Lapa is the place to go if you like your party informal, loud and with cheap drinks. People start gathering in the streets early but it doesn?t get really crowded until midnight. The bars and clubs get crowded even later unless they have a show that starts earlier. There are always some samba bands playing on the streets and each club has it?s own music style with matching clientele. The most popular Brazilian music styles are represented (including funk) as well as american Hip Hop.

Lapa is the place to go if you like your party informal, loud and with cheap drinks. People start gathering in the streets at ten but it doesn?t get really crowded until midnight. The bars and clubs get crowded even later unless they have a show that starts earlier. There are always some samba bands playing on the streets and each club has it?s own music style with matching clientele. The most popular Brazilian music styles are represented (including funk) as well as american Hip Hop.

I never experienced any problem in Lapa but the area has a bad reputation. Follow the normal precautions and don?t get to drunk. It?s better to return by taxi. If you come by taxi ask to be dropped in front of the Asa Branca club. Bus 433 (Vila Isabel) will also get you there from Copacabana.

The following map gives an overview of the area with all the places where they have live music. Things change quickly and the style of music varies form time to time in some places.

1 Restaurante Ernesto
Restaurant where they usually have live music. Was one of the first places in Lapa, but seems to have lost most of it?s popularity

2 Tiled staircase
Staircase which is covered in a mosaic of coloured tiles by the Chilean artist Selaron. The effect is strikingly beautiful and there are larger tiles from various parts of the world on the side of the staircase. The artist constantly changes the others whenever he manages to obtain new and interesting examples. Best apreciated in the daytime.

3 Sala Cecilia Meireles
Theatre where they sometimes stage classical music.

4 No name
Small disco with popular music. I.e. A lot of Hip Hop mixed with brazilian hits

5 Quadra da Lapa
Converted parking lot that now serves a place to hold samba rehearsels and pagode shows

Teatro Odisseia
Slick site with the full program