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Food + Drink

Rio de Janeiro – One of the world's best party cities?

Rio de Janeiro constantly tops the ‘world’s best party cities’ lists in every major news outlet from The Telegraph to CNN.com. But Rio is not a straight-forward, golden-paved party mecca, but a mixed bag – and it’s important to know what’s what before you set off on a night out here.

Rio is a buzzing, exciting, intimidating place for a woman on her own – so this is a place where you’ll want to be going out in a group of people if you can. The cat-calling here is relentless, but it’s easy enough to get used to, as long as you know who you are and where you’re going on a night out (no wandering the empty side streets, but confident strides down the well-lit areas instead).

The Rio party scene falls into two distinct categories, glitzy bars where you can enjoy delicious, pricey cocktails but cannot dance – and authentic music venues where you can swing your hips alongside the locals, but not to the classic pop tunes that you might be expecting from a ‘party city’. But that’s part of the charm of being abroad, isn’t it? Rio has a very strong personality as a proud Brazilian city, and they’re not about to change their ways to pander to the foreign tourist market.

You’ll find the glitzy bars of Rio’s nightlife in famous Copacabana. Start your evening at the Hotel Windsor Palace bar, where you can enjoy the fabulous Copa sunset from the 18th floor whilst taking a dip in the rooftop pool, which opens until late. Watch the skyline turn from light to dark as the many city lights and Christ the Redeemer illuminate before you, before moving onto the Copacabana Belmond Palace Hotel for a taste of real luxury.

This hotel bar is the city’s number one exclusive destination, and it forms a whole new level of delectable elegance. Sit outside by the pool and take in the relaxing ambiance or head inside to the plushly designed inner bar, where you can listen to soothing piano music and sip a classic Brazilian Caipirinha for hours on end. The Copacabana area is largely safe and well-lit and the dress-code is always smart; so pop on your LBD and enjoy a quiet (not quite ‘party’) night of class.

Book at The Hotel Windsor PalaceBook at The Copacabana Belmond Palace Hotel

But if you are looking for a night of dancing in the city, then Lapa is the place. Here you’ll find Avenida Mem de Sá, a long street with a collection of bars and thumping music venues lined along it. Keep your wits about you walking along this street, as drunkards, pickpockets and club promoters abound, but it’s still a fairly safe area – it’s only really when you stroll further afield into the dark, seedy alleyways surrounding the Lapa arches that you have to worry. Most of these venues aren’t what you’d call ‘world-class’ partying places – except for one, Carioca da Gema, an absolute gem of a samba bar. It’s a real, authentic local’s bar, filled with people who are truly passionate about samba music and dancing. Set in an old mansion and with a historically-proud yet modern, bustling vibe, this bar holds frequent live performances by big samba names and serves the best post-dancing pizza around. The atmosphere is electric as the locals move their feet at the speed of light; ask one of them to teach you how to dance and they’ll be delighted that you’ve taken an interest in their culture. Samba is difficult but fun – and if you wear heels you’ll be at an advantage. It might not be the classic ‘party’ night, but it’s authentically Brazillian.

And if after this, you’ll still craving a good old-fashioned cheesy dance, the closest is tiny Empório 37 in Ipanema, a very ‘end of the night’ type of bar playing a mixture of Western 80s and modern Brazilian music into the early hours with a welcoming atmosphere. Yes, the Rio nightlife certainly is a mixed bag…

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