Eat in Lapa, Rio de Janeiro

Nova Capela ★ 4.1

Nova Capela is a Lapa bar-restaurant on Avenida Mem de Sá in Rio de Janeiro, known for roast kid with broccoli rice and draught chope until 02:00 on weekends.

OrderRoast kid (cabrito assado) with broccoli rice, roast potatoes and toasted garlic.

TipThe house stays open until 02:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, so it suits a late meal after a night in Lapa.

Araucária Pães Artesanais ★ 4.3

Araucária Pães Artesanais supplied restaurants before opening to the public in 2025 on Avenida Gomes Freire, Lapa, Rio de Janeiro, with slow-fermented bread.

Worth the queueMortadella sandwich on focaccia

Beco do Rato ★ 4.3

Beco do Rato is a samba house on Rua Joaquim Silva in Lapa, Rio de Janeiro, with music every day and a Saturday feijoada with a samba roda in the afternoon.

DrinkCold beer with the roda de samba

FoodSaturday feijoada at R$40 and boteco petiscos

TipFrom November 2025 Saturdays open at midday: entry is free until 14:00, then R$25 when the roda de samba starts.

Adega Flor de Coimbra ★ 4.1

Adega Flor de Coimbra is a Portuguese house in an old Lapa sobrado in Rio de Janeiro, opened as a grocery in 1938, known for slim bolinhos de bacalhau.

Why locals goSet in an old sobrado in Lapa, opened as a grocery in 1938 and a few metres from the Selarón steps; it shuts at 21:00 and all day Monday.

TipStart with the thin bolinhos de bacalhau, then the sopa lisboeta with butter beans, a favourite of the painter Candido Portinari.

Nova Capela ★ 4.1

Nova Capela, on Avenida Mem de Sá in Lapa, Rio de Janeiro, serves roast kid and draught chope until midnight, and until 02:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

OrderRoast kid (cabrito assado) with broccoli rice, roast potatoes and toasted garlic.

TipFriday and Saturday service runs to 02:00, which suits a late meal after a night in Lapa; on other days the house closes at midnight.

Carioca da Gema ★ 4.5

Carioca da Gema stages live samba and pagode on Avenida Mem de Sá in Lapa, Rio de Janeiro, with R$30 entry Tuesday to Thursday and R$35 Friday and Saturday.

TipTables are held only until 21:00, so arrive before then; Friday adds an earlier voice-and-guitar show ahead of the 22:00 main act.

Rio Scenarium ★ 4.4

Rio Scenarium fills seven rooms on three floors of a Rua do Lavradio house in Rio de Janeiro with live Brazilian music, plus Saturday samba and feijoada.

TipThe Saturday feijoada is all you can eat from 13:00 to 16:00, with live music from 13:00 in the Pavilhão da Cultura.

Beco do Rato ★ 4.3

Beco do Rato holds rodas de samba on Rua Joaquim Silva in Lapa, Rio de Janeiro, with music every day and a Saturday roda that starts at 14:00.

TipSince November 2025 Saturdays open at midday with feijoada at R$40; entry is free until 14:00, then R$25 when the roda de samba starts.