therioguide: I am a British writer living and working in sunny Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I made my escape from rainy Manchester, England in 2007, and now live in Santa Teresa with my crazy Brazilian dog, Clara.

Lapa Street Party

The bars of Ipanema and Leblon might boast the priciest cocktails, the most expensive outfits and the longest queues, but if you want nightlife with a real ’Rio’ vibe then there’s only one place to head for – Lapa.Whether you’re after nightclubs playing live samba, bars playing hip hop or just hordes of tipsy locals drinking fruity cocktails on the street, Lapa is the place.Weekends are the best time to head here, when the square in front of the iconic Arcos da Lapa...

March 26th, 2008 | Rio de Janeiro | Read More

‘Hostel Alley’

Rio’s hostels range from enormous party places with 40-bed dorms, bars and even hot tubs to laid back digs with an emphasis on friendly staff and helpful service. If the latter appeals to you, then your first port of call when arriving in Rio should be Rua Barão da Torre in Ipanema. Tucked away on a gated sidestreet is ‘hostel alley’ – six or seven dinky little backpacker havens each with dorms and private rooms. The first to open was Harmonia – a Swedish-owned...

March 26th, 2008 | Rio de Janeiro | Read More

Bar do Arnaudo

The name is a little misleading – Bar do Arnaudo is not actually a bar at all, but a fantastic little restaurant that has been feeding hordes of hungry cariocas for over 30 years. Tucked away in the leafy, bohemian neighbourhood of Santa Teresa, the little tavern is full of knick-knacks such as miniatures of the famous Santa Teresa tram, and original pieces by Chilean artist (and local resident) Selarón. Informal is the watchword here, and you’ll feel more comfortable turning up...