Having lived in Rio for 3 years, I know my way around. Here are my top places to eat and stay while you're here!
Sections
3
Lodging/Hotels
Food/Restaurants
Things to do
Lodging/Hotels
Some lovely options for stays around the city.
Best airport hotel for Santos Dumont Airport
Prodigy Santos Dumont, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Best hotel to stay at if you're arriving/leaving from Galeão International - amazing breakfast!
Linx Galeão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Incredible and cost-effective hotel in the heart of Lapa (central Rio).
Vila Galé Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Great budget hotel in Copa!
Windsor Palace Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Up-scale lodging in the safest neighborhood in Rio :)
Novotel Rio de Janeiro Leme, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Safe and clean hostel to meet others and enjoy the city.
JO&JOE Rio de Janeiro Largo do Boticario, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Ideal place for budget travelers to stay on the infamous Ipanema beach.
Ipanema Beach House, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
World-renown hotel on Copa beach. Worth a stay once in your life!
Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Best hotel to stay at in Niteroi! 5 stars
H Niteroi Hotel, Niterói, Brasil
Food/Restaurants
Great up-scale restaurant in central Rio (be careful at night when entering/leaving)
Lilia
Great and casual place to grab a chopp (beer) and watch the sunset.
Bar Urca
Delicious Italian food in a fine-dining establishment in Copacabana.
Alloro al Miramar
Great and fresh Peruvian food.
Rio de Janeiro - Ceviche
Cozy and delicious Vegan restaurant in a local bairro (neighborhood) in Rio!
Vegano da Tijuca
Beautiful place to grab lunch/dinner in an atmospheric space.
Cais do Oriente
Great place to try a collection of Brazilian snacks and grab a beer!
Boteco Belmonte (@boteco_belmonte)
Ideal place to grab a coffee and traditional pies.
Carmelo Restaurante
Amazing Chinese - Peruvian fusion! Great for a dinner and cocktails when feeling open-minded and curious.
Cantón - Peruvian & Chinese Food
A well-known establishment to have a great meal with family (they specialize in shrimp)
Coco Bambu - Rio
One of the many quiosques on Copa beach offering a lovely view of the ocean, live music and strong drinks.
Quiosque do Samba Social Clube
The BEST acai in Rio. Great and cheap place for some snacks or casual lunch.
Bibi Sucos
Cheap place for a salgado and acai after the beach. Delicious!
Puro Suco (@purosuco.oficial)
Great casual spot for falafel in Copa.
Suk Árabe - Copacabana
The absolute best bakery I've found in Rio. Amazing desserts and sandwiches.
The Bakers - Uma Tradição Familiar com mais de 50 Anos
Things to do
Of course - one of the 7 wonders of the world. A must-see!
Cristo Redentor
A massive park with many hiking trails and waterfalls in the heart of Rio!
Parque Nacional da Tijuca
Stunning park to see natural flora and fauna. Worth a half-day trip.
Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro
A classic place for a photo-op in central Rio. A beautiful staircase made up of tiles from around the world create by world renown Chilean artist Jorge Selarón.
Escadaria Selarón
Worth a day or couple day visit to Niteroi. A 40 min drive or 20 min boat-ride across the bay. A beautiful, smaller and clean city with great beaches and a family vibe.
Niterói
One of the top places to see all of Rio - Sugarloaf mountain. A MUST SEE! They have some cafes/a bar on the top to watch the sunset and grab some snacks.
Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain)
Iconic beach filled with art, music, restaurants, cafes and shops. A great place to spend the day soaking up the sun or a night filled with caipirinhas and live Samba.
Praia de Copacabana
A beautiful mountain town 90 mins outside of Rio. Amazing for a weekend getaway to stay in a cabin and enjoy the mountains surrounding Rio.
Itaipava
Stunning space next to the botanical gardens to explore, grab lunch and hear the history of the building!
