- Rio de Janeiro
- (265)
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Brazil
Hilarious Brazilian food cooking classes, ideal for rainy or cloudy whether. You learn, you eat, you mix Brazilian drinks, you take photos ... flat out fun.
Rua Ronald de Carvalho 154, Copacabana
www.cookinrio.com
Hey all, I had the opportunity to see the favela Rocinha as well and thoroughly enjoyed myself. What was the most fun was hanging out and just being there with the local people, Zezinho's friends and family.
I did not want to go with a huge group of people on a structured tour. And my main requirement is that I wanted my money to go to somebody, a local who lives there in the favela. Many of these companies like "favela tour" or "be a local" charge a lot of money for a short 3 hour visit and your with 10 or more people. I know, as I did research before chosing who I wanted to see the community with.
So, I was referred to a local "Zezinho" who seems to be giving back in his community and is not out to bilk some sorry as* tourist out of his greenbacks! Well worth the money spent for the 9 hours we spent there.
Its obvious this guy loves what he does. He presents the community honestly and makes sure before you leave that you will probably know more about favelas than the average Carioca does. This guy has tattoos of the favela houses on his arms and legs and everybody in the favela knows him! He is like an ambassador for the favela Rocinha.
We had a great time, just the four of us and we highly recommend local people to give you a tour of such a fascinating area of Rio. Stay away from these large companies as they do not hire local guides and the time spent there with them is not worth it. If you are looking to hang out in the favela, drink some beer, listen to music and not have a time limit (we spent 9 hours there), talk to Zezinho. He will make sure you have a great time absorbing favela culture!
Check out his website for the info you need!
~Chris
I really recommend taking a tour around one of the favelas in Rio de Janeiro - it is one of the most interesting (and exciting!) things I have done during my travels. It's a real eye-opener to wander down through the tiny streets of the favelas, seeing how so many people live in such poverty. All the people we passed seemed happy, were incredibly friendly and loved to have their photos taken (except for the drug dealers, who we were advised not to photograph!). Absolutely fascinating trip, with the added thrill of a ride on the back of a motorbike to get there. Great views of the city too.
Rocinho favela, tour arranged by bealocal.com
Cabana Copa gains consistently high reviews from all who stay there, its location is safe and convenient, it is close to the metro and bus stop and is very clean. Moreover, it’s independently owned so there is a very high attention to detail, a more personable approach and the manager is on site everyday.
They offer nice big lockers for all your bags allowing you to explore and enjoy the Copacabana beach (two blocks away) without the constant worry of the safety of your luggage. Friendly and helpful staff complete the package.
I did hang gliding and a city tour in Rio with a small tour company called Brazil Expedition; great tour and good English!
We went to Christ, forest, Santa Teresa and Lapa Steps- amazing!
Definitely reccommended!
We met friends who had arrived in Rio the day before us. They went to the yellow taxi kiosk at the airport and got a ticket with a price for their ride to Copacabana. But, after being escorted to their waiting taxi the price was crossed out and a new price written on the ticket. The man who had escorted them to the taxi then handed the ticket to the driver who crossed that price out and added his own price! Essentially they ended up paying 95 Brazilian Reals,(US50) for a journey that should have cost a lot less. Of course, like us, they don't speak any Portuguese which makes it very difficult to argue in these situations.
We had read about these sorts of problems on a few different travel sites and my husband booked our transfers to Copacabana with Rio Airport Transfer, who he had seen comments about on this site, and paid 50 US for a smooth journey to our hotel in a very nice car.
I'm sure everyone has different experiences and there's always a few people who get conned by opportunists, but for the sake of convenience we prefer to book in advance and know what we're getting for our money. We would recommend Rio Airport Transfer for those like us who prefer less stress.
Happy Travels!
Jan
Looking for an English speaking Church in Brazil? Try Christ Church Anglican Church. The people are friendly, the worship and teaching good, it's well served by public transport and there's plenty of on site parking. Services at 8am and 10.30 am and children are welcome.
Rua Real Grandeza 99, Botafogo in Zona Sul. Tel 21 2539 9488 It's website is christchurch.no-ip.org/
I reccomend a nice and cheap hostel called Arpoador Beach House between Ipanema beach and Copacabana Beach. The best spot in Rio is called Arpoador area: there's a great sunset from there!
Rua bulhoes de Carvalho 470
www.arpoadorbeachhouse.com
I ordered the regular cheeseburger steak with fries and salad. Generous portions, loved it! One of the best meals I've had in Rio, particularly the grilled delicacies. Do recommend it. The place attracts the trendy hipsters that cruise around Ipanema, so be ready to see and be seen. Beware of the chimichurri sauce! Not chimichurri!
Av. Garcia de Ávila, 125 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22421-010, Brazil - (0xx)21 2512-8100
I went with some friends to Zero Zero lounge next to Rio’s planetarium. I thought it was a bit expensive when compared to other clubs I had been to, but the ambience was pretty hipster and sophisticated. They have a huge open-air lounge area with many couches, Indian wooden benches and the ambiance is candlelit, the décor surely adds a sexy, romantic feel to the place. The gorgeous trendy locals cruise around in fashion clothes and fancy drinks. This place is definitely worth a check.
We frequently go to Japanese restaurants anywhere, we hunt them down on our various trips. We followed the tip of our hotel concierge and decided to check out Benkei in Ipanema. I liked it. They have splendid food preparation and arrangement. Benkei is just how I like a Japanese restaurant to be: small, quiet and cozy. The sushi was actually really good, but I did not dig the waiting line. Get reservations if you plan on giving it a checkout, which I do recommend.
Rua Henrique Dumont, 71 Lj A
Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro - RJ
Brazil
Cute little hostel, run by the nicest staff. Very conveniently located within walking distance from Santa Tereza’s hottest spots, while very near to downtown Rio. Excellent advice on local day tours, nightlife, and other things to do while in Rio. Just sorry the weather was too chilly to enjoy the terrace, pool and the patios!
Casa Mango Mango, Rua Joaquim Murtinho 587 - Santa Tereza, Rio de Janeiro
I really liked this place. Fresh sea delicacies at a great price and generous portions. Too bad they didn’t accept my traveller’s checks. It was a little too much to ask though. They serve good beer and there’s a tasty dish called tidbits or bits or something that is a mix of crab meat, shrimp, octopus and all. So, so good. Check it out. Don’t go by car, you’ll miss the fun of the trolley.
Rua Almirante Alexandrino, 432 - Santa Tereza (mainstreet)
I know some people think that pre-booked transfers can be a waste of money, but I guess it depends how adventurous, or exhausted, you feel when you arrive at the airport.
We'd previously seen Rio Airport Transfer 'tipped' on this site and thought we'd give them a go as we'd never been to Rio and didn't know what to expect.
Although getting a yellow taxi from the airport doesn't look like it's too stressful, we're still happy that we booked our own private transfer as it meant we were whisked away to a nice car, with air-con, and didn't have to worry about speaking the language or being ripped off - which I'd heard happens often to tourists arriving at the airport.
We only got a one-way transfer to our hotel, and the hotel then organised a yellow taxi to collect us and take us back to the airport. The yellow cab was ok, but the car Rio Airport Transfer used was certainly nicer, and cooler, although of course we did pay a little more for the pleasure.
We were very happy with the service they provided.
I went to Fellini only once on a quick business lunch while in Rio. I was impressed with the sophisticated dishes they offered at such reasonable prices. I was surprised with the discount policy for people who are over 65 years old. I never heard of this before. The pay per pound system also suits me well. Overall a nice place. I am just astonished because usually I spend a lot of money on these business lunches. I recommend this place for anyone that wishes to have a nice and tasty meal for a really good price.
R. General Urquiza, 104.
Leblon
In case you want to make new friends or you’re travelling all by yourself, this is the place to go! The cool thing is that Clandestino is open until late hours. The crowd is young and friendly and each night has a different feel to it. I loved the nachos I ordered and they have a bunch of beer brands for you to pick and choose. The dancefloor was packed and I had such a wild night with the Brazilian guys I met and the Italian friend who was staying in my hostel.
Rua Barata Ribeiro 111, Copacabana
My favorite sport is beer tasting! I’ve been to many places and one of my fondest rituals is trying out beers and keeping the labels. I’ve been to Brazil before, but this was the first time that I tried prime quality draft beer. A local newly-met friend took me to this bar called Devassa in Flamengo. They have a homemade brand of beer! It’s so tasty and rich! Plus the fact that they are really careful with their logo and design. I loved it. If you get the chance try all three of them! I loved the Indian one.
Rua Senador Vergueiro, 2 - ljs B e C - Flamengo. (21) 2556-0618 / (21) 2556-0538
Club 69 is a breakthrough nightclub. The sound system and the lights there are a reference and ispiration for every other (good) nightclub in Brazil. Once you get in there you feel like you're not on earth. It’s, basically, a black box with lights on the walls and ceiling - red, green, yellow, purple, orange, blue. It’s surely a designer club! Plus the fact the the place is packed with b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l Brazilians. My recommendation is: swallow down a couple of shots, get a real fancy drink and cruise. The place is great for meeting locals!
Rua Prudente de Morais, 416 - Ipanema
Hotel breakfasts never satisfy me completely. That’s why everytime I'm visiting a new city I try to go out for breakfast. While at Rio I had breakfast in some deliciously cozy places. I have to say I enjoyed my breakfast at Felice Caffé. I later on discovered that it’s actually a hip place to go to at night. Anyways their salad fruit with granola and yogurt is so fresh. Advantages of being in a tropical city: all fruits are sweet and tasty! They have several types of bread and jams. It was a real feast. That’s my tip for sure.
Rua Gomes Carneiro, 30, Rio de Janeiro 22071-110
Tel: 55 21 2522 7749
Zuka is a little neighborhood restaurant in Leblon. Nonetheless delicious, though! I think this place is mainly known for their coal grilled food, or at least that’s what my hostess told me. I went there once but I was truly impressed with the menu. I ordered a tuna tartar with curry sauce and wished my my hunger had not been satisfied. So many options and so tasty - I definitely recommend it.
R. Dias Ferreira, 233b Leblon
Is this your business?Search Been there
