Colorful, boho- chic dresses and tunics are displayed on luggage trolleys at Brazilian designer Adriana Barra’s new flagship store, in Jardins.... Read More
Rio-born-and-bred Bernardo sells strictly contemporary jewelry designs, many in his signature matte finish. Earrings go for about $2,000, but the... Read More
Guarulhos Airport seriously lacks world-class shopping, something it must rectify before Brazil hosts the 2014 World Cup; but for now, this jewelry shop... Read More
The Marina All Suites Hotel bar is a Technicolor pastiche of ice-blue and orange walls and Jetsons-style bar stools—all occupied by tall, tan,... Read More
The cozy, tiled Original elevates draft beer to high science. The brew (small-bubbled Brahma) rests in iceberg-cold tanks for at least two days to... Read More
Most international flights to Brazil arrive around sunrise: head out of customs and head straight ahead to start the day off with the country’s... Read More
Arrange a visit through your hotel or through Singtur, which has guides for both city and candomblé tours. Read More
Dancer and choreographer Carlinhos de Jesus heads this Rio ballroom dance school, where teachers give instruction in typical Brazilian rhythms like... Read More
The Christ the Redeemer statue, high atop Corcovado mountain, is the most famous icon of Rio—and one of the best-known attractions in the world. The... Read More
The three-story shop features cutting-edge local Brazilian clothing designs, luxe wood interiors, and a bird aviary. Read More
Brazil's most venerable chocolatier (founded in 1894) is hidden on a narrow street in chaotic Centro. The sweets, coffees, and tropical marmalades come... Read More
A nightclub-cum-antiques store. Read More
A nightclub-cum-antiques store. Read More
Thousands of tourists flock to this world-famous beach each year to sun themselves among the sea of Cariocas in Brazilian bikinis. The beach runs for 2... Read More
Atop one of the city's highest peaks, the world-renowned statue of Christ the Redeemer gives way to 360-degree views. Take the 123-year-old Corcovado... Read More
One of the city’s coolest electronic-music clubs, D-Edge attracts partiers with a wild dance room that makes you feel like you’re inside a... Read More
The 25,000-square-foot store is the city’s gargantuan temple of chic - dealing in everything from cars to carry-alls. Read More
Part of Rio's charm lies in the fact that its landmark treasures range from the classic (Christ the Redeemer) to the quirky—best exemplified by this... Read More
This tiny art gallery run by Brazil’s government-owned airport management company hosts small monthly painting, sculpture, and photo exhibitions... Read More
Run by the Pousada Etnia, this shop has Osklen bikinis and swim trunks; colorful tops and dresses from Rio’s Cantão label; and a good... Read More
This sultry samba club has nightly live music. Read More
Galeria Melissa is a mecca for plastic and rubber footwear. Expect stylish sandals, sneakers, and kitten heels by Vivienne Westwood, Karim Rashid, and... Read More
The bar where, legend has it, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinícius de Morais wrote the song The Girl from Ipanema, and where you can still hear live... Read More
In the evening, "urban bossa" and other live music entertains an energetic crowd . Read More
Brazil’s most recognized jeweler specializes in local gemstones, most notably the bluish tourmaline, a stone commonly found throughout Minas... Read More
If you’ve been putting off a visit to the dentist, this spotless dental office will clean your teeth, whiten, and take X-rays for a fraction of... Read More
Texas-based HomeAway lists 30 properties along the coconut grove–lined coast, and its "rent with confidence" guarantee refunds unsatisfied guests... Read More
Originally founded in 1636, this church was rebuilt in Neoclassical style in 1828. Read More
The seventeenth-century church combines Neoclassical interiors with Baroque and Rococo carvings located in the sacristy. Read More
The second-oldest church in Brazil was built by Portuguese settlers in 1586. Its defiantly plain façade—broken by a door, a window, and a... Read More
Ipanema Beach, the stretch of white sand on Rio's coast between Arpoador and Leblon beaches, is considered the jewel in the city's crown. The area... Read More
Here, Japanese karepan (curry buns) are sold alongside Brazilian palmito cakes and eggy breads laced with Portuguese sausage. Read More
Rio's botanical gardens feature more than 8,000 plant species and date back to 1808. The space features awe-inspiring spectacles of nature, starting... Read More
Above the city's fray in the boho-chic hilltop neighborhood of Santa Teresa sits a tiny shop specializing in native crafts. Loosely woven cotton rugs in... Read More
A luxurious haven for locals, Lagoa is one of Rio's most desirable neighborhoods. Nestled under the peaks of Corcovado Mountain, visitors will find a... Read More
Famous for its Bohemian culture, architecture, and music, Lapa is, in many ways, the soul of Rio. Pass through the neighborhood's colonial aqueduct and... Read More
A typical airport bookstore with a limited selection of English paperbacks and a lot of people flipping through Caras, one of Brazil’s best-known... Read More
Rent a car at the airport—it’s an hour to Trancoso—or hire a driver ($113) through Mangue Alto Turismo. Owner Henrique Costa speaks... Read More
Maracanã is one of the biggest soccer stadiums in the world and an icon in soccer-obsessed Brazil. If you can score tickets, and are brave enough to mix... Read More
Skinny pants, diaphanous camis, and slinky tube dresses in eye-popping orange and fuchsia fill the racks at this younger, hipper sister to Brazilian... Read More
This Sao Paulo-based boutique travel agency specializes in custom luxury itineraries from Bahia to the Amazon. Robert Betenson is an invaluable local... Read More
With its soaring tin roof and stained-glass windows, the century-old Manaus fish market is nothing if not a temple dedicated to Amazonian biodiversity,... Read More
Tangy olives, linguica sausages, and salt cod (legacies of Portuguese rule) sit cheek by jowl with native tropical fruit and Amazonian chiles at this... Read More
Although not quite a thousand, there are more than a hundred flavors of natural ice creams and sorbets at this shop near the Jardim Botânico. Mil... Read More
The museum hold an extensive collection of crafts that trace the African tradition in Brazil. The structure of the museum was once Brazil’s first... Read More
Rio's newest museum—opened in March 2013 and known as MAR by locals—is part of the revitalization of the port area of the city. Just the architecture... Read More
The Museum of Modern Art Rio, or MAM Rio, was started in 1948 in a room of the Baovista Bank, and moved in 1967 to a Modernist building where it remains... Read More
Designed by world-famous architect Oscar Niemeyer, the Museu de Arte Contemporanea Niteroi is an architectural masterpiece that houses a massive,... Read More
Oscar Niemeyer's architectural masterpiece was completed late in his life—1996—but has the same fantastic improbability and masterful... Read More
The famous bar serves up a vast selection of cachaças and other local, traditional drinks. Read More
Designer Oskar Metsavaht's clothes, wave-riding gear, and microscopic bikinis are a sleek, no-frills marriage of Miu Miu and Quicksilver—and come... Read More
Fresh batches of pão de queijo - irresistibly chewy, buttery bread made with cassava flour - are baked daily at the pocket-size bakery. Read More
Petropolis, just over an hour away from Rio, is a perfect day trip. The "Imperial City of Brazil" is best experienced through a visit to the Imperial... Read More
Espelho is one of Bahia’s loveliest beaches, a vivid collage of blue water, creamy yellow sand, red cliffs, and lush green forest. Driftwood and... Read More
Nightclub?Bar?Furniture warehouse?It defies description, but if you go to only one place, check out Rio Scenarium—two adjacent three-story... Read More
Years as agent: 8. Other specialty: Family reunions. Consulting fee: $50 a day, not above $500 total. bobby@matuete.com Read More
Once a place for upper-class homes, the neighborhood of Santa Teresa has recently been revived as a cultural hot spot. Artists' studios and galleries... Read More
Some of Rio's most beautiful—and well-preserved—colonial architecture can be found in these adjacent up-and-coming neighborhoods. The... Read More
Book your visit to the Candomblé ceremonies through Singtur, which has guides for city tours as well. Read More
This small artistic shop features a rotating selection of colorful wearable art and kitschy home wares, preserved in resin. Most interesting are jewelry... Read More
Sugarloaf Mountain, or Pão de Açúcar, is a must-visit for anyone exploring Rio. Like most view-oriented attractions, it's best taken in on a cloudless... Read More
Among the diapers and canned hearts of palm are dozens of Havaianas at only $6 a pair (a fourth of the cost on the Quadrado). Read More
The link between Manaus's two booms, the Teatro, the undisputed centerpiece of what the town fathers hope will become a nice little tourist industry,... Read More
This Oscar Niemeyer-designed theater holds 400 as part of an eight-building cultural complex overlooking Guanabara Bay and Rio. The complex will include... Read More
This small spa steeped in Asian aesthetics and L’Occitane products is the best (okay, the only) spot to relax away a layover with a shiatsu... Read More
Widely known as the best place in Rio to explore nature, this lush Atlantic rain forest has spectacular views, unusual trees, beautiful waterfalls ... Read More
