This is what I would call a "traditional club." Located inside a planetarium, you can usually hear house beats, electronic, and that kind of thing.
Of the three UK/Irish pubs in Rio that I know this is by far my favorite. It's an intimate place with darts in the back. But here's the cool thing: karaoke, but not just any karaoke. A live band plays behind you. Every night? Not sure. Maybe only Thursday. So simple. So odd. But pretty cool. The band needs to learn how to play more tunes and they were a bit more interested in the soccer game behind me, but hey, where else can you really feel like a rock star?
This is now my favorite place in Rio. In many ways it is like a smaller version of Casa da Matriz. It is a club that kind of seems like it's in a house--but even more so. This place is a house, but impeccably clean and freshly painted. There's a snooker table upstairs and a room with comfy sofas where you can play your own record: Cazusa, the Cure, etc. Downstairs there's a packed dance floor with alternative music galore.
I've been going here for eight years. It's awesome if you like alternative rock, '80s, and that kind of thing. It's a bit like a combo of DJ Club and Fun House in Sao Paulo. To satisfy your dorky needs, they have two arcade games inside. Friday nights seems to be devoted to MPB, so unless you like that, I wouldn't go then.
This is a two-floored, open space in a pink house that specializes in reggae and soul. On a night in March 2010 for a mere R$15 could you get a can of Red Bull and a big glass of vodka. Filthy bathrooms.
I've been here once, circa 2006. There were screens everywhere that synched shots from famous, cool films to alternative music, rock, and whatnot.
I'm not sure why the only picture I could find of Cinemathèque shows two girls kissing. I guess it's possible. For that matter, I have no idea why Cinemathèque is called Cinemathèque. It has nothing to do with cinema. Anyway, at night it's a bar and club. Downstairs is more of a lounge scene with people in their thirties. Upstairs is a black hole with a DJ and weird bright white mirror lights and people dancing who couldn't be more than 17. No ID required, which might explain it. I don't plan to return.
I kid you not. This place is terrible. Absolutely terrible. Unless you enjoy watching waiters singing karaoke style medleys like you're on a cruise ship, slow service, and tasteless food, don't go. I honestly can't imagine this place existing more more than another day.
There was a time when this bar was my place. Simple little bar where lots of gringos and cariocas converge. The last times I went there (2007 and 2009), however, I wasn't so impressed with the music. There's a little dance floor in the back. Take my word for it: the beer is terrible. The owner's kind of a jerk. Still. Something about this place. I really don't know how alternative the music is anymore.
This place has a kind of alternative feel, but is a bit pricey. Back in 2006 I thought it was pretty cool, but it seems less alternative now and more of a mainstream "club" club.
This is a little Irish bar where Ipanama meets Leblon. It's been around for more than 30 years. It's okay.
This is a hostel located (safely) high in a favela. The view is said to be incredible, as you can see on the website. Jazz.
This is a live music bar and restaurant. Pretty popular. A bit pricey.
Whoever invented this place knows exactly what they are doing. Crowded, but not too crowded, good men/women ratio. Decent music. Sports bar. This would be the best place to start a night out in Copacabana. Oh. Pretty cheap too.
R. Visconde de Pirajá, 112 - Ipanema
This is like the insanely
crowded, popular version of
Lord Jim.
I'm not a fan of this place, but it might only be because both nights that I've been there the music sucked. It's a live music kind of place with three floors. I saw samba there most recently (March 2010), but back in the day I recall seeing very bad alternative rock. According to their schedule they have various types of nights. Food.
Yet another Irish pub. Two levels, new bar that arrived in Rio in December of 2009. Modern. Huge projector/TV screen and an area to dance. Bands.