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Bar Sements
Rua Joaquim Silva, 138 - Rio de Janeiro
Intimate Samba place, Lapa
Small and intimate samba place which offers some of the best local musicians and a small dance floor that gets crowded in a matter of moments. Truly magical.
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Bar Sements
Rua Joaquim Silva, 138 - Rio de Janeiro
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Bar Sements
Rua Joaquim Silva, 138 - Rio de Janeiro
Fasano Hotel
Had a meal here which was very good. Venician inspired menu with a great range of antipasti, seafood and meats. The few BBQ charcoal grilled items brings it back to Brazil. I dug into a ray of carpaccio and a grilled cod on a bed of purée. It was good, no excellent.
Lets forget for a moment that the hostess lost our reservation and had a pretty bad attitude about it and that the AC was super aggressive, not quite sure it lives up to the 5*. But stepping into the newest addition of the Fasano family (deaigned by Starck) you immediately feel like a rock star and almost expect to bump into Puff Daddy or Madonna and that's worth something.
As much as I appreciate and love VIP areas, there is absolutely NO access to their legendary pool area, not even if you have a spa appointing. It's really disappointing.
Lets forget for a moment that the hostess lost our reservation and had a pretty bad attitude about it and that the AC was super aggressive, not quite sure it lives up to the 5*. But stepping into the newest addition of the Fasano family (deaigned by Starck) you immediately feel like a rock star and almost expect to bump into Puff Daddy or Madonna and that's worth something.
As much as I appreciate and love VIP areas, there is absolutely NO access to their legendary pool area, not even if you have a spa appointing. It's really disappointing.
Jobi / Portugese bistro
From the outside Jobi looks like a an overly crowded dirty Irish pub. This place is legendary, but you have to try it or hang outside with some choppies (draft beers) to see it. It's buzzing with life, the walls speak their own story with old posters, faded pictures of football player and musicians and tacky images of Rio. White shirted bow tie waiters (only men) hover effortlessly between thenvery close tables, the service is super quick and they luckily swing by often to refill you beer glass. The menu is a mix of different things, I spotted a few French dishes and the word pasta appeared a few times but we went directly for the unknown - the dried meat with bean paste, rice and veggies, a classic Portugese dish. Coming from a Scandinavian country with loads of dried something food, which often comes with a crispy, smelly, fishy sensation - this is however not that dry in that way. Imagine your mothers Christmas duck the next day, that's how is - stringy beef pieces and lightly salted. Absolutely delightful and highly recommended.
Venga / Catalan tapas
One of the best meals I've had so far in Rio. There are plenty of great places in Leblon and on this street especially, but this little gem in particular took my fancy. It's pretty true to the Catalonian tapas I've tried in Barcelona, of cause nothing beats the real deal but so far away from its origins it's pretty good. Even the decor is really cute, white tiles and hams hanging from the ceiling.
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Venga Tapas Bar
Rua Dias Ferreira, 113 - Leblon
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Venga Tapas Bar
Rua Dias Ferreira, 113 - Leblon
The love for crêpes
This little chain offers pancakes and great salads with 40 different toppings to choose from.
It is just such a great alternative to some of the (too many) fried options the street snack world offers. They also have a good range of crêpes but don't expect it to have anything in common with the French savory pancakes, it's more a distant cousin: A dense dough-filled pillow with your preferred filling and a huge amount of cheese. If you like mozzarella and in general melted cheese in moderation please tell them to hold back.
Bibi Crêpes.
Rua Cupertino Durão 81, Leblon
http://bibisucos.com.br/site/v4/
It is just such a great alternative to some of the (too many) fried options the street snack world offers. They also have a good range of crêpes but don't expect it to have anything in common with the French savory pancakes, it's more a distant cousin: A dense dough-filled pillow with your preferred filling and a huge amount of cheese. If you like mozzarella and in general melted cheese in moderation please tell them to hold back.
Bibi Crêpes.
Rua Cupertino Durão 81, Leblon
http://bibisucos.com.br/site/v4/
Bikinis
The bikinis are not as small as you imagine, don't get me wrong they are small enough. It's their blunt way and voluptuous curves that makes the bikinis look super small.
I imagined that I would arrive and feel very left out with my Western / European bikini size, but no, all went down well and not any disapproving looks from the 'cariocas'. I also learnt that the slang for bikini is 'fio dental' (dental floss).
And don't worry about bikini sun marks, it's totally accepted here, I personally despise them and directly went for a strapless version. Get them on the beach from the beach sellers! Or at least just for the sake of a close-up glance at these colorful dangly parasols that from a distance looks like a giant floaty head with rainbow dread locks.
I imagined that I would arrive and feel very left out with my Western / European bikini size, but no, all went down well and not any disapproving looks from the 'cariocas'. I also learnt that the slang for bikini is 'fio dental' (dental floss).
And don't worry about bikini sun marks, it's totally accepted here, I personally despise them and directly went for a strapless version. Get them on the beach from the beach sellers! Or at least just for the sake of a close-up glance at these colorful dangly parasols that from a distance looks like a giant floaty head with rainbow dread locks.
City guides
I always buy the Wallpaper guide, they are super handy and when I get fed up with Lonely Planet or the Time Out guides, which hero the low budget backpacking style and extreme cliche tourist attractions, then I turn to these little upscale hand books. I love the small and hand picked selections, not a lot of fuss, just some of the more upscale places and excursions and always with stylish twist.
On our way here my boyfriend lost the book in the plane (with my already underlined notes!), luckily you can get the Wallpaper guide as an app, which is actually a much better solution because it is organized in a way that it links you directly to maps and websites. A blessing in disguise losing our guide!
If you have an iPhone, always get the app. The rest I leave up to Lonely planet in old school form.
On our way here my boyfriend lost the book in the plane (with my already underlined notes!), luckily you can get the Wallpaper guide as an app, which is actually a much better solution because it is organized in a way that it links you directly to maps and websites. A blessing in disguise losing our guide!
If you have an iPhone, always get the app. The rest I leave up to Lonely planet in old school form.
Soho roof cocktails
The James Hotel
27 Grand St
(between Avenue Of The Americas & Thompson St)
New York, NY 10013
(212) 465-2000
27 Grand St
(between Avenue Of The Americas & Thompson St)
New York, NY 10013
(212) 465-2000
Sushi elegance
66 S 2nd St
(between Kent Ave & Wythe Ave)
Williamsburg - South Side
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 384-2152
http://www.oneoreightbk.com/
(between Kent Ave & Wythe Ave)
Williamsburg - South Side
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 384-2152
http://www.oneoreightbk.com/
Legendary burger and brunch
Five Leaves
365 Reviews
18 Bedford Ave
(between Lorimer St & Nassau Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11222
(718) 383-5345
365 Reviews
18 Bedford Ave
(between Lorimer St & Nassau Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11222
(718) 383-5345
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