Drinkeria Malidita – Copacabana gets cool

Copacabana is better known for its strip joints and over-priced, tourist-packed restaurants than its hip nightlife, but the slightly down at heel neighborhood has now received a much-needed coolness injection. Drinkeria Maldita Copacabana, which opened its doors last week, is a sister bar to popular Botafogo hipster hangout Drinkeria Maldita, and brings a interesting programme of DJs and live music to Copa. The name, oddly, translates roughtly as ‘cursed bar’, but cursing will be the last thing on your mind when you try one of the bar’s lipsmackingly good (and head-spinningly strong) cocktails.

The Botafogo branch has picked up a string of awards for its cocktail menu, and Drinkeria Maldita Copacabana doesn’t disappoint either. Ask the barman to whip you up a ‘Diabo’ (Devil) which mixes tequila with pepper and lemon and is a sure fire route to oblivion if you drink more than one! Luckily, there’s some good food to soak up the booze with. The menu here is all about simple dishes, well-made. Think burgers rather than fillet steak, but the versions here are tasty and well presented, and there’s a veggie burger option too.

The musical menu, meanwhile, features live unsigned bands on Tuesdays, an índie karaoke’ night on Wednesdays, and a rock/alternative dance party on Saturdays.  Sunday is dedicated to screenings of live ‘futebol’ games via the wide-screen TV, with rival fans forgetting their differences later on and getting up close and personal to the sound of electronica and indie rock.