Palaphita is a very pleasant restaurant with a splendid view of Lagoa (a big lagoon in the middle of the city). I suggest you go around dusk, for the view of the sun setting behing the hills is simply breathtaking!

Address:
Avenida Epitacio Pessoa 20, Lagoa
Phone: 55 21 22270837

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It's a restaurant in Rio, where you can order good native food from northern Brazil and eat looking at Rodrigo de Freitas's Lagoon. I recommend it because there you can feel closer to nature and have a fantastic view while you are eating. Pai d'égua e arrombado was one of the plates I ate! Delicious!

Avenida Epitácio Pessoa, S/N Qiosque 20 - Parque do Cantagalo - Lagoa
(55) (21) 2227-0837

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As a former Rio de Janeiro resident (from 1983 to 1992) I suggest one of the most beautiful and also peaceful and quiet places in Rio: JardimBotânico (the Botanical Garden). From the garden you have a magnificent view from the Tijuca’sNational Park Atlantic Forest and The Christ (CristoRedentor) with His open arms blessing such a wonderful city. It is a place where you spend hours admiring local and international plant species.
JardimBotanicoalso invites us to have some meditation: it’s great!

A wonderful place to be considered when visiting Rio: it's worth it!

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I'm absolutely crazy for Brazilian food and I've been around the country enough to be able to enjoy all types of different dishes, from carne de sol (sundried meat) to the Carioca famous feijoada. One of my all-time favourites though, is the moqueca de camarao, which is made from shrimp with milk-coconut stew. It's a typical dish that originates from Bahia, but you can find it in Rio, in an excellent restaurant called Azul Marinho.

It's right at the Arpoador in Ipanema, so you'll be privileged with a breathtaking view while eating this amazing food!

Avenida Francisco Bhering
Arpoador
www.cozinhatipica.com.br/ver_restaurante.php?id=1

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First off, you don´t have to be a carnivorous meat lover to enjoy a meal at this place, but it helps.

They also offer fish, sushi, plenty of side dishes and various salad items to suit even the pushiest of vegetarians.

The service is excellent, since the waiters pretty much have everyone covered (no matter how crowded the establishment looks), and are constantly looking out for their customers. The restaurant has a nice vibe to it and a beautiful view of one of Rio's many classic locations, the Sugar Loaf (which is a welcome sight after a few beers).

1)Rua Barão da Torre 218, Ipanema
2)Porcão Rio's - Aterro do Flamengo
3)Av. Armando Lombardi 591, Barra
For reservations call 3389 8989

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Brazil Expedition is a team that provides guidance and vehicles for many different sorts of tours.

They drive you to Tijuca Forest, a completely reforested area of Rio. There you will get to see all kinds of vegetation, some wildlife, and a waterfall. You can also make a light hike up to the top of Pedra Bonita, one of Rio’s nicest views. There you will enjoy a view of Rio few people have had the privilege to see, and watch the hanggliders and paragliders jumping off the ramp. And last but not least, the Brazil Expedition staff take you to great soccer games in Maracana, the bigger soccer stadium in the world.
They are very professional and language skilled.

www.brazilexpedition.com
tours@brazilexpedition.com
21 9998 2907 (Eduardo)

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This is a lovely little area of Rio. Catch the bonde up the hillside and wander through the streets or sit a while in a cafe. It is an area which has been taken over by hippies and artists and is definitely on the up again. Lovely architecture.

Take the bonde up the hill.

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This is a very cheap (approx $0.25) and exciting tram service that starts just beyond the white viaduct arches of Lapa and winds its way up into the hills around the glorious Cristo, into the area known as Santa Teresa, and is the last remaining tram service in South America.

Jump on and buzz through the scenic backstreets as schoolchildren jump on and off for free in an excited frenzy. Its a great journey which takes about thirty minutes from bottom to top and shows you the very best of the old Rio. At the top you can take the walk back down via craft and antique shops, wonderful little eateries, museums and the occasional art exhibition.

Truly a magnificent mini trip to fill an afternoon away from the beaches, amongst the true and vibrant spirit of Rio, with the added bonus of some of the best views of the city.

Estação Carioca is found near the city centre opposite the Petrobras Building. It is a bit tough to find but persist and it will pay off.

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Alone in Rio on the weekend? Want to be occupied without doing much? Want to see Rio beach life?

Rent a bike in Ipanema and pedal all the way up to Gloria and back. Don't forget to take in Urca. It's flat, safe (95% bike paths) and very cool; you'll need about four hours if you take it easy (how else?); you'll see a great cross section of Rio people and the view on the way back is quite different from the view on the way there.

Lonely Planet suggests two or three places. It cost me less than 10 quid.

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Take the tram to Santa Tereza, travelling over the aquaduct. Fantastic experience and gives a great (and safer) view point of Santa Tereza district. Take the tram at around midday and watch all the school kids clambering on around you (it's a free ride if you hang off the side!) Fantastic but watch your wallet.

Near to the modern cathedral

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An absolute gem of a 'churrascaria' - a typical brazilian barbecue-house where friendly waiters come round offering you ridiculously succulent and tasty meat until you can't take any more. All for a decent fixed price, there's a salad bar fit for kings and delicious fish alternatives. And as if that wasn't enough, the setting is also unbeatable - you dine with a magical view of the Sugarloaf mountain. They also serve a lethal caipirinha!

Av. Infante Dom Henrique, Flamengo Tel: (21) 3461-9020 www.porcao.com.br

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Jesus may have the best view of Rio, but the best vista of the City of Marvels - taking in Christo Redentor and the Sugarloaf - is to be had from the curvy entrance ramp to this early 90s masterpiece by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. Across Guanabara Bay in Niteroi, depending on your sensibilities, the building looks like a morning glory blossoming in the sun or an alien spaceship perching on a promontory. Inside, its spiralling galleries and curvy walls are incredibly inviting, and the panoramic blue-on-blue view from the observation level is matchless.

Needless to say, none of the art on show can hold a candle to the structure itself.

Mirante da Boa Viagem, Niterói; www.macniteroi.com/

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God may have eyes everywhere, but in Rio Jesus has the best view. The Christ statue sits atop Corcovado hill, a dramatic granite plinth that towers 710m above the city. From here you can see Rio in all its glory – from the southern beaches to the northern suburbs and from the city centre across the bay to Niteroi.

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