Rio for Singles

Our Local Expert Says:

A popular place with surfers taking advantage of the great waves at Arproador. The beach is lit and relatively safe at night, allowing 'surfistas' to carry on well past sunset.

Description:

With a great location right on the beach at popular surf spot Arpoador, this small hotel offers fantastic value for money. Arpoador lies between the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, so beach bunnies will be spoilt for choice. The road in front of the hotel is completely closed to traffic, and guests eating at the hotel restaurant can enjoy their meals and drinks right on the sands.

Description:

Possibly the most famous stretch of sand in the world, Copacabana beach is synonymous with the hedonistic side of Rio – with sun, sea, beautiful bodies and New Year celebrations on the beach. Stretching for around five kilometers (the beach is called Leme at its northern end), Copacabana boasts soft white sand that is crammed with locals in tiny bikinis and shorts. Stalls selling ice-cold beers and caipirinhas line the beachfront, and joggers run along the pavements – famous for their distinctive wave-patterned black and white tiling. Copacabana beach is overlooked by the attractive, jungle covered hill of Morro do Leme, and Sugar Loaf mountain is resplendent in the background. Avenida Atlantica is the busy road running along the beachfront, and across from the sands the road is lined with towering high rise hotels and apartment blocks, as well as any number of places to eat and drink. Be warned, however, that while a visit here is a must, Copacabana is not the best place to sunbathe. The water is too dirty for swimming, the beach is rife with pickpockets, and vendors selling tourist tat are annoyingly relentless in their drive to relieve you of your tourist dollar.

Description:

Located to the West of Rio de Janeiro, Barra da Tijuca feels like another city altogether. The modern high rise apartment blocks and wide avenues have been modelled on Miami, and it is with good reason that many Rio locals refer to the neighborhood as the United States of Barra.
But while some may mock the faux-Western attitude, it's hard to find fault with the 17km beach, whose sands rarely get as crowded as the tourist Meccas of Ipanema and Copacabana. Meanwhile, shopaholics will be in seventh Heaven - Barra is awash with vast US-style Malls, including Barra Shopping, the largest mall in Rio de Janeiro.
Be prepared for a bone-rattling white knuckle ride of a bus trip out here (or, during rush hour, be prepared to spend hours staring idly out of the window).

Description:

Baronettii's only real competition in the glam stakes, Nuth is an attractive, flashy bar, attracting a flashy and attractive crowd. Music varies nightly, check local listings for details.

Description:

With an emphasis on fresh, natural ingredients, Celeiro has established itself as a firm favorite among models, soap opera stars and other body-conscious cariocas. The sheer range of salads - more than 40 each day - is astonishing, and the hot dishes are often veggie-friendly. Celeiro also serves low-cal versions of favorite desserts, so you can satisfy your sweet tooth without too much guilt! The food is served buffet-style and charged by weight while soups are charged separately. Perfect for a light lunch, but don't head here when you're dying of hunger or you could end up paying more than you expect!

Our Local Expert Says:

Try the aged cachacas from Minas Gerais - sweet with a slightly honeyed taste. For an authentic Minas experience, share a bottle with friends and drink neat in shots. And don't plan anything energetic for the next day…

Description:

At the Academia da Cachaca you'll learn how to eat, drink and be merry ... like the Brazilians. With over 500 concoctions to choose from, you'll never tire of visiting this up-scale yet casual place. Most drinks are made from the traditional Brazilian spirit of Cachaca. The food, which comprises of North East Brazilian cuisine, is also quite an attraction. Enjoy a Manioc Croquette with Cream Cheese while you sip on a Passion-Fruit Caipirinha (made with real fruit).

Description:

Relaxed and refreshingly unpretentious, Bracarense has been a Leblon hotspot for over 60 years. This simple pavement bar is one of the best places in the city to catch locals enjoying post-work drinks and snacks (known as 'happy hour') and swimwear-clad lovelies also flock here after a day at the beach. On the menu is perfectly chilled beer and some of the best bar snacks in the city. The fried balls of yucca with shrimp and catupiry cheese are among the favorites here. Prices are very reasonable, so order a selection of snacks, wash it down with an icy beer, and watch the locals at play.

Description:

If youre looking for the best weekend nightlife action there's only one place to head - Lapa. And for those on a budget, the good news is that you don't even need to pay to enter a club in order to party until dawn. From Thursday to Saturday (Fridays are busiest), the area around the Lapa arches fills up with partiers, live music, and countless vendors selling food and drink - be sure to try some of the mouthwatering cocktails made with vodka and mango or strawberry. The crowd is mainly young and dress is very relaxed. Live music can crop up anywhere but is most often found on the square next to the famous arches - take care here and in other crowded paces as the area is rife with pickpockets.

Description:

A lively place featuring live samba music and dancing, open late at weekends, call for listings and opening times.

Description:

The beaches of Rio's Zona Sul (south zone) stretch for miles, and walking the length of these famous stretches of sand is a great way to catch some sun while taking some exercise and enjoying fantastic views. Walking and cycling tracks make seaside strolls a safe activity any day of the week, but the best time for a walk by the beach is Sunday, when the roads are closed to traffic from Leblon right down to the far end of Copacabana. Joggers, cyclers, roller-bladers and power walkers all head here on Sundays to take in some hard core exercise, but a less strenuous option is just to walk along at your own pace, stopping now and then for a cooling agua de coco (chilled coconut water) at one of the many beachside kiosks.

Our Local Expert Says:

Pergula is a more relaxed alternative to La Cipriani, Copacabana Palace's formal restaurant. There's no need to dress up, and non-guests are welcome to stop by for a drink and a bite to eat.

Description:

Copacabana Palace remains a byword for glamor and indulgence in Rio, and you'll really feel like you're living the high life as you sip a cocktail and nibble on bar snacks at Pergula, the hotel's relaxed poolside bar and restaurant. The restaurant is open to non-guests and there is no dress code, but do be aware that the clientele here is very well-heeled. If you really feel like splashing out, treat yourself to the set 'brunch', served between 12.30pm and 4.30pm, which includes treats such as salmon, caviar, shrimp and a glass of champagne. This is not a spot for holidaymakers on a budget, but the luxurious surrounds, impeccable service and delicious food and drink more than justify the high price tag.

Description:

For fans of 'futebol' (football/soccer), a trip to the legendary Maracanã stadium is every bit as vital as visiting the Christ statue or taking the cable car up the Sugar Loaf. Football is often described as 'the beautiful game', and nowhere is this description more apt than in Brazil. The national side has won the football world cup five times, and is pretty much every non-Brazilian's favorite foreign team. While the big names may have left for high profile, high wages teams in Europe, locally played Brazilian football is still a joy to behold, largely due to the fantastic festival atmosphere. Samba drumming, singing, dancing, firecrackers and enormous flags liven up even the most humdrum of games, and if you are lucky enough to catch a local derby or important cup match then the atmosphere will be even more electric.

Description:

The bar, which is right in front of the Ipanema beach, has been elected one of the best bars in Rio, with one of the best draft beers in town. To eat, the barbecued meat is a must, especially the Picanha. It's always very busy, with a friendly and popular atmosphere, especially in the summer.

Our Local Expert Says:

Guys, be aware that the majority of girls here are 'working'. That cheap night out could end up costing a lot more than you planned…and definitely don't bring a date here.

Description:

If you were at Rio about 20 years back, then this would have been a definite stop for a fun night out. Today, it provides for a different kind of fun. A roaring discotheque once, Help Club today attracts a lot of foreign men looking for a lady for the night. A well-known and popular pick-up joint, the club operates right into the wee-hours of the morning. There is a cover charge, but once inside prices are cheap. With the Copacabana beach atmosphere and the funky salsa 'n' samba beats in the air, this makes a great place to check-out the wild side of Rio!

Our Local Expert Says:

If you don't want to pay the 10 per cent service charge that is imposed in almost all Rio bars, queue up at the smaller serving area rather than the main bar. The downside is that your drink will be served in a plastic glass.

Description:

Open nightly until around 4am, Emporio gets particularly busy on Mondays, when people spill onto the streets. Attracts hordes of local people but is also a good spot to meet other travellers. DJs spin a mix of American and UK alternative and rock music, with a bit of vintage Brazilian MPB.

Our Local Expert Says:

If you want to take photos here consider visiting as part of an organized tour. Lapa is not the safest part of Rio and lone tourists with cameras can be a target for thieves. Ask around about tours that take in the 'Lapa Steps'.

Description:

The steps between Lapa and Santa Teresa have been turned into an ongoing work of art by eccentric Chilean artist Selarón. The artist has used painted and decorated tiles from across the world to create something truly unique - musicians such as Snoop Dogg and Pharell have shot promotional videos here.

Description:

A bar, a restaurant and a cigar store, this is one of the hippest nightspots in Rio, with beautiful people and good food, and the ambience of a typical cigar store. The inspired cuisine coexists harmoniously with the best Habanas, offering treats like the lavish Havana fillet, a garlic-covered wonder. For those not too keen on cigar smoke, there is a non-smoking area. The original branch downtown was ranked by the American magazine Newsweek as one of the eight best in the Americas.