Explore the stops

Lapa nightlife in Rio, street by street

Summary

Lapa nightlife in Rio centers on the old aqueduct arches, where a weekend street party meets live samba houses, concert halls and late dance floors.

Good to know

  • The aqueduct has 42 double arches2
  • Circo Voador and Fundição Progresso stand beside it3
  • Leviano Bar stays open until 4 AM20

Browse 39 stops

Rio after dark, area by area

Tap a route first, then a pin or stop, for its note and Google Maps.

Street map of Lapa with the arches, the concert halls, the samba houses of Avenida Mem de Sá, Rua do Lavradio and the Selarón Steps

  1. The old aqueduct and its 42 double arches, the gathering point of Lapa's weekend street party.

    Google Maps

  2. Concert hall on Rua dos Arcos for shows and parties, with education and culture projects too.

    Google Maps

  3. Big music stage in a former safe and stove factory, right behind Circo Voador.

    Google Maps

  4. The tiled staircase up to Santa Teresa, begun by Jorge Selarón in 1990 and lit at night.

    Google Maps

  5. A 19th century house of antiques with root samba, gafieira and chorinho; feijoada on Saturdays.

    Google Maps

  6. One of the city's best-known samba houses, at Av. Mem de Sá 79, with samba and chorinho.

    Google Maps

  7. Home of Beco do Rato's Monday samba and a fortnightly circle for new composers.

    Google Maps

  8. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 6 PM to 4 AM, with Friday samba circles.

    Google Maps

  9. A dry-goods store of 1907 turned bar, with samba Friday to Sunday.

    Google Maps

  10. The street of the Baile Charme Rio Antigo, on the first Saturday of each month.

    Google Maps

  11. LGBTI+ club on Rua Riachuelo, opened in 2017, now on several floors.

    Google Maps

  12. LGBT+ club at Rua do Lavradio 163 with pop, funk and pagode.

    Google Maps

  13. Home of Festa Agyto, a big LGBT+ party with DJs and drag shows, at Av. Mem de Sá 66.

    Google Maps

  14. Gafieira, live bands and big dance classes over several floors.

    Google Maps

  15. Bar, gallery and club with a modern dance floor.

    Google Maps

  16. Bar at Av. Mem de Sá 69 with live samba and pagode most nights.

    Google Maps

  17. Time Out's coolest street in the world, a few blocks from Lapa.

    Google Maps

  18. Santa Teresa's square on the hill above Lapa; the tram has climbed here since 1872.

    Google Maps

Map data from © OpenStreetMap contributors

Lapa nightlife in Rio means the white arches, live samba in old townhouses, concert halls, a crowd that spills into the street every weekend, and a few rules for getting home well.

Editorial team, lapapubcrawl.click · Updated November 11, 2026 · 6 mins to read

Basics

  • What it isThe cradle of bohemian Rio, by Riotur's account.1
  • LandmarkThe aqueduct: 42 double arches over the square.2
  • Big stagesCirco Voador and Fundição Progresso.3
  • BusiestWeekends, when the streets fill with bars.4
  • GuidedThe crawl starts on Av. Mem de Sá, 4 hours.

Why Lapa is the heart of the night

Lapa nightlife in Rio has a reputation that runs ahead of it, and for once the reputation is fair. Riotur, the city's tourism authority, calls this small central neighborhood the cradle of bohemian Rio, crowded with bars, restaurants and nightclubs for every taste.1 Locals come every weekend, and the city counts it among the liveliest places in Rio.4

What sets it apart is the mix. In one evening you can hear samba, forró, choro, electronic music, funk and rock, often within a few doors of each other, and well-known artists play the concert halls under the arches.5 The crowd is just as mixed: students, office workers on a Friday, samba dancers in their good shoes, and visitors on their first night in the city.

Lapa is also famous for its caipirinhas, poured at street stalls around the square as much as in the bars.6 That is part of the charm and part of the challenge: it is easy to drink fast here. Pace yourself, keep water in hand between rounds, and treat the night as a long walk with music rather than a race between bars.

Where to go

Lapa's music venues at a glance

VenueStreetMusicGood to know
Circo VoadorRua dos ArcosConcerts, partiesCheck the program
Fundição ProgressoRua dos ArcosBig concertsOld factory building
Carioca da GemaAv. Mem de SáSamba, chorinhoFamous samba house
Leviano BarAv. Mem de SáReggae to popSamba on Fridays
Beco do RatoRua Joaquim SilvaSambaBig Monday night
Lapa 40°LapaGafieira, live bandsDance classes
Rio ScenariumRua do LavradioSamba, gafieiraVintage interiors
Selina rooftopVisconde de MaranguapeLive musicView of the arches

From Riotur's venue pages and nightlife guide; check each venue's own page for tonight's program.3,13,14,15,16,17,18,19

The arches and the square beneath them

Everything in Lapa orbits the arches. The old Carioca Aqueduct is a whitewashed stone structure with 42 double arches, and Riotur notes it is considered the largest building work carried out in Brazil in colonial times.2,7 Since 1896 it has carried the tram that climbs from the center to Santa Teresa.8

Most nightlife around the Lapa Arches starts on the open ground beneath them. Drink stalls set up around it, groups gather on the curb, and the sound of the concert halls drifts across the square. The Lapa crawl sold on this site stops here for 30 minutes, with a cocktail in hand, between its first bar and the tiled steps.

The arches also host the city's own events. In Pride week they have been lit in the colors of the rainbow flag, and the city's LGBTQIA+ market has been held under them.11,12 Come once by daylight too: without the crowd you see the stonework, the curve of the old water channel and how close the hills of Santa Teresa really are.

Lapa through time

From aqueduct to street party

  1. Colonial era

    The aqueduct rises

    Riotur ranks it as colonial Brazil's biggest construction.7

  2. 1896

    Trams on the arches

    The aqueduct starts carrying the Santa Teresa tram.8

  3. 1907

    A bar that lasted

    The Armazém do Senado opens nearby as a dry-goods store.9

  4. 1990

    Tiles on the steps

    Selarón begins work on the staircase.10

  5. Today

    Every weekend

    Lapa fills with bars, stalls and live music.4

Circo Voador and Fundição Progresso

Circo Voador and Fundição Progresso stand beside the arches, and Riotur ranks them among the most important music venues in the city.3 Circo Voador, on Rua dos Arcos, is a stage for concerts and parties that also runs education and culture projects, which gives it a loyal local following.23

Fundição Progresso sits right behind it, in the building of a former factory that once made safes and stoves.24 It describes itself as the largest independent cultural center in Brazil, built up over the last 20 years, and Riotur notes that it is known for hosting famous artists.25,26 Expect anything from rock and rap to samba nights and circus shows.

Neither hall is a walk-in bar. Each sells tickets for its own program, so check the date before you build your night around them. A concert here pairs well with Lapa's later hours: see a show, then join the street crowd and the samba houses nearby, where the music often goes on long after the halls have closed their doors.

Your Lapa night

Which Lapa night suits you?

Pick by the music and the company you want.

  • If I want a big concert

    Circo Voador or Fundição

    Both stand by the arches and run their own programs.3

  • If I want live samba in a small room

    Mem de Sá samba houses

    Carioca da Gema has samba and chorinho on its program.13

  • If I want to dance until dawn

    Leviano Bar

    It opens Wednesday to Sunday and keeps going until 4 AM.20

  • If I want a guide and new friends

    The Lapa crawl

    4 hours with a local guide, from $33.

  • If I want an afternoon samba

    Rua do Senado

    The Armazém do Senado has samba on Saturday from 2 PM.21

Ways to do Lapa

Crawl, class or party night

Guided

Lapa pub crawl

Sold on this site

  • Length4 hours
  • StartsAv. Mem de Sá
  • LanguagesSpanish, English, Portuguese
See this option

Guided

Fun Lapa crawl

From Copacabana

  • Length3.5 to 4 hours
  • MeetsCantagalo metro option
  • StopsLocal bars
See this option

With class

Class and samba night

Learn, then dance

  • Length5 hours
  • Class1 hour
  • ThenLive samba
See this option

Mem de Sá and Joaquim Silva: the samba streets

Avenida Mem de Sá is Lapa's main street for live music, and it is where the Lapa crawl begins, at number 110. Carioca da Gema, at number 79, is among the city's most famous samba houses, with samba and chorinho on its program.13 Bar da Lapa, at number 69, usually has live samba and pagode, like most music venues in the neighborhood.64

Leviano Bar, a few doors along, opens Wednesday to Sunday from 6 PM to 4 AM, with parties from reggae to pop and samba circles on Fridays.20 Lapa 40° spreads gafieira, live bands and pool tables over several floors, plus big group dance classes.16 Lapa Café is part bar, part gallery for art, part club, with a dance floor that feels modern.63

Around the corner, Rua Joaquim Silva is narrower and more local. Beco do Rato, at number 11, is a samba stronghold where Arlindinho, the son of Arlindo Cruz, plays every Monday.69,15 On the same street, a circle for new samba composers meets on Mondays and Wednesdays, every other week, at 7 PM.28

Guided Lapa

Price a Lapa night for your group

Compare the guided ways into Lapa's nightlife.

Side-by-side: 3 options

Price a Lapa night for your group

Compare the guided ways into Lapa's nightlife.

2 people
  1. Lapa pub crawl4 hours · starts at, per person $33

    ≈

    View
  2. Fun Lapa crawl3.5 to 4 hours · starts at, per person $25

    ≈

    View
  3. Samba class and night5 hours · starts at, per person $46

    ≈

    View

Starting prices as on the booking platform, converted at the ECB reference rate. You see the exact price at booking.

Rua do Lavradio and Rua do Senado

Rua do Lavradio is Lapa's elegant edge. It belongs to the Feira do Rio Antigo, a street of historic townhouses, bars, antique shops and music venues, and the fair draws about 300 exhibitors and 15,000 visitors to each edition.70,71 By night the same street turns into a run of bars and dance halls.

Rio Scenarium, at Rua do Lavradio 20, fills a 19th century house with vintage objects and puts on root samba, gafieira and chorinho, with feijoada on Saturdays.27,17 Next to the fair, on Rua do Rezende, the Baile Charme Rio Antigo has run for over 15 years on the first Saturday of each month, with dancers in the street from 3 PM to 11 PM.29,72

Rua do Senado, a few blocks away, is the newer favorite. Time Out ranked it the coolest street in the world, close to Lapa and Rua do Lavradio, and the Armazém do Senado there has served cold draught beer since 1907, with samba on weekends.65,73 Its samba runs Friday 5 PM to 9 PM, Saturday 2 PM to 6:30 PM and Sunday 1 PM to 5 PM.21

Video

A nightlife guide to Rio: samba, Lapa and Copacabana

LIfe + Times of @Vinny_Chace on YouTube · The video stays unloaded until you press play.

At night, everything changes in Lapa, and the neighborhood becomes an electrifying place, where the most diverse musical tribes live in harmony.
Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority)22

Lapa checklist

Ready for a night in Lapa

Before you go3

  • Pick a weekend for the crowd, Monday for samba4
  • Buy concert tickets on the hall's own site
  • Book the ride home: the metro ends at midnight67

What to bring3

  • One card and a little cash
  • A phone you keep out of sight68
  • Comfortable shoes for cobbles and dancing

On the night3

  • Water between caipirinhas
  • Stay with your group in the busy streets
  • Keep to the lower steps of the Selarón stairs

The Selarón Steps and Santa Teresa above

The tiled staircase that runs from Rua Joaquim Silva in Lapa up to Rua Pinto Martins in Santa Teresa sits a short walk from the arches.74 The Chilean artist Jorge Selarón began work on it in 1990, gathering tiles from Brazil and all over the world.10,75 By night it is lit and busy with people taking photos on their way between bars.

The Lapa crawl stops at the steps for 30 minutes, right after its pause at the aqueduct, a natural break between the tasting and the samba bar. Keep to the lower, busier flights after dark: the steps climb into quieter residential streets, and the crowd thins quickly as you go up.

Santa Teresa itself, on the hill above, is a calmer world. Riotur calls it Rio's Montmartre, a historic and artistic district of old mansions and alleys, and its tram was installed in 1872.76,66 It is a good place for an early dinner before going down to Lapa, but for the late part of the night the action stays down by the arches.

Planning a night in Lapa

Choose your night first. Rio de Janeiro nightlife in Lapa runs at full volume on Friday and Saturday, with the square and Avenida Mem de Sá crowded until late.4 Monday is quieter on the main streets but strong on samba, with Beco do Rato and the composers' circle on Joaquim Silva.15,28 Midweek, Leviano and the samba houses keep the lights on from Wednesday.20

Plan the way back before you leave the hotel. The metro runs until midnight from Monday to Saturday, so after a late night you will want a taxi or a ride app.67 Street-hailing a cab is something the UK government tells travelers to avoid; it also suggests checking that the car and driver match the app.77 Waiting inside a bar until the car arrives is the easy habit to adopt.

Carry little: a card, some cash and a copy of your passport. The UK government warns that thieves target mobile phones, especially between 4pm and 9pm, so keep yours out of sight on the street.68 If you prefer company for a first night, the Lapa crawl gives you a local guide for 4 hours, speaking Spanish, English and Portuguese, with free cancellation until 24 hours ahead.

FAQ

Quick questions get quick answers.

What night is best for going out in Lapa?
Friday or Saturday.

Lapa fills every weekend; for samba among locals, try Monday at Beco do Rato.4,15

What music will I hear in Lapa?
Almost everything.

Riotur lists samba, forró, choro, electronic music, funk and rock, above all at the concert halls.5

How old are the Lapa Arches?
They date from colonial times.

Riotur counts the aqueduct as colonial Brazil's largest building project; trams have crossed it since 1896.7,8

Where do the Lapa crawls start?
On Avenida Mem de Sá.

The crawl sold here starts at Av. Mem de Sá, 110 and runs 4 hours.

Is Rio Scenarium in Lapa?
Yes, on Rua do Lavradio.

It is at number 20, in a 19th century house with live samba and gafieira.27,17

How do I get back from Lapa at night?
By taxi or ride app.

The metro closes at midnight, and after 9 PM yellow cabs switch to the night rate.67,78

Are the Selarón Steps worth a stop at night?
Yes, briefly.

They are lit and a short walk from the arches; the crawl stops there for 30 minutes.74

Sources

  1. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Lapa ↩
  2. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Lapa Arches ↩
  3. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Lapa Arches ↩
  4. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Rio Nightlife ↩
  5. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Lapa ↩
  6. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Rio Nightlife ↩
  7. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Arcos da Lapa ↩
  8. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Lapa ↩
  9. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Samba no Armazem Senado ↩
  10. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Escadaria Selarón (Lapa Steps) ↩
  11. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Rio Diversidade ↩
  12. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Mercado Mundo LGBTQIA+ chega a 4a edicao nos Arcos da Lapa ↩
  13. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · In the hustle of nights ↩
  14. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Leviano Bar ↩
  15. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Arlindinho Cruz comanda samba no Beco do Rato ↩
  16. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Lapa 40° ↩
  17. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · In the hustle of nights ↩
  18. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Rio Nightlife ↩
  19. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · LGBTI+ tour in Rio de Janeiro ↩
  20. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Leviano Bar ↩
  21. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Samba no Armazem Senado ↩
  22. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Lapa
  23. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Rio Nightlife ↩
  24. Fundição Progresso · Fundição Progresso ↩
  25. Fundição Progresso · Fundição Progresso ↩
  26. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Rio Nightlife ↩
  27. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Rio Nightlife ↩
  28. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Conheca as rodas de samba do Rio ↩
  29. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Baile Charme Rio Antigo ↩
  30. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Conheca as rodas de samba do Rio
  31. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Pedra do Sal
  32. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Pequena Africa
  33. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Conheca as rodas de samba do Rio
  34. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Pequena Africa
  35. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Terreirao do Samba
  36. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Samba do Trabalhador
  37. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Museu do Samba
  38. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Rio Nightlife
  39. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Viaduto de Madureira ou Baile do Dutao
  40. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Mureta da Urca
  41. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Rio Nightlife
  42. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · In the hustle of nights
  43. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Bar Bukowski
  44. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Rio Nightlife
  45. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Bosque Bar
  46. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Rio Nightlife
  47. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Rio Nightlife
  48. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · TV Bar
  49. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Quiosques
  50. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Copacabana and Leme
  51. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Rio praias
  52. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · LGBTI+ tour in Rio de Janeiro
  53. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Rio Nightlife
  54. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Informacoes uteis / Useful information
  55. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · LGBTI+ tour in Rio de Janeiro
  56. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Roteiro LGBT+ no Rio
  57. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Roteiro LGBT+ no Rio
  58. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Roteiro LGBT+ no Rio
  59. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · LGBTI+ tour in Rio de Janeiro
  60. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · LGBTI+ tour in Rio de Janeiro
  61. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Roteiro LGBT+ no Rio
  62. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Rio Nightlife
  63. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Lapa Café ↩
  64. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · In the hustle of nights ↩
  65. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Rua do Senado e eleita a mais descolada do mundo pela Time Out ↩
  66. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Santa Teresa Itinerary ↩
  67. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Informacoes uteis / Useful information ↩
  68. UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office · Brazil travel advice: Safety and security ↩
  69. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · In the hustle of nights ↩
  70. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Jazz na Rua do Lavradio ↩
  71. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Jazz na Rua do Lavradio ↩
  72. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Baile Charme Rio Antigo ↩
  73. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Rua do Senado e eleita a mais descolada do mundo pela Time Out ↩
  74. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Escadaria Selarón (Lapa Steps) ↩
  75. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Escadaria Selarón (Lapa Steps) ↩
  76. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Santa Teresa Itinerary ↩
  77. UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office · Brazil travel advice: Safety and security ↩
  78. Riotur (City of Rio de Janeiro tourism authority) · Informacoes uteis / Useful information ↩

Read on

More for your night in Rio

GuidePub crawl prices and the cost of a night outGuideRio pub crawls and nightlife tours comparedGuideWhat to expect on the Lapa pub crawlGuideRio's bars, the caipirinha and cachaca

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