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We've compiled the best of the best in Copacabana - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Fans of fine cocktails will find a seaside retreat at Spirit Copa, where they can enjoy Brazilian flavors in revisited classic drinks. The food menu includes snacks and tapas to enjoy while enjoying the view. Nonguests can also enjoy the bar inside Fairmont Copacabana hotel but it's better to make a reservation beforehand to secure a table. Some days of the week the bar offers free live music, mostly bossa nova.
Here the roda de samba—where musicians sit and play instruments around a central table (in fact the only table in this tiny bar)—is legendary, as is the help-yourself beer policy. The no-nonsense owner makes drink notations and keeps the crowd in check. The standards of the music here are as high as the bar is simple: big-name Brazilian musicians have been known to drop in for a jam session, and on weekend evenings the revelry often spills out onto the street.
The iconic Blue Note has opened a branch in one of the most musical cities in the world, the birthplace of bossa nova. Every week, big names in Brazilian and international music perform in concerts. Check the updated schedule on the website before you go. The bar also participates in special events in the city, such as the LGBTQ+ parade and New Year's Eve, selling VIP seats.
Brazil is well-known by its music and rhythm, and many come to Rio de Janeiro looking for a place to listen to samba and bossa nova. Historical Movie Theater Roxy in Copacabana was restored and turned into a music hall, with music shows and dinner in one package. Tickets include a bossa nova opening act and a main show with a trip around Brazilian musical traditions for four hours. The event finishes by turning into a big party, gathering artists and audience.
