Originally Posted by
Dieuwer
I would like to advice against spending more than 4 days in Rio. I am here for almost a week now and I am becoming annoyed with the bad service and quality of the Ipanema/Copa restaurants (apart from Rua Bolivar). Gay nightlife is extremely boring.
Service is bad throughout Rio. For good service you need to go to high end places like Rubaiyat (their lunch deals are good on weekdays). Same goes for Puro, in Jardim Botanico. Very good service at Fogo de Chao as well, and Braz, although their pizzas are way too big for one.
You have been unlucky with the weather: the beach fills a lot of the time of visits to Rio. Did you go to Santa Tereza? Good to start the night there.
Rio is disappointing for nightlife, gay or straight. I hear The Week is a good gay spot (on Fri or Sat) but DO NOT walk around that area at night. Lapa is worth checking out on weekend nights, but leave your valuables behind...