5 of Rio de Janeiro lesser-known – and most exciting – neighborhoods

Always culturally lively and joyous, Rio de Janeiro is filled with neighborhoods that have distinct vibes.

You’ve likely heard of such evocative areas as Ipanema, Copacabana and even Lapa. Yet going a bit further afield will bring you to neighborhoods you haven’t seen in the movies, where Cariocas actually live, work and play. 

Lesser known to visitors, these neighborhoods are more than worth checking out on your next trip to Rio. They’re also all wonderful places in which to base yourself, as you explore all that Rio has to offer.

Advertisement

1. Gamboa

Best neighborhood for history, urban culture and nightlife

One of Rio’s most up-and-coming areas lies just north of the city’s center, in a former industrial zone that is slowly transforming.

Following the urban revitalization of Praça Mauá, Gamboa has developed into Rio’s newest cultural center. Visit the breathtaking new Museu de Amanhã, the jewel of Mauá’s revitalization, and its neighbor the Museu de Arte Rio (MAR).

Follow your cultural adventures with lunch at Café Tero, located at the entrance to the historic Morro de Conceição quarter. 

Take a moment to stop at Cais do Valongo, an archaeological site marking the arrival point for enslaved Africans trafficked by European colonizers. You can take in the urban art scene at the Fabrica Bhering before going on a tour of the fabulous Cidade do Samba.

For a night out, start at Bafo da Prainha, then stop at Bar Dellas and continue on to an all-night rager at The Home or Sacadura 154.

Fun though it is, we don’t recommend booking your accommodation in this dense urban zone. Instead, enjoy everything the neighborhood has to offer – then head back to your hotel in another part of the city for a peaceful night’s sleep.

2. Leme

Best neighborhood for beachgoers

Ipanema, Leblon and Copacabana are Rio’s best-known neighborhoods for anyone who wants to lie out on the sand.

Advertisement

Yet a little enclave at the far end of Copacabana sits quietly under the radar and is a favorite of beachgoers in the know. Leme has only a few streets and no through traffic, making things even more laid-back than along the rest of the beachfront.

Grab a coffee at chic Gaia Art Café before heading to lie out (choose Rasta Beach if you want to see and be seen). Enjoy a long, late lunch at French-style eatery S. Bistro before taking a hike up to the Forte Duque de Caxias.

Also up the hill, in the the Chapéu Mangueira favela, is Bar do David, which has some of the best bar food in the city.

Leme has a few beautiful beachfront apartments and lofts on Airbnb, and they’re often much less expensive than equivalents in Ipanema or Leblon. The adventurous can opt for a guesthouse in the Babilônia or Chapéu Mangueira favelas just up the hill; Pousada Estrelas da Babilônia is highly recommended.

3. Botafogo

The best neighborhood for bars and a thriving LGBTIQ+ scene

Grabbing a drink in bustling Botafogo is the best way to end a day at the beach or start a night out. Some of the coolest bars on the scene include Quartinho, where Thursday-night tunes draw a crowd, and Buteco Treme Treme, another LGBTIQ+ favorite that keeps going all night long.

We love the post-beach scene at Baixo Botafogo and Fuska, one of four bars at the intersection of Cap. Salomã and Visc. de Caravelas. Things get going just after sunset as thirsty beachgoers move from the sand to the bar. Botafogo also has excellent restaurants, with everything from creative vegetarian and vegan cafes – such as Naturalie Bistrô or Vegan Vegan – to two of Rio’s Michelin-star restaurants, Lasai and Oteque.

This is historically a student neighborhood and an easy, well-connected place to find inexpensive accommodations. With the metro passing through, plus bike lanes and buses aplenty, it’s easy to get just about anywhere else in town.

4. Jardim Botânico

Best neighborhood for anyone who loves the outdoors, jungles...and brunch

Jardim Botânico is the gateway to the Tijuca National Forest, the largest urban rainforest in the world, which is filled with waterfalls, hiking trails and breathtaking lookout points of the sprawling city skyline.

Thanks to its jungle-backed location, this primarily residential neighborhood is also lush with tropical plants. Fellow residents include tiny monkeys that run along the power lines.

You'll find some of the city's best restaurants along the tree-lined streets here; check out La Bicyclette for brunch or Jojö Café Bistrô for oysters and champagne.

The neighborhood also has two of our favorite Rio attractions: the Jardim Botânico, which lent the area its name, and Parque Lage, whose highlight is a historic Italian-style palacete (mansion) that today houses an art school and cafe.

Though there aren’t many accommodation options in Jardim Botânico, staying here will give you a great insight into what it’s like to live in the city rather than just visit it.

JB is ideally located near main sites like Cristo Redentor and Pão de Açúcar, and it’s just a short drive to the Praça Mauá – but you'll have limited public-transport options since there are no nearby metro stations. Instead, get around using bikes, buses and rideshares.

5. Santa Teresa

Best neighborhood for bohemian vibes

Santa Teresa’s colonial-era villas, street art and bohemian vibe create a captivating combination. Different from lower-lying areas, this hilltop enclave is an ideal base from which to explore all of Rio.

Just a short tram ride from the nightlife and museums of the city center, Santa Teresa is like a small town in the middle of the metropolis. Everybody seems to know their neighbors, and art and culture spill out onto the streets.

Hopefully, your visit will coincide with one of Santa Teresa’s many cool local events. A special favorite is Arte de Portas Abertas, an annual celebration where local artists open their ateliers to visits, provoking art-inspired street parties.

The ride on bonde, the iconic yellow tram that trundles up the hill to the heart of the neighborhood, is an attraction in itself. You can also watch the sun set over Largo das Neves or at Parque das Ruinas; catch a Monday evening of chorinho (instrumental pop) at Serginho’s; or wander along the shops and bars near Largo dos Guimaraes as the magic of the neighborhood unfolds all around you.

There are plenty of cool accommodation options if you want to settle in here before setting out to see the rest of town. Though Santa Teresa itself is so charming you may never want to leave.