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Rio Party Weekend

Author: Lucy

Day 1 - Rio de Janeiro

Hostels are a great, budget-friendly option for partiers looking for a cheap holiday in Rio de Janeiro, and there’s always a warm welcome and a lively atmosphere at Copacabana Wave Hostel. Here you’re just a couple of minutes’ walk from the legendary Copacabana Beach, so grab your skimpiest swimwear and head down to the beachfront to work on that tan and admire the beautiful Brazilian girls and boys as they saunter by. But while there are some stunning physical specimens to be seen here, don’t worry if you’ve not been hitting the gym for a while – there are plenty of mere mortals on the beach too! After a bite to eat and a beer or a cooling coconut water at one of the many kiosks that line Copacabana beachfront, head back to the hostel for a quick change of clothes before grabbing a Metro to Carioca station, close to the boarding point for the Santa Teresa Bonde. The rattling old tram not only feels like a fairground ride, but it also takes in some spectacular views of Centro and Guanabara Bay as it makes its white knuckle journey across the Lapa Arches. At just 60 centavos, the bonde has to be one of the cheapest tourist attractions in Rio de Janeiro! Jump off the bonde at Largo do Guimaraes, the pretty square at the heart of this bohemian neighbourhood and spend some time getting browsing the vintage clothes shops before enjoying a drink in one of Santa Teresa’s many characterful bars. A tip – get off the tourist trail and follow the ‘Paulo Mattos’ line (the other line goes to Dois Irmaos) bonde track down past Rua Monte Alegre to its end point at Largo das Neves. Here you’ll find a cute little square, with three very good little bar/restaurants. Order a ‘batida de gengibre’ (sugar cane rum infused with ginger) at one of the bars, have it served in a plastic cup and take a seat on one of the square’s benches as you wait for the drink to take its effect – the stuff is like rocket fuel! Undo a little of the damage by enjoying a plate of hearty North Eastern Food at Bar do Arnaudo, before joining the lively crowd at Simplesmente. At around midnight, grab a cab down to Lapa and join the Friday night street party. Hiphop fans should make a point of stopping for a minutes to make like Snoop Dogg and Pharell pose on the Escadaria Selaron (Lapa Steps) before heading to the pumping Club Six.

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Copacabana Wave Hostel

Location:

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Travessa Cristiano Lacorte, 46
Copacabana
Rio de Janeiro,

Phone:

55 21 2227-1846

Copacabana Beach

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Location:

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Avenida Atlantica and Xavier da Silveira
22010-000 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

+55 21 2542 8080

Bar do Arnaudo

Location:

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Rua Almirante Alexandrino, 316
Santa Teresa
20241-260 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

55 21 2252 7246

Bonde de Santa Teresa

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Location:

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Rua Professor Lélio Gama, 65
Centro
20031-080 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

+55 21 222 1003 / +55 21 242 2354

Santa Teresa

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Ladeira de Santa Teresa
20241-140 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Bar do Arnaudo

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Location:

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Rua Almirante Alexandrino 316, loja B
20441-260 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

55 21 2252 7246

Simplesmente

Location:

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115 Rua Paschoal Carlos Magno
20240-290 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

55 21 9781 2451

Escadaria Selarón

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Escadaria do Convento de Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa
20241-130 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Lapa Street Party

Location:

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Rua da Lapa
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Club Six

Location:

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Rua das Marrecas 38, Lapa
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

55 21 2510 3230

Day 2 - Rio de Janeiro

Lapa nights rarely end before sunrise, so you’ll want to have a lie in at the hostel before attempting to head out for the day. Rehydrate with a couple of coconut waters (these really are excellent for curing hangovers) and steady your stomach for a trip to Urca and Pao de Acucar (Sugar Loaf mountain). It may be ‘touristy’, but visitors flock here for good reason – the views from the top are absolutely spectacular. Once you’ve come back down to earth, enjoy a drink by the bay at Bar e Restaurante Urca, before making the 10-minute walk up to Botafogo, a residential area packed with interesting bars and restaurants. Miam Miam is one of the hippest places to eat in Rio, without being remotely snooty, and its food, though on the pricey side, is excellent. After eating your fill, head for cocktails at the dinky little pavement bar Drinkeria Maldita, before going on to dance the night away at offbeat bar/nightclub Bar Bukowski (Yes, it’s named after the cult writer).

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Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf)

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Location:

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Praia Vermelha
Urca
22290-270 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

+55 21 2461 2700

Bar e Restaurante Urca

Location:

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Rua Candido Gafree 205, Urca
22291-080 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

55 21 2295 8744

Miam Miam

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Rua General Goes Monteiro 34
Botafogo
22290-080 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

55 21 2244-0125

Drinkeria Maldita

Location:

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10 Rua Voluntários da Pátria
22270-010 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

55 21 2527 2456

Bar Bukowski

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Location:

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270 Rua Álvaro Ramos
22280-110 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

55 21 2244 7303

Day 3 - Rio de Janeiro

After another well-earned lie in, make your way up to Ipanema and admire the beautiful bodies on the beach before checking out what’s on offer at the Sunday ‘hippie fair’. Despite the name, there’s much more on offer here than tie dye and wind chimes – you’ll find plenty of opportunity to buy arty knick knacks, clothes, and gifts. After a bite to eat at New Natural, head back to the beach before sunset drinks and a meal at Barril 1800. There are plenty of good bars in the area, and, after midnight, Emporio is always packed with a mixed crowd of locals and tourists.

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