Saturday’s Rio Nightlife Pick – It’s Carnival and the city’s blocos are out in full force. Join one of the over seventy street parties taking place today all over Rio de Janeiro.
Today, some of the most famous and traditional blocos, such as Cordão da Bola Preta, Céu na Terra and Banda da Ipanema will parade and attract the crowds.
Get your costume ready early as some of them start early in the morning and others will drum on until late at night.
OTHER:
Blocos (Various Locations)
It’s Carnival 2015! And with that the free street parties known as blocos are in full force. More than seventy blocos and practices are scheduled to take place today across the city. Among today’s notable Bloco processions is famous traditional bloco Cordão da Bola Preta in Centro starting at 9:30 AM. Attendance is expected to be more than 1 million. Céu Na Terra will take over picturesque hillside Santa Teresa at 8AM. Bloco dos Barbas will parade at 4PM in Botafogo, while famous Banda de Ipanema will start at 5:30 PM in the beach neighborhood.
It is important to note that meet-up points and locations of the bloco parades are subject to change.
Blocos
Various locations
Entrance: FREE, unless otherwise noted
CLUBS:
Recalcada (Copacabana)
The Recalcada party takes over Fosfobox in Copacabana tonight with its special neo funk Carioca music. DJs Julie, Doug Def, Matheus G and Jeff Oliveira will spin on two floors.
Fosfobox – 11PM
Rua Siqueira Campos 143, Copacabana – Tel: (21) 2548-7498
Entrance: R$30-R$50
Bear Nation (Centro )
In Centro tonight the La Paz club with host the Bear Nation party with DJs Great Guy, Julio Mersex, Jose Roberto Mahr, Beto Rodrigues and Thiago Amorim on the first floor, spinning the best of house music.
La Paz – 11PM
Rua do Rezende 82, Centro – Tel: (21) 2509-2403
Entrance: R$25-R$35
Pillow Club (Botafogo)
Take out your cutest pyjamas and join Casa da Matriz in an epic pillow fight for tonight’s Pillow Club with the best of pop, rock and indie and gummy bear shots.
Casa da Matriz – 11PM
Rua Henrique de Novaes 107, Botafogo – Tel: (21) 2226-9691 / (21) 2266-1014
Entrance: R$20-R$35
A praia do momento (Lagoa)
Tonight the Praia Club in Lagoa will host the first edition of the A Praia do Momento party, part of its special Carnival series with a show of Nego do Borel.
Praia Club – 11PM
Avenida Borges de Medeiros 1426, Lagoa – Tel: (21) 3798-0552
Entrance: R$40-R$120
MÚSICA BRASILEIRA:
Tempero Carioca (Lapa)
Singer Marcos Novatto will start the night off at Carioca da Gema at 7:30 PM and Nina Rosa will follow at 9:30 PM. They are followed by band Tempero Carioca at 11:30 PM with an authentic roda de samba.
Carioca da Gema – 7:30 PM, 9:30 PM and 11:30 PM
Av. Mem de Sá 79, Lapa – Tel: (21) 2221-0043
Entrance: R$30
Baile Rio Antigo (Centro)
Rio Scenarium continues its special series of Carnival balls with the group Cartola de Noel starting at 8PM with the best of samba. Singer Sarah will follow at 11PM with more lively samba. Then, drummers from the samba school União da Ilha will take over until the morning hours.
Rio Scenarium – 8PM, 11PM, and 2:30 AM
Rua do Lavradio, 20 casa – Centro – Tel: (21) 3147-9000
Entrance: R$25-R$40
Joycec Cândido, Rio Maracatu and DJ Chicote (Lapa)
Tonight things get heated already from 3PM onwards at Leviano with Joyce Cândido, Rio Maracatu and DJ Chicote and a roda de samba and bloco. Additionally, DJs Márilo and Whip will spin during the night.
Leviano – 3PM
Mem de Sá 47, Lapa – Tel: (21) 2507-5779
Entrance: R$20-R$30
PUBS & BARS:
Rio Hard Rock Banda @ Lapa Irish Pub (Lapa)
Listen to some classic rock with the Rio Hard Rock band. If you are looking to hear some great live music while drinking some quality imported beers in a welcoming environment with a friendly crowd, this is the place to go tonight.
Lapa Irish Pub – 9PM
Rua Evaristo da Veiga 147, Lapa – Tel (21) 2221-7236
Entrance: R$10-R$20
Saloon 79 (Botafogo)
Live music will take over Saloon 79 every Saturday also featuring special drink promotions.
Saloon 79 – 10PM
Rua Pinheiro Guimarães 79, Botafogo – Tel: (21) 7544-5151
Entrance: R$25
Ferro e Farinha (Catete)
New Yorker and Pizza Chef Sei Shiroma has moved his mobile oven into a permanent restaurant in Catete and it’s a great place to drop in before heading out for a night on the town. With Shiroma’s Neapolitan-style gourmet pizza finished off with unique toppings that have included spicy honey, grana padano, zucchini, salt-cured eggplant, beets, watercress, orange balsamic vinaigrette lemon, and caramelized onions, Ferro e Farinha is quickly gaining popularity in Rio.
Ferro e Farinha – Wednesday through Sunday, 7PM to 11:30 PM (hours may be subject to change)
Rua Andrade Pertence 42D, Catete, RJ
Entrance: Free
Gringo Cafe (Ipanema)
The Gringo Cafe brings all things great about America to Ipanema, including beers, food and atmosphere. Go there to enjoy pancakes, real bagels, sliders, and more.
Gringo Cafe – 11AM
Rua Barão da Torre 240 Loja A, Ipanema – Tel: (21) 3813-3972
Entrance: Free
Academia da Cachaça (Leblon)
For all things cachaça go here; it’s their specialty. They offer great caipifrutas and caipirinhas.
Academia da Cachaça – 9PM
R. Conde Bernadotte 26, Leblon – (21) 2239-1542
Entrance: Free
Lord Jim’s Pub (Ipanema)
This is the oldest pub in Rio and it’s well known for its live music and happy hour.
Lord Jim’s Pub – 7PM
Rua Paul Redfern 44, Ipanema – Tel: (21) 2249-4881
Entrance: Free
Mab’s Restaurant and Bar (Copacabana)
This American-owned restaurant and bar on Copacabana Beach is a great place for food and drinks. Additionally, every night Tony Boka is performing live from 8PM until midnight. Boka is known for his varied repertoire that always pleases the crowd.
Restaurante Mab’s –Monday-Thursday 9AM-3AM, Friday-Saturday 9AM-9AM
Avenida Atlantica 1140, Copacabana – Tel: (21) 2275-7299
Entrance: Free
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