What places at Lapa do you recommend? I've heard a lot about Rio Scenarium, its webpage shows a cool place. What other places are cool for a thursday or friday night? I'm looking for cool bars or clubs, brazilian/lively music would be better, but not tourist traps (not interested in shows, nor spending more than US$100 in places like Plataforma).

I'll be next week from wednesday to saturday morning, when I return to Lima.

It's funny that you ask about Lapa. There is a whole article dedicated to it on today's Rio Show segment of O Globo. You can download it on the following link:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/3dpzmdcy7ec0zp0/Lapa.pdf

There is even a map with all the bars on it:


Rio Show
O Globo 18.05.2012

Great map!

My favorite is Carioca da Gema, a great small place for live music and watching the locals dance samba gafiera:
http://www.barcariocadagema.com.br/bar.htm

Scenarium is too touristy, big, and crowded for me.

This site is a good one for info on Lapa:
http://www.lanalapa.com.br/

I also like some samba clubs in Centro: Elite, Estudantina, Democraticos
http://www.riodejaneiroaqui.com/port...a-e-danca.html
(site in Portuguese, use Google translate)

Have fun.

As someone who's never been, do not speak the language, and will be there for work (thus by myself), how safe is it to go myself, speaking only English, and would it appear really strange (similar to going clubbing alone in the US)?.

What is the logistics like? do you just walk around the neighborhood and go randomly into bars/restaurants?

I'm hoping the questions make sense. I wanna check out this famous music area, but just trying to get a feel of the whole situation.. Site seeing stuff like beach/corvo is easy I think
Thanks!

On a high season weekend night, there are drinks stands outside and the streets are packed. You could probably wander until you found a club that looked interesting. In low season, it's quieter. You should probably have some club in mind and have looked at a map to locate it. A taxi can bring you to Lapa, but traffic may not allow it to take you to the door. When you are ready to leave, there are plenty of taxis waiting in front of the clubs.
You can look on YouTube for videos that show the street in Lapa at high season and the interior of some of the clubs.
Carioca Da Gema (one of my favorites):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xUM1QmSAJA
Scenarium:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1IJ548xgoA

This is a good informational site for Lapa:
http://www.lanalapa.com.br/


When you enter the club, you will be given a check. There is a cover charge (maybe R$20). Find a table and sit to watch the musicians/singer. If you can dance (usually samba gafiera), ask someone to dance who looks free to do so. When you order food and drink, it will be added to the check. Pay at the cashier as you leave.

Another place to try for local music is the small BipBip Bar in Copacabana, where you can just wander in and hang out without calling attention as a single.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcP6ZtRSTeQ