Day time fun in Rio

[Alaskabear]

I’ll be in Rio very shortly and I plan on hitting up the saunas for sure.    But I’m curious about daytime options for cruising and play.   I’ll be staying near posto 8 ipanema.   
I do love checking out cabines and theaters and regular saunas as well.   
 

And while we are at it, late night non sauna bar scene with cute guys    

I love dive bar with strippers type places.   I’m not sure they exist in Brazil but if anyone has been to the old Rawhide or Cock in NYC, Silverados in Portland, Tom’s in Mexico City, you know what I’m talking about.    I like the idea of a fairly chill bar type atmosphere with cute boys to gaze at and enjoy the beer.

I love this community here and I hope to gather up a trip report within a few days of arriving.     
 

any recommendations?    This will be my first trip to Brazil.   
 

 

[redxs]

Hey

British guy here who has visited Rio a few times and also has asked the same questions as you! Generally though there isn't much night life of the type you're after and you'll have to seek out other stuff to do>

Message me and we can chat.

I'll keep an eye on this thread too to see what others have to say.

[Alaskabear]

Thanks.   I guess an easier way to put it is what are good options before and after early evening sauna visits  if you want to seek out the non pay scene.   

[SolaceSoul]

9 hours ago, Alaskabear said:

Thanks.   I guess an easier way to put it is what are good options before and after early evening sauna visits  if you want to seek out the non pay scene.   

Rio used to have more cruisy spots (in the same vein of the 70s / 80s / early 90s American gay cruising scene) but it really isn’t the city for that kind of scene anymore. São Paulo rules the roost in that area.

In Rio, you now have Sexy Rose in Cinelândia, which is an odd combination XXX video booth / dark room / drag show / gogo show place. It’s next door neighbor is an old school adult theatre, very dark where mostly very bland looking and older patrons and a few low-budget street hustlers are available. I think it’s called Cine Rex, but not sure.

There used to be a Seven Cruising Bar in Centro that stayed open until 10 pm, but I’m not sure if it shut down due to the pandemic. Google Maps says it’s open, but I would still check other sources before venturing out there. 

Rio is a big beach culture. If you are able to learn the delicate art of beach cruising, and you don’t stick out like a swollen sore thumb, then it could take you a long way. Check the areas along Ipanema Beach with the pride flags and go from there. 

That’s all I have for you. If anyone else has something RECENT and UP TO DATE to contribute, I’m all ears. 

 

 

 

 

[Latbear4blk]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYXePDJPBaO/

Seven is open.

[Alaskabear]

8 hours ago, SolaceSoul said:

 

Rio is a big beach culture. If you are able to learn the delicate art of beach cruising, and you don’t stick out like a swollen sore thumb, then it could take you a long way. Check the areas along Ipanema Beach with the pride flags and go from there. 

 

 

 

 

 

Being a creature of the far north I will absolutely be out of my element and I’m going to sweat like a pig.   That being said, the delicate art of beach cruising sounds like a lot of fun and something I should learn.   
I’m staying essentially in Arpoador but it looks like a few blocks to posto 8 and 9.   I’ll have a good time regardless.  

my main goals for the first week is experience the sauna scene, make a few friends, find good food (I’m a chef ).  And a few tourist stops of course.    
 

 

 

[floridarob]

6 hours ago, Alaskabear said:

find good food (I’m a chef )

Pappa Jack for pizza (only pizza is good, imo) in Copa   http://pappajack.com.br/

L'Atelier Mimolette (French) http://www.lateliermimolette.com.br/

Boteco Belmonte A really cool place to hang out and drink Brazilian appetizers https://www.instagram.com/boteco_belmonte/

You won't be disappointed at those 3 places ....

If you're lazy, ordering anything from Ubereats...look for brownies from here, they're packaged, but VERY good. I brought 20 back to the U.S. and everyone loved them.  https://browniedoluiz.com.br/  I heated in the microwave and a scoop of ice cream on top ☺️

[Alaskabear]

thank you!    I’ll look these places up.   I’m sure there will be a few days of Uber eats.   

[SolaceSoul]

17 hours ago, Alaskabear said:

I’m staying essentially in Arpoador but it looks like a few blocks to posto 8 and 9.

Arpoador is a great scenic location choice. Their beach post is Posto 7, so you’re right down the beach street from the main gay friendly beach area between Postos 8 & 9. 

[Lonnie]

20 hours ago, Alaskabear said:

a few blocks to posto 8 and 9

This article is a little dated but advice still holds true. Hope you have a terrific time.

Rio’s main beaches stretch across 8.5km of coastline and are divided by 12 postos (numbered lifeguard stations), all of which offer changing rooms and toilets for a small fee. The stations are useful markers when giving or taking directions, but more importantly, some postos are known for attracting particular crowds and offering specific activities.

Postos 1 to 6: Good for sunrises, sports and views of Sugarloaf
Reaching about 4km from Leme beach to Copacabana beach, postos 1 to 6 stand across from some of the city's most glamorous hotels, and attract domestic tourists, older cariocas and business travellers. They are a great place to watch the sunrise over Sugarloaf Mountain, and tend to be busier than other beaches in the evening due to the brightly-lit kiosks selling caipirinhas, Brazil’s national cocktail, made from cachaca (sugar cane liquor) sugar and lime.

The 4km long Copacabana beach – postos 2 to 6 – will be one of the official 2016 Olympic venues for beach volleyball. It is also the setting for a variety of other sports, such as yoga and boxing. The sport of frescobol, a type of tennis played with wooden bats, originated at posto 5, while posto 6 is a popular spot for stand-up paddle boarding. Football games are ubiquitous, but do not expect to join a team unless you are really good. You might also see people balancing on ropes tied between palm trees, practicing an increasingly popular sport known as slack lining.

For a charming reminder that the area around Copacabana beach used to be a fishing village, head to the Copacabana Fort at posto 6 before 11 am to see fishermen selling their catch directly from colourful wooden fishing boats. The fort, built in 1914, now houses the Historical Army Museum, and its cafe is a great spot for breakfast or lunch while gazing at the sea. The fort will also host the marathon swimming and triathalon events at the 2016 Olympics.

Posto 7: Good for sunsets, surfers and quiet romance
Wedged between Copacabana and Ipanema is Arpoador, posto 7, a 500m-long beach that is popular with families and surfers. As such, it tends to be a bit quieter than the other postos, and at sunset it has a laid-back, romantic vibe.

The beach’s main attraction is the vast, mainly flat Arpoador Rock, which was named after the harpoon-throwing Portuguese settlers and Brazilian natives who would hunt whales from there (arpoador means striker in Portuguese). Take one of the short walking trails up to the top to watch the sunset silhouette the Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers) peaks, and join the crowds cheering when it finally goes down. Known locally as the birthplace of surfing, floodlights keep the waters lit for after-dark wave riding.

Despite Rio's long shoreline, there are not many beachside places to stay around Ipanema and Copacabana. The closest you can get is Arpoador Inn, a comfortable and simple hotel where it is worth paying for a seaview room. A few metres away is the Philiipe Starck-designed boutique hotel Fasano, frequented by the well-heeled Rio crowd and international celebrities. Teenagers are often seen waiting outside with autograph books and cameras at the ready.

Postos 8 and 9: Good for rainbow flags and a daytime party vibe
Located on Ipanema beach, postos 8 and 9 are two of Rio’s busiest and most eclectic stretches, attracting a diverse, younger crowd. Though all of Rio’s beaches are gay-friendly, rainbow flags mark out a popular section between the two postos near Rua Farme de Amoedo. Posto 9 is also close to where the famous bossa nova song The Girl from Ipanema was written, so this is the place to strut your stuff and pretend to be “the tall and tan and young and lovely girl” – or the guy watching her. Tom Jobin and Vinicius de Moraes penned the song at the bar and restaurant Garota de Ipanema a few blocks away.

Postos 10, 11 and 12: Good for billionaires and celebrities
Cariocas say that Ipanema (posto 10) is for millionaires and that Leblon beach (posto 11) is for billionaires, so you might see some famous faces including footballers and soap opera stars who live in fancy mansions nearby sunning on the sand. Leblon is one of the most exclusive and expensive areas of Rio and also has a busy late night bar and restaurant scene, backdropped by the impressive Dois Irmãos peaks.  

Unfortunately, the water at these postos is not great for swimming as it polluted by two bordering canals that drain into the sea. Posto 12 has Baixo Bebe, a sandy play area for children with beach toys, slides and baby changing facilities.

Sun like a local
Brazilians have a reputation for being beautiful, but do not let that intimidate you. They are also very tolerant, friendly and come in every shape and size. You can wear what you want at the beach, but Brazilians tend to leave their baggy bottoms at home and either don tiny string bikinis or the tight trunks that you have never dared to wear. Note that for the ladies, going topless is a no no.

Cariocas will happily travel to and from the beach and parade down the wavy, black-and-white-mosaic boardwalk in just their beachwear and Havaiana flip flops. Forget your towel and get yourself a kanga (sarong) to sit on or rent one of the many beach chairs.

For most locals, the beach is not just about sunbathing, and you will not see many people reading. Cariocas come to pose, hang out with friends and get active, whether it is a strenuous game of beach volleyball or a gentle stroll along the boardwalk. When swimming, watch out for the red warning flags or ask a lifeguard as the waves can be harsh. It is the norm to ask your neighbour to watch your belongings (beach thefts are less common then they used to be, but it is still not wise to leave your things unattended). Groups of cariocas often sit close to each other so do not be overly concerned if someone parks up next to you on the beach.

When you are feeling peckish, hold out for one of the many beach vendors selling the popular sweet or savoury beach snack of globo (air-puffed doughnuts made from manioc flour) and matte leao, an iced tea drink poured straight from a keg on the seller’s back. And do not leave the beach without sipping fresh coconut juice from one of the agua de coco stands.

[Novarunner]

Nobody else is a fan of Etta Bar or Pato com Laranja…?  Those are my two favorites in Rio.

[Alaskabear]

Lonnie.  Fantastic rundown of the beaches.   Thank you!   

[Guest]

LOL - beach cruising in Rio is anything but a delicate art.  You’ll be approached many times if you appear slightly interested.  The problem will be where to take the boys in a safe environment for you.  I’d never take a beach pickup to my hotel or AirBnB.  I would take a known sauna boy to my hotel/AirBnB after asking a few questions at the sauna.  Proceed at your own risk & don’t be overwhelmed by the legendary Carioca friendliness and beauty 

[SolaceSoul]

3 hours ago, Slvkguy said:

The problem will be where to take the boys in a safe environment for you.  I’d never take a beach pickup to my hotel or AirBnB.  

There are love hotels designed just for this purpose — a few are in Copacabana. I have never heard of one in Ipanema or Leblon, but I know there’s one past Leblon going toward Vidigal. Plenty of them in Gloria and Centro.