Rio Nightlife Runs From Lapa to Ipanema

Lapa in the old center is the samba-and-club district — the Arcos da Lapa aqueduct area fills with street-level bars, live samba at Rio Scenarium and Carioca da Gema, and dancing until dawn. Weekends the street party outside is its own event.

Ipanema and Leblon run the polished beach-neighborhood nightlife — Barzin, Academia da Cachaça, and the rooftop bars with the ocean view. Santa Teresa up the hill has bohemian bars and jazz clubs in a hillside neighborhood feel.

Rio clubs run until sunrise. Safety: taxi or Uber door-to-door after dark, stick to the main streets, don't carry valuables. The beach streets at 3 AM are for people who know where they are.