Must-see entertainment in Rio de Janeiro State

  • Bip Bip

    Rio de Janeiro

    For years Bip Bip has been one of the city's favorite spots to catch a live roda de samba (informal samba played around a table), despite it being just a…

  • Pedra do Sal

    Rio de Janeiro

    The Monday- and Friday-night street parties here are major draws for lovers of samba, whether they're Brazilian or foreign, rich or poor. The lively samba…

  • Beco das Garrafas

    Rio de Janeiro

    Come to this club to connect to a small part of Brazilian history – and a big part of musical lore. It was on this lane where Tom Jobim and other…

  • Renascença Clube

    Rio de Janeiro

    For an authentic slice of Rio, head to one of the massive open-air samba parties that happen several times a week in Andaraí. The setup is simple: a…

  • Terra Brasilis

    Rio de Janeiro

    Just beside Praia Vermelha, Terra Brasilis has gorgeous views of Pão de Açúcar looming overhead. Jazzy Música Popular Brasileira (MPB) bands play from…

  • Clube Finlândia

    Rio de Janeiro State

    Penedo’s Finnish community gathers for traditional Finnish letkiss and jenkkas dances at Clube Finlândia the first Saturday night of every month, and on…

  • Trapiche Gamboa

    Rio de Janeiro

    A charming live-samba joint, Trapiche Gamboa is set in a multistory colonial edifice in Gamboa (just north of Centro) and has a friendly, mixed crowd and…

  • Cidade das Artes

    Rio de Janeiro

    Barra's grandest arts complex is an R$500-million venture that houses an 1800-seat concert hall, as well as theaters, a chamber music hall, a cinema and a…

  • Teatro Riachuelo

    Rio de Janeiro

    Opened in 2016, the beautifully designed Riachuelo hosts a high-quality repertoire of concerts and dance performances. Come for a show, but be sure to…

  • Casa do Choro

    Rio de Janeiro

    An attractive concert venue inside a photogenic colonial building that stages live choro and other Brazilian sounds on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday …

  • Bottles Bar

    Rio de Janeiro

    Run by the same folks behind the Beco das Garrafas next door, Bottles is a shoebox-sized club that features a line-up of bossa nova and samba performers…

  • Margarida Café

    Paraty

    This cavernous yet cozy bar with checkerboard tile floors and massive stone columns has great drinks and live music nightly, including MPB (Musica Popular…

  • Mangueira

    Rio de Janeiro

    One of Rio's most famous samba schools, Mangueira has many followers all across the city. They come out en masse in their green and pink (Mangueira's…

  • Salgueiro

    Rio de Janeiro

    One of the best samba schools for foreigners to visit, Salgueiro hosts big Saturday-night parties from late August until Carnaval. Expect live music, ever…

  • Gran Cine Bardot

    Búzios

    Shows movies on weekend nights, including some in English with Portuguese subtitles. The adjacent cafe is a nice spot for snacks, coffee or caipirinhas…

  • Theatro Municipal

    Rio de Janeiro

    This gorgeous art nouveau theater provides the setting for Rio's best opera, ballet and symphonic concerts. The theater seats 2400, and sight lines are…

  • Espaço Ipaum Guaçu

    Ilha Grande & Vila do Abraão

    Ilha Grande's lone dance club, tucked up a hard-packed dirt side street just off Rua Getúlio Vargas, features everything from DJs to live forró, reggae…

  • Teatro Espaço

    Paraty

    Now in its fifth decade, Paraty's internationally acclaimed Contadores de Estórias theater company presents puppetry, music and dance performances in this…

  • Paraty 33

    Paraty

    With an early evening happy hour featuring MPB and bossa nova, and a late-night weekend mix of DJs and live acts, Paraty 33 is the historic center’s…

  • Jazz Village

    Rio de Janeiro State

    This cozy little club in the Pequena Suécia hotel hosts live jazz concerts two or three nights a week.

  • Olho da Rua

    Rio de Janeiro

    This multifunctional space hosts a wide range of live music, theatrical performances, DJ sets and other cultural and community events such as art…

  • Teatro Rival Petrobras

    Rio de Janeiro

    Going strong since 1934, Teatro Rival stages Música Popular Brasileira (MPB), samba, chorinho (informal instrumental music) and forró (Northeast popular…

  • Cine Odeon

    Rio de Janeiro

    Rio de Janeiro's landmark cinema is a remnant of the once flourishing movie-house scene that gave rise to the name Cinelândia. Following a restoration…

  • Vila Isabel

    Rio de Janeiro

    One of Rio's best-loved samba schools has won a few parade titles over the years. Vila Isabel is deeply connected to famed samba singer Martinho da Vila,…

  • Estação Net Rio

    Rio de Janeiro

    This two-screen cinema in Botafogo shows a range of films – Brazilian, foreign, independent and the occasional Hollywood offering. It has a cafe inside,…

  • Estação Net Botafogo

    Rio de Janeiro

    Just around the corner from the metro, this three-screen theater shows a mix of Brazilian and foreign films. The small cafe on-site is a good place to…

  • Cine Joia

    Rio de Janeiro

    Hidden in the lower level of a shopping complex, this small, charming cinema screens a mix of Brazilian and independent fare, as well as the odd Hollywood…

  • Teatro do Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil

    Rio de Janeiro

    In addition to its exhibitions, this large cultural center in downtown Rio has two stages and a cinema. Theater, film, dance and musical events are often…

  • Sala Municipal Baden Powell

    Rio de Janeiro

    One of the few music halls in the Zona Sul, the 500-seat Sala Municipal Baden Powell hosts a broad range of concerts throughout the year, with MPB and…

  • UCI – New York City Center

    Rio de Janeiro

    UCI – New York City Center is Brazil's largest megaplex, featuring 18 different screening rooms complete with large, comfortable chairs and stadium…

  • Espaço Itaú

    Rio de Janeiro

    A high-quality six-screen cinema that shows a wide variety of fare. You can linger before or after the film at the cafe, bookstore or various snack…

  • Teatro Carlos Gomes

    Rio de Janeiro

    Facing the Praça Tiradentes, the large Teatro Carlos Gomes stages avant-garde dance shows and experimental theater. The theater seats 600 people.

  • São Clemente

    Rio de Janeiro

    Less well known than other Samba schools, São Clemente nevertheless has a loyal following for its whimsical Carnaval themes.

  • KM de Vantagens Hall

    Rio de Janeiro

    Rio's largest (6000-seat) concert house tends to change names every few years, but continues to host top international and Brazilian bands, as well as…

  • Espaço SESC

    Rio de Janeiro

    Hosting an excellent assortment of theater and dance performances, Espaço SESC is a bulwark of the Copacabana arts scene. The repertoire tends toward the…

  • Porta da Pedra

    Rio de Janeiro

    Samba school located on the east side of Baía de Guanabara. Porta da Pedra hasn't had much success in recent years, and is struggling to find its way back…

  • Grande Rio

    Rio de Janeiro

    Located northwest of Ilha do Governador, Grande Rio has been crowned parade champions only once (in 1992) but has lots of devoted followers, especially in…

  • Portela

    Rio de Janeiro

    Portela is a highly successful samba school with creative themes and brilliant costumes. It has been crowned Carnaval champion nearly two dozen times…

  • Rocinha

    Rio de Janeiro

    Rocinha is a Series A samba school that hosts fun parades. Its colors are blue, green and white, and butterflies (the symbol of Rocinha) often figure…

  • Unidos da Tijuca

    Rio de Janeiro

    Going strong since 1931, this samba school has staged many dazzling parades over the years. Unidos da Tijuca has been crowned champion three times since…

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