By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Inaugurated on Tuesday, August 25th in the neighborhood of Botafogo, the new Metrópole Art’n Grill is part art gallery, part interactive installation, part bar, part lounge, and part restaurant that offers gourmet hot dogs, hamburgers and craft beers.
The venue’s inauguration featured live painting by graffiti artists of beer barrels, that would later be made into tables, and offered custom painting of guests’ empty bottles. Those inaugural events hightlighted some of the themes important to the creators of Metrópole Art’n Grill: recycling, repurposing and turning trash into art.
Also important to the creators of the venue is the juxtaposition of classic with modern. Located in the increasingly popular Rio de Janeiro neighborhood of Botafogo, in a former two-story home built in 1908, the building maintains its exterior facade while inside many of the walls are covered in vibrant, colorful, urban art. According to a press release, owners hope the interior will be like a “metropolis,” hence the venue’s name.
On the first floor there a wall designated as a gallery and space for the exhibition of works by artists and photographers. There is also a bar with a pool table and a lounge complete with a library, which the owners hope will become a space for the exchange of books, magazines, and ideas.
Additionally on the first floor, there is an area designated for future events including culinary battles, workshops, and craft beer tastings.
The second floor of the venue features a wall covered in a street art collage and graffiti. Hanging from the ceiling there are also specially designed newspaper origami light fixtures designed by Fátima Aguiar. Additionally, there is a blank area where customers can create their own graffiti, draw or write.
When it comes to eating and drinking, the Metrópole Art’n Grill menu includes gourmet hot dogs, grilled hamburgers and a good selection of craft beers.
The hamburgers are prepared on a charcoal grill and offered for R$30 with a choice of two fillings with additional toppings available for R$2 each. The filling options include cream cheese, cheddar, gorgonzola, bacon, caramelized onions, shitake mushrooms and Mongolian sauce (garlic sauteed in ginger soy sause with brown sugar and green onions).
The hot dogs are made with grilled German sausages wrapped in slices of bacon and also come with a choice of two toppings for R$28. Additionally, onion rings are available for R$18 and the venue offers a dish of french fries with bacon strips for R$20.
With its drink selection, the Metrópole Art’n Grill showcases Brazilian craft breweries. The menu features twenty brands including Barco, Júpiter, Coruja and Paranauê.
To learn more about Metrópole Art’n Grill, menu options, promotions and upcoming events, see the official Facebook page.
What: Metrópole Art’n Grill
When: Open on Fridays and Saturdays from 5PM to 2AM and on Sunday from 5PM until 12AM.
Where: Rua Capitão Salomão 57, Botafogo
Telephone: (21) 2537-5062