A quest for something to drink in Rio usually results in an ice-cold beer. This makes sense in a city that’s essentially never cooler than 74 degrees Fahrenheit and often much, much hotter than that. But in recent years, drinking culture in Rio has expanded to include craft beer, craft cocktails, and even wine bars. Here’s what you need to know about finding a drink in Rio.

9 Great Places to Drink in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Cariocas (people who live in Rio) love adult beverages, which they call drinquis (adorably pronounced drinkees). This means there are a lot of places to drink in Rio. Whether you want to sip wine, savor a cocktail, cool off with a craft beer, or join locals at a hip sidewalk hangout, here are nine great places to get a drink in Rio.

Lîbo Comida e Vinho

Lîbo Comida e Vinho (Libo Food and Wine) is located in the Botafogo neighborhood next to Brota vegetarian restaurant. Created by Brota chef Roberta Ciasca and sommelier Maria Freira (from the two-Michelin-star Lasai restaurant), Lîbo helped further the wine bar boom in Rio when it opened in 2024. The wines on offer at Lîbo include Brazilian bottles and international wines. And the food tends toward elegant nibbles like a generous portion of classic ceviche, and excellent knife-cut steak tartare with chopped capers, herbs, and freshly fried chips (though Brota is a vegetarian restaurant, Lîbo is not). That combination has been a hit with locals, who pack the place especially on weekends, to enjoy the indoor and outdoor seating, good food, and sophisticated sips. Among the growing number of wine bars in Rio, Lîbo is the most chic. Reservations are a must.

Casa Tao Longe, Tao Perto

Also in Botafogo is a wine bar called Casa Tao Longe, Tao Perto (Casa TLTP for short), which takes a fast and loose approach to Brazilian wine. Opened in Botagofo in 2024, there are also TLTP locations in Portugal and in Sao Paulo and further Brazilian expansion is being considered. The focus of TLTP is always on local small producers. For example, in Portugal, all wines served are Portuguese. When we visited the Botafogo location–in a tiny space that used to do burger deliveries–there were about a dozen different Brazilian wines on the list, all served on tap (wineries deliver wine to TLTP in 5-gallon/20-liter bottles). Many of the small producers featured at TLTP were new to us, which was exciting. Grab a folding chair on the sidewalk and order by the glass, or have a growler filled to take with you. The pared-down space lacks a kitchen, so food is limited to charcuterie and occasional special pop-ups like fresh oysters. Among the growing number of wine bars in Rio, TLTP–which means So Near, So Far in Portuguese–is the most casual and the most funky.

Belisco Bar de Vinhos

When we visited Belisco Bar de Vinhos (Belisco Wine Bar) in the Botafogo neighborhood of Rio, the growing cellar included about 160 bottles, with 30 offered by the glass. Owners Chef Monique Gabiatti and sommelier Gabri Teixeira explained that the word belisco means “pinch” in Brazilian Portuguese. In this case, the pair is using “pinch” to indicate taking a pinch of a dish. Plates at Belisco, which opened in 2022, are meant to be shared. Among the growing number of wine bars in Rio, Belisco has the most “girls night out” energy.

Bar Tero and Cafe Tero

We stumbled upon Bar Tero, in the Botafogo neighborhood, and we were instantly charmed by the neighborhood bar vibe. The tiny space is inviting as are the tables and chairs set up on the sidewalk. Bar Tero claims to be the first vermuteria in Rio, and their housemade vermouth is very good, as are the small plates, lunch specials, and full meals served at Bar Tero. On some nights, they manage to cram a band in by the bar for live music. Happily, we also stumbled upon Cafe Tero in the centro/downtown area of Rio. This sister location is a larger open-air affair with a similarly inviting atmosphere and menu. Both Bar Tero and Cafe Tero made our post about the Best Food & Beverages of 2025.

Liz Cocktails & Wine

Liz Cocktails & Wine, in the Leblon neighborhood, is the brainchild of Tai Barbin who has created far more than just a great cocktail bar. Yes, the cocktails are noteworthy. However, Liz Cocktails & Wine also creates a world all its own with a new theme each year that includes graphics, new cocktails, a new menu, new merchandise, and more. The cocktails at Liz Cocktails & Wine aren’t burdened by those themes. Instead, judicious creativity results in complex but sensible classic cocktails, Brazilian favorites (definitely order a rabo de galo cocktail here), and cocktails that riff on the bar theme. A menu of well-made shareable snacks adds to the temptation to spend a few hours in the polished and comfortable indoor and outdoor areas of the bar. For all of these reasons, Liz Cocktails & Wine made it into our post about the Best Food & Beverages of 2025.

Hocus Pocus DNA

Hocus Pocus Cervejeria is known for high-quality craft beer with names like Major Tom and labels that very often have something to do with outer space. They also operate Hocus Pocus DNA. Head to this brewpub in the Botafogo of Rio for lunch specials, burgers, sandwiches, and snacks. Our shredded ossobuco sandwich on a ciabatta roll was good, but made even better with the addition of the coleslaw that came with our plate of tender pork schnitzel with pumpkin puree. Or just pop in for some great craft beer. With about 14 award-winning beers on tap, many in the style of USA breweries, there’s something for everyone.

Garota de Ipanema

You’ve heard the song. Now visit the bar where the original version of the bossa nova hit “The Girl from Ipanema” (“Garota de Ipanema” in Portuguese) was allegedly inspired. The story goes that in 1962, Brazilian composer Antônio Carlos Jobim and Portuguese lyricist Vinícius de Moraes noticed a beautiful girl who passed by the Veloso Bar in Ipanema every day. Inspiration struck, and the duo went on to write the original version of “The Girl From Ipanema,” which was subsequently rewritten and rerecorded many times, including a version by Frank Sinatra (some claim it’s the second-most-recorded song in the world after the Beatles’ “Yesterday”). The most famous version of “The Girl from Ipanema” is the 1965 version from Stan Getz and João Gilberto, which became a hit around the world. The original Veloso Bar has been renamed Garota de Ipanema (mimicking the song title) and is part of the Garota group, which has five bars around Rio. This is not the best bar in Rio, however, it holds a unique place in Brazilian culture and slings a decent beer. Pop in for a cold one, check out the girl from Ipanema memorabilia that decorates the bar, then move on. 

Chanchada Bar

Chanchada Bar, in the Botafogo neighborhood, started life in 2021 as a tiny kitchen and bar with a few seats supplemented by a sea of tables and chairs on the wide sidewalk in front. Locals fill those tables, eager for ice-cold beer or Chanchado’s inventive cocktails. For example, the well-spiced bloody Mary, made with thinned tomato juice for a less gloppy effect, is legit. The Brazzino cocktail, made with bourbon, Tabasco, Angostura bitters, and lemon slices, was summery and refreshing. And the rabo de galo at Chanchada was a well-balanced mix of bitter and sweet. Locals also come looking for menu favorites like Chanchada’s epic plate of large cubes of pork belly fried to crispy, meaty, succulent perfection. Some people actually clap with joy when their plates arrive. A 2025 expansion added a dining room in addition to the sidewalk seating. Chancada is also somehow affiliated with a nearby sidewalk kiosk that sells movie posters and zines. We’d love to explain what the connection is. However, affable owner Bruno Katz is remarkably bad at answering emails with our questions about Chanchada or any of his other projects…

Bip Bip

A tiny and unassuming bar on a side street in the Copacabana neighborhood of Rio is a beloved temple of bossa nova and samba. Open just a few nights a week, Bip Bip (pronounced Beep Beep) is always the same drill: a changing cast of musicians is seated around a table inside while customers gather on the sidewalk outside. Grab yourself a cold beer from a refrigerator in the back and the owner, usually sitting at the head of the musicians’ table, somehow keeps track of what you, and everyone else, drinks. Bip Bip is no-frills, sweaty fun that’s a cultural institution for a reason.

Sadly, the Rio bar/restaurant that had our go-to happy hour for beer, wine, cocktails, and oysters is now closed. So, if anyone knows a great place for happy hour in Rio, tell us in the comments section below!

 

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