Roda de Samba (group of musicians playing samba) every night of the week in different clubs of Lapa. Comuna do Semente and Beco do Rato are becoming the best bars to bump into the most famous sambistas of Rio. The second best caipirinha at “Rei do Limão” under the Lapa Arches.
10 things you must do when in Rio:
1.have a bowl of açaí (a kind of sorbet made from an Amazon fruit) for breakfast/2.visit Selaron  tiled staircase in Lapa during the day/3. go hiking at Tijuca Forest /4. drink coconut water on Ipanema, beachPosto 9/ 5. take a surf lesson at Prainha beach/6. enjoy the sunset at Arpoador Beach / 7. watch a match at Maracanã stadium/8.join a samba class at any of the schools / 9.stroll around the busy streets of Saara looking for cheap and funky clothes/10. visit one of Lapa’s samba clubs.

Country code for Brazil: 55. Rio de Janeiro: 21.

Use a plastic bag for daily use. Don´t use moneybelts or bunbags. Prefer the famous Havaianas flip flops to the Birkenstock Sandals.

Be ready to party late, especially at Carnival time. Cariocas usually leave home after 11 p.m. and never arrive on time.

The old tram is the soul of Santa Teresa. You can rollercoast the neighborhood for only R$ 0,60. It is a unique experience and a good way to interact with the locals.

Ten per cent is usually added to restaurant bills. General gratuities are not expected but waiting staff on minimum wage will certainly appreciate the gesture.

Cariocas fuel up on thimble-sized, super-strong and -sweet coffees. Exotic and nutritious fruit smoothies are also ubiquitous and cheap. Rice and beans are the staple, plus a variety of stews, including feijoada and moqueca. Good fresh fish, such as sea-bass or badejo, and churrasco steaks, straight off the southern plains, are also good.

The Brazilian real (plural: reais). At today's exchange rate, you get R$2.20 to U$1.

Taxis are cheap and numerous so you should be able to hail one at any time. Don’t strike deals with the devil, to be sure you don´t get ripped off, always ask to switch the taxi meter on.

Your best friend while in town.
How to be a Carioca by Priscilla Ann Goslin.

Rua Joaquim Murtinho, 361 - Santa Teresa - Rio de Janeiro
Tel(s): +55 21 - 3852-0827 / +55 21 - 2224-6903