Ipanema is extortionate and Copacabana is crowded—no surprise, then, that this beachfront neighborhood is starting to shine.
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Beachfront Botafogo tends to be seen by visitors as a residential no-man's-land between the more famous beaches to the south and the thumping nightlife of Lapa to the north. But a number of new openings are changing all that.
Leading the regeneration charge in the bairro of Botafogo is Fábio Battistela: The man behind the bustling Meza Bar has just launched DoIZ on the same block. DoIZ is a slick affair that eschews the area's studenty feel with a fancy, futuristic design and patrons who nibble on finger foods, sip signature cocktails, and maybe, just maybe, shake a little booty on the dance floor.
It's hard to believe that the excesses of Copacabana are just a five-minute cab ride away from Miam Miam, a French-owned restaurant tucked away in a colonial mansion. The snappy interior and great service (still something of a rarity in Rio) paired with a well-executed French-meets-Brazilian menu ("miam miam" means "yum yum") mean you should reserve in advance.
Since opening in March, Oztël, a boutique hostel and bar with a bold color scheme, has established itself as a go-to party venue for anyone looking to launch their fashionable artistic endeavor. There's also the advantage of retiring to one of the six double guest rooms upstairs if you've had a few too many Caipiroskas. In the morning, soothe your head with the splendid views of Christ the Redeemer.