Blame It on Rio.

Here are some of my favorite spots in Rio de Janeiro. 

With the World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2016, this old standby is new again with culture, cuisine and nightlife.

TOP: The boys from Ipanema play "futevolei," a combination of volleyball and soccer. ABOVE: Not everyone is in speedos and thongs on the famous Ipanema sidewalk by Roberto Burle Marx.

 

EAT

Ipanema

Gero

Northern Italian restaurant. Esthetes will appreciate the design.

Forneria San Sebastião

Simple pasta dishes and brick oven pizzas

ABOVE: The delicious cheeseburger in pizza dough at Forneria San Sebastião.

Center

Amarelinho

near Cinelandia
Classic brazilian dishes and outdoor terrace.

TOP: Amarelinho is yellow inside and out. ABOVE: Feijoada, classic black bean and pork stew, for one at Amarelinho.

 

Confitaria Colombo

A grande Austrian-style café

ABOVE: Breakfast, lunch or snack-time, it's always a good time for the grande Confitaria Colombo.

Gávea

00 (zero-zero)

Dinner and dancing in a fun indoors outdoors club

GOING OUT

Lapa

Circo Voador
Outdoor venue for cool samba/funk  acts.

...Lapa anywhere for that matter.

TOP: Artists like Seu Jorge got their start at Circo Voador,  Rio's answer to CBGB. ABOVE: Lapa's main street has a handful fun, live samba venues like Sacrilegio.

CULTURE

Center

Livraria Travessa

Housed in a colonial era buliding, it's not just great for picking up Paulo Coelho's latest book, they also sell music, DVDs and local magazines.