Gargalo – Food – Lapa

One of my favorite places to eat in Lapa. The Secret? Simple typical Brazilian food, greatly done – barbecue style, with an above average service. When I bring my foreign friends over, they really like it. The prices are good and the dishes come with a lot of food. 

Sometimes I stop at this place for beer before heading to a party in Lapa. The beer is always very cold, and if you´re not in the mood for the packed places you normally find in Lapa, this is the spot to go to. It´s big, and has a second floor, where you can have your drinks and food without Lapa´s chaos.

Technical Info:
Type: Food, Drinks.
Price: Depends on How Much You´re Gonna Eat. Prices Are Reasonable Here.
Frequency: Every Day, Best Days Are Fridays and Saturdays.
Hour: 11h till 1h
Good Time to Arrive: 12h till 17h (lunch) or 19h till 22h (dinner).
Kind of People Expected: Middle class and locals.
Address: Rua do Riachuelo, 64 - lapa.

How to get there:
- Subway: Stop at the Cinelândia Station (see map) and walk to the address.
- Taxi: Ask the driver to leave you at the address.
- Walking: If you´re in Glória, Centro or Santa Teresa, you could go by foot too without any problems.

Map:

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Salvação – Bars – Samba – Nightlife

There´s a kind o party very popular in Rio with Samba de Raiz, called “Roda de Samba” (Samba Gathering, roughly translating). On Sundays this place has this kind of party. And it´s very good too. It starts out very early and ends early too. So, if you go to this place, be sure to get there on time. You´ll get a chance to see up close a very traditional type of party in Rio, with lots of locals. Not everyone knows about this party. If you´re staying in Botafogo, better yet. You can come for a after beach event or to start out your party night on a Sunday.

 

Good service a low admission fee for the live band – around R$ 15,00 ($ 7.00). It´s not a very good place for hooking up, but you´ll definitely have fun with the live music and it´s easy to meet people here. They can even give you a scoop on anything good happening on the week to begin.

Technical Info:
Type: Bars, Samba Party, Nightlife.
Price: Below Average.
Frequency: From Thursday to Sunday, best day on a Sunday.
Hour: 17h till 22h
Good Time to Arrive: 18h.
Kind of People Expected: Mainstream and middle class, about 5% foreign.
Address: Rua Henrique de Novaes, 69 - Botafogo.

How to get there:
- Subway: Stop at Botafogo Station (https://www.google.com.br/maps?saddr=Botafogo+%40-22.950233,-43.184359&daddr=Rua+Henrique+de+Novaes&hl=en&sll=-22.952674,-43.187804&sspn=0.01061,0.013218&geocode=FafOof4dGQ9t_Q%3BFY27of4dVPNs_Q&dirflg=w&mra=prev&t=m&z=16) and walk to the street on the address – about 10 minutes walk.
- Bus: Lots of buses come here. Ask locals which ones to take from where you´re staying at. Some of them are: 157, 158, 162, 170, 172, 173, 176, 186, and 2014.
- Taxi: Ask the driver to leave you at the address or Casa da Matriz – Botafogo, which is very near and everyon knows about it.
- Walking: If you´re in Botafogo or Humaitá, you could go by foot too without any problems.

Map:

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Casa da Cachaça (Cachaça House) – Lapa – Drinks – After Party

Cachaça is a typical drink here in Brazil, made of sugar cane. It's what authentic caipirinhas are made with. But be careful, it's very strong, about 40% alcohol. I would compare to vodka, but another taste, completely. And most of them are really cheap, so it's the preferred kind of drink of the lowerer classes.

As with vodka, there are many types of Cachaça, and very good ones too, at higher rates, and of course other interesting taste.

 

This bar is located in Lapa, and it would be considered what we call a "boteco", a kind of very small bar for quick drinks, from all kinds of classes, mixed. The cool thing about this bar is the huge Cachaça selection available. Just ask for the bar tender (which is probably the owner) to suggest you something good. They work like shots, and don't be fooled by it's sweetness. You will get drunk if you have too many of them.

 

You can stop by before heading to a party and works as an after party event too, where there should be lots of cool people hanging outside the bar, on the street. Good from Wednesday on. But not a good option on a Sunday.

Technical Info:
Type: Bars, Drinks, Nightlife, After Party.
Price: Below Avarege.
Frequency: Every Day, Best Days Are Thursday Through Saturdays.
Hour: 12h till 7h
Good Time to Arrive: 21h (before parties) and 4h (after parties).
Kind of People Expected: Middle class, mixed, about 10% foreign.
Address: Av. Mem de Sá 102 - Lapa.

How to get there:
- Subway: Stop at the Cinelândia Station (see map) and walk towards Lapa.
- Bus: Lots of buses come here. Ask locals which ones to take from where you´re staying at. Some of the lines are: 158, 161, 162, 178, 180, 238, 247, 351 and 362 (see map).
- Taxi: Ask the driver to leave you at Av. Mem de Sá 102 - Lapa. Everyone knows this street.
- Walking: If you´re in Glória, Centro or Santa Teresa, you could go by foot too.

Map:

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Photos:

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