Rio Bars for Budget Travelers

Sadly for budget travelers, the days when Rio offered a bargain break in the sun are long gone.

Local 'corner bars' are fun and budget-friendly places to drink in Rio

While your tourist dollar, Euro or pound would have stretched a long way just a couple of years ago, current exhange rates and increasingly high prices in the city mean that you’ll need to be careful to avoid blowing the budget in Rio. ioBut cutting back on spending doesn’t mean cutting back on fun in Rio, and nightowls needn’t panic if, at first glance, the bar scene seems prohibitively expensive.

While partiers might need to speak with their bank manager before visiting some of the chic and sleek bars of Ipanema and Leblon, cutting back on spending needn’t mean cutting back on fun during your budget break in Rio. Steer clear of the pricey, formal bar-restaurants that deliver something of a sterile drinking experience, and opt instead for the simple, unpretentious ‘pe sujo’ (which literally means ‘dirty feet’) bars that are to be found on every street corner across the city.

Here  you’ll have the opportunity to meet locals from all walks of life, from hard-up students to workers looking for a  chilled beer and a spot of conversation.  These bars are often characterised by plastic tables and chairs, and foreigners are usually met with a friendly curiosity (you won’t find these no-frills bars in the tourist guide books) .  Be prepared to practice your Portuguese, as you’re unlikely to find an English-speaking bar tender at these bars.

These simple spots are also good places to refuel without spending a fortune – stodgy savoury pastries are available round the clock, while plates of meat, chicken or fish with rice, beans and potatoes are often available at lunchtimes. Vegetarians on a budget in Rio should look out for the coloured boiled eggs that are a staple of these neighborhood bars – usually R$1 or less, these make good snacks to keep you going during a drinking session.

When it comes to drinking at these bars, local etiquette needs to be observed.  Beer will almost always be served in a large bottle, and the barman will ask you how many cups are required. The heat means that beer needs to be drunk quickly, so beers are shared between friends. That includes new friends, so be sure to offer a glass to any friendly locals that try to strike up conversation. It’s more than likely that you will be offered plenty of refills in return as the night goes on. These local bars can be found right across the city, with a good example to be found on the corner next to Ipanema’s ‘Hostel Alley’ (map).