One of the delights of going out and drinking and eating in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is hitting the botecos or botequims – traditional, unpretentious neighbourhood bars. After a couple of weeks in the city we developed some favourites that we’d return to in a heartbeat. These are the botecos and botequims we think are Rio’s best neighbourhood bars.
Lacking any kind of pretensions, these Rio de Janeiro neighbourhood bars range from atmospheric old sipping spots such as Bar Bracarense, which opened in 1961, to traditional pubs such as Bar Jobi, established in 1956, that may not have much charm but more than make up for it with friendly service, great value drinks and delicious food.
Here are Rio’s best neighbourhood bars and our favourite sipping spots that we love to visit on a Rio de Janeiro boteco hop – like a bar hop, only better!
A Boteco Hop to Rio de Janeiro’s Best Local Neighbourhood Bars
Brazil’s glorious seaside city, Rio de Janeiro is home to so many relaxed, unpretentious neighbourhood bars. To give you an idea of what we love about them: one of our favourite local sipping spots is Bar Urca, a simple counter bar downstairs and casual restaurant upstairs.
Located on the bay-side, locals buy their drinks and snacks at the counter and take them across the road to sit on the sea wall overlooking Guanabara Bay and sip and munch under the moonlight. The views are spectacular day and night, but we love the evening vibe.
Aside from the affordable drink prices, one of the best things about Bar Urca and other neighbourhood bars in Rio de Janeiro are the plates of hot snacks. We recommend you try queijo coalha asado (roasted curd cheese), bolinho de Bacalao (cod balls), bolinho de quejo (cheese balls), the various croquetas (croquettes), empadas (empanadas) and pastels (like pasties).
After so many disappointing and very expensive meals at many of Rio de Janeiro’s supposedly best places to dine (the ones that have appeared in the latest articles in the New York Times and the like!), we gave up on Rio’s restaurants and instead sought out Rio’s botecos for snacking and sipping. We always had a brilliant time and were never disappointed.
Our Picks of Rio’s Best Neighbourhood Bars
These are our favourite Rio de Janeiro neighbourhood bars.
Academia Da Cachaça
A popular local place with indoor and outdoor seating that specialises in cachaça. Some of the more creative cocktails are a bit weird, so stick to straight cachaça or classic caiparinhas. The snacks are scrumptious – we loved the queijo coalha asado (roasted curd cheese).
Academia Da Cachaça, Rua Conde Bernadotte 26, Leblon
Bar Bracarense
A classic old boteco that has been around for some 60 years or so – they don’t come more local than this. The bolinho de Bacalao (cod balls) and bolinho de quejo (cheese balls) are some of the best we’ve eaten in Rio.
Bar Bracarense, Rua José Linhares 85, Leblon
Bar Jobi
Another traditional-looking pub that has been around since 1956, Bar Jobi also serves meals, so it gets crowded inside for dinner, though locals continue to drink outside.
Bar Jobi, Av. Ataulfo Paiva 1166, Leblon
Bar Urca
Our favourite bar in Rio is a very simple affair with a big counter and not much space at all to drink in the actual bar. But that doesn’t worry the locals who buy their drinks and snacks and take them over the road to socialise with friends on the sea wall. Stunning sea views!
Bar Urca, Rua Cândido Gaffrée 205, Urca
Botequim Informal
At an intersection where there are three excellent neighbourhood bars, this brightly-lit place has some seats on the footpath outside and super-friendly staff. Order a plate of the bolinho de Bacalao (cod balls) which are scrumptious.
Botequim Informal, Rua Visc Caravelas 184, Humaitá
Cobal do Humaitá
Half a dozen bars with outdoor seating that hum with the chatter of locals in the evenings, especially on weekends and during summer. Tourists seem to like Espirito do Chopp though locals hog the plastic seats at Joaquina across the way.
Rua Voluntários da Pátria 446-8, Humaitá
