a bar or club to drink or dance. Grab a beer (and, ideally, a local you know) and join up with people who are having a good time on the street, sand or sidewalk.

Want to know more about things to do in Rio de Janeiro, apart from dancing (or drinking) the night away? Check out TripSavvy's guide to Rio de Janeiro attractions.

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