We’re off again! This time it’s to the beaches of Rio for the New Year’s Eve parties. One of the questions we get asked a lot here at Jet Set Life is how do you find all those cool places that you put into your videos and guidebooks. The short answer is – through trusted people that “get” how the Jet Set like to roll. There’s really no magic formula, website or magazine. It’s really about vetting the source. For example, if I ask someone to tell me a cool restaurant in Rio, my answers can range from the common tourist trap to 5 star hotel concierge recommendations (which we’re usually not into unless it’s the right concierge). So what’s a brother to do? Find cool people and ask them! However, it doesn’t end there. We then have to vet every single place (and in many cases endure the crap – so you don’t have to) and boil it all down to the best of the best spots.
It usually takes a few months of pre-trip planning to uncover the right spots. I thought it would be interesting to give you a copy of my “raw” pre-planning list before we headed to Rio.
A few notes about the Rio “pre trip list”. It is a rough list. You’ll see that it’s sectioned off into categories. The categories represent the flow that I think the day to night will likely go in. The URL’s represent any websites, flicker photo links or anything else that may help me get a feel for what the vibe might be like at that particular venue.
If anyone reading this list thinks I may have gotten something wrong somewhere – bite me. No, just kidding. Tell me! I WANT to know! But, I’m a picky mutha – so tell me WHY you think it’s the wrong spot.
So, without further ado, I present to you my Rio “pre-trip” rough list (did I mention it’s a rough list)…
Restaurants
1. Zuka (Leblon)- http://snipurl.com/4p8ut
Rua dias Ferreira, 233 District: Leblon Telephone: +55 21 3205 7154
Modern ambience with style and contemporary food, great vibe, good looking people, a place to see and be seen. Don’t miss it.
2. Sushi Leblon (Leblon)- http://snipurl.com/4p8rx
Rua Dias Ferreira, 256 District: Leblon Telephone: +55 21 2274 1342
This is the best sushi restaurant with a sophisticated ambience. Definitely worth the wait, the food is amazing, the service good and the crowd enhances the ambiance. If in Rio you have to visit Sushi Leblon.
3. Satyricion (Ipanema)- http://snipurl.com/4p8r1
Rua Barão da Torre 192, District: Ipanema Telephone: +55 21 2521 0627
Dramatic entrance with a lobster tank and other scallops, oysters, tropical clams, mussels and so on. This is a unique and pioneering restaurant and is considered one of the best among sea food restaurants. Mick Jagger, as you know, have been coming to Brazil quite often now to see his kid, Lucas. He leaves his hotel only to visit the Satyricon- a restaurant that he classifies amongst the very best in the world. It use to be a fisherman’s joint! Amazing how it was transformed!
4. Gero (Ipanema)- http://snipurl.com/4p8wr
District: Ipanema Telephone: +55 21 2239 8158
Great Italian restaurant where we often see different celebrities, it offers an amazing wine list and are famous for their desserts (great lemon petit gateau). Great place, very good food and service, beautiful people. It is difficult to get a table, remember to make a reservation.
5. Mr. Lam-
Rua Maria Angélica, 21 Telephone: +55 21 2286 6661
Very stylish Chinese restaurant 3rd floor of a house, modern cuisine. Very trendy, large restaurant with Asian decor. Great location overlooking the lagoa. Food is good. Overall, a good trendy experience.
6. Aprazivel- http://snipurl.com/4p95q
Rua Aprazível 62 Telephone: +55 21 2508 9174
This is a Casual trendy place with a view and Brazilian contemporary food with a very pleasant surprise. Ambiance is great, the neighborhood, though dodgy, is old and quaint. Great views! Northeastern Brazilian food is the staple here, tasty and inventive. Great atmosphere in Santa Teresa and very good Brazilian food. Book the tree tables with 3 to 2 days in advance. This is much better for lunch since I don’t recommend going up Santa Teresa at night for safety reasons.
7. Roberta Sudbrack- http://snipurl.com/4p98h
Rua Lineu de Paula Machado 916, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Telephone: +55 213874-0139
Very exclusive and detailed oriented, this is an elegant bistro full of surprises, stunning and delicious dishes, besides good music and ambiance.
Lounges
1. Londro (Ipanema) www.fasano.com.br/site_hoteis_br.php
Avenida Viera Souto, 80 – Ipanema Telephone: +55 21 3202-4000
Beautiful bar is located in the lobby level of the Fasano Hotel towards the end of the bright runway. It opens every day of the week after 7pm. Most famous DJ’s duos, trios and bands play here to an extremely exclusive crowd. There are few good places to go in Rio, this is the only one I can go to. Thanks Rogerio Fasano for building Fasano in Rio.
2. 00 Zero Zero (Leblon)- www.00site.com.br
Rua Padre Leonel Franca 240 District: Gávea inside planetary Telephone: +55 21 2540-8042
Clean décor, full of pillows and candles, outside there is always a sushi man preparing fresh sushi. Inside hot dishes are served. Saturday nights are fantastic, great music and beautiful people. Lounge outside and there is house music inside. You will thank me. It definitively becomes more interesting later on. Thursday, just the place to be. Half of the place is outdoors which gives it a nice atmosphere.
3. Boox (Ipanema)- www.boox.com.br
Rua Barao da Torre, 368 District: Ipanema Telephone: +55 21 2522 3730
Thursday or Friday: A contemporary Italian restaurant, which is a great lounge that almost becomes a nightclub, with great music and ambience. This is a classy, sophisticated, fun, great restaurant on ground level and a lounge upstairs that becomes a club after midnight. Saturday is always good. There is an amazing DJ, great mix of people, many Euros. It is small and selective. Beautiful people, great music. Boox: is the best lounge in Ipanema. Make reservations on this one. I’ll probably have the best table there on Friday the 26. So join me if you are interested.
4. Rio Scenarium (Lapa) – http://www.rioscenarium.com.br
Rua do Lavradio District: Lapa Telephone: +55 21 3852 5516
Go Saturdays: A must if you are in Rio. See Rio in its 1920s. Its a bar, a restaurant, a nightclub all in one. Very moderate prices (compared to Europe), live music (great Samba stuff, lots of people dancing) very good caipirinha and lots of people. Try to get there on Wednesday or weekend and book a table next to the dance floor. This is a 2,700 sq foot space which a few years back was an obscure antique store. Today, every weekend sees a clientele of 3,000. People dance all night long and everyday there’s a party. If you go to one club in Rio make it this one. It’s my favorite samba club in Rio with live Brazilian music located in Lapa. Hot on Fridays and Saturdays. Arrive before 10:30. The line can be brutal.
5. Estrela da Lapa (Lapa)- http://www.estreladalapa.com.br
Rua Mem de Sá 69, Rio de Janeiro Telephone: +55 21 2507-6686
Good architecture, good performances, and charm in the Rio de Janeiro night. It is a place full of excitement, where even the waiters dance. Visually attractive, three floors are combined into one, a feeling of capaciousness. Great appetizers and drinks are served with a lot of enthusiasm. Proof that Lapa’s appeal extends beyond the young and bohemian. This elegant new star in the neighborhood caters to the moneyed 35-and-older Zona Sul crowd. Music varies from jazz to salsa, samba, swing, and even instrumental. The venue — a restored Lapa mansion — is lovely, and though the stage is small, three levels of seating make for enough room even on busy nights.
6. Nuth (Barra)- http://www.nuth.com.br
Av. Armando Lombardi, 999 District: Barra da Tijuca Telephone: +55 21 3153 8595
Lounge and club with a wonderful atmosphere where music is often great. Younger crowd (after hours) gets hot at 4am. 20 min cab ride. A bit far away, near Barra, but a great club with outdoors space. Music is good and lots of good looking men/women. Some say it’s not worth the drive anymore.
Shopping
1. Reserva (Ipanema)- http://www.usereserva.com
Rua Maria Quiteria, 77 District: Ipanema Telephone: +55-21-2247-5980
The new cool thing in Ipanema: Reserva is definitely the best newbie in Carioca clothing… I still love Osklen, but here’s another option…sometimes even better! PS: I really like the bird in the brand…great polos, BTW… PPS: really funky website…there you can check out some looks…
2. Osklen (Ipanema)- www.osklen.com
Rua Maria Quiteria 85 District: Ipanema Telephone: +55 21 2227 2911
Osklen is by far the most authentic and sophisticated option for clothing with stores all over the country and also in Milan, Rome, New York, Geneva. The designer, Oskar Metsavaht, is internatially acclaimed for his “Brazilian Soul” inspired lifestyle brand, which is also very active in environmental causes. It’s a must when in Rio.
Swimwear
1. Lenny- Swim wear
2. Andrea Saletto- Womens fashion store
3. Bum Bum- Swimwear
4. Salinas- Swimwear
5. Osklen- Trendy Brazillian store unisex
Things to do
1. Beach Pepe- Ipanema beach and areas between post 9 and Coqueirao.
2. Paragliding – http://snipurl.com/4p9qk
3. Hang gliding - http://snipurl.com/4p9sb
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I’m hot off the heels of Buenos Aires, so next up, I’m going to give you the highlights. Yes. Tim Ferriss is right you can totally live like a rock star in BsAs. More to come!
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