On the steamy praia, Chica recommends getting a thirst-quenching coconut water and fresh seafood snacks at a beach kiosk: Her favourite is Soga Beach at Sao Conrado: “They often have DJs playing as the sun goes down over the beach.” For another dining option on the sand, Chica also likes the Peruvian fusion options at La Carioca Cevicheria on Ipanema Beach.
While the sun still beams over her vibrant city, Chica likes to explore the photography, music, and literature collections at mansion-turned-museum Instituto Moreira Salles, a visual arts gem in the lush Tijuca Forest of Gávea. Or she might head to the Banco do Brasil Cultural Center (CCBB)’s galleries, library, and cinema to behold the work of local urban artists like muralists Cibelle Arcanjo, Jairo Torre (also known as SCRAU), and Rodrigo Sini.
The hotel for beach views and a rooftop pool
Chica’s dream staycation is anchored at Hotel Arpoador, one of the only hotels in Rio that’s perched right on the beach straddling Ipanema and Copacabana beaches. With gentle waves outside and muted tones inside, this is Chica’s perfect spot to chill out before the evening’s adventures. She recommends a dip in the unique triangular-shaped pool on the rooftop, where watching the sunset is “a must.”
Night to day: Samba dancing and day trip-worthy Bahian food
Rio’s heady nightlife might start with refreshing caipirinhas at Pedra do Sal, a historic neighbourhood and cradle of samba “where people just park their cars, get out, and dance.” For a samba bar downtown there’s Botequim Vaca Atolada, “a buzzy, no-frills little place” that hosts live bands.
Come Sunday morning, Chica will linger over an “insanely good” breakfast at the Hotel Arpoador’s Arp Bar, where she savours a cup of local coffee with oat milk. Among the tempting offerings on the hotel restaurant’s menu are poached eggs with charcoal-grilled mushrooms and a dash of truffle oil. Once she’s had her fill, Chica wanders still more of the city’s artist enclaves – like Casa Bicho which is tucked amid the arches of Rio landmark Sugarloaf Mountain, or the avant-garde studios of whitewashed Casa Voa. “My home is full of art,” she says, “and so much of it is from going to these places and picking up prints or pieces.”
