A couple of Rio questions please
 

1. Is there a harbor cruise of some sorts? looking just to cruise around and see the city from the water?

2. What's the best time for Sugarloaf and Christ Redeemer?
i have plans for sunset at sugar, and mid day at Christ.. thoughts?

3. What are some fine dining options?


Thanks!!

I agree with NPF on all but the dining part:
His choices are excellent. There are also many other fine choices:
Olympe is a superb French restaurant with Brazilian touches, owned by the famed Troisgros family scion, Claude. (Troisgros in Rouanne is one of the finest in the world, 3 Michelin stars for three generations). It is closed for renovations until late March.
Satyricon is a superb seafood choice
Le Pre Catalan (in the Sofitel) is wonderful French

As NPF implies, most Rio restaurants are not terribly formal. Even at the finest ones a business suit marks one as a politician of a conservative bent or a lawyer. Rio is casual. That said there are many outstanding restaurants that do not adopt the habits that would get a third Michelin star.

As NPF said, we can advise you if we know your preferences. Among the choices that will give culinary satisfaction but are not three-star-service style are:

Northeastern Brazil: (seafood mostly, prepared in spicy stews) Magnificent!
Portuguese: in Rio that means cod (bacalhau) and there are several classic choices
Japanese-Brazilian: Brazilian Japanese is not really Japanese but is the product of generations of Japanese integration in Brazilian culture. There are such gems as 'hot Philadephia' as thing unknown anywhere else taht incorporates the eponymous cheese. At least once you should try Brazilian-Japanese (hint: we don't know this stuff is not Japanese)
Churrascaria: the southern Brazil endless carnivorous feast. There are several outstanding examples.

The list goes on and on

Ah so you can go to the harbour and book the books on the spot? easy enough!

Thank you for the dining options.. only got 2 nights so that's probably plenty.

was wondering for music etc.. is scenarium really touristy? or actually pretty good?
also is that area safe for solo traveller (male) at night?

Thanks!

One nice and easy way to get out on the water is to take the ferry from PracaXV over to Niterio. Takes about 12 minutes and runs every 15. The view back toward Rio is amazing. You can also go out to Ilha Fiscal, that fairy tale castle on an island that you pass by on the ferry. Also leaves from PracaXV. And you can go to Paqueta island in the bay.

IMHO VidanaPraia is spot on. The ferries are cheap but have the same views a more expensive option has and you'll enjoy the ambiance. We often take guests and/or friends for otuings to the ferries. Isla Fiscal, the former Customs island, is an architectural delight, usually not crowded.

BTW, just beside the ferry base is a restaurant located in the former tower of a fish market. The name is Albamar. It is open only for lunch and is excellent. It has been open since 1933. It's full of Carioca's every day. There are few tourists who find it, but the menu does have English subtitles, albeit with some very odd spelling.

Excellent advice. Also consider a visit to MAC de Niteroi.

Good idea. A little taste of Oscar Niemeyer with great views of Rio.
If you like forts the Fortaleza da Santa cruz shows defenses of the city in a 17th century perspective. there are guided tours, although I have no idea if their guides speak English.
While in Niteroi you might try Gruta do Santo Antonio, possibly the best Portuguese restaurant in the region (high spenders will argue for Antiquarius) serving great bacalhao. My family makes pilgrimages here about once a month or so.

Where is the ferry terminal located?
I'll be at the JW Marriott (near copacabana beach).. how far is the ferry from the hoteL?

Thanks!

It is about 20 minutes by taxi from your hotel. The concierge can give you specific instructions including the various island sights you can see from there. The JWM concierge is pretty good, based on recent comments from friends.

BTW, the JWM is not 'near' it is 'on'. The view from the Executive Lounge is the view i have on my laptop screensaver.

If i want to see the sunrise from sugarloaf mountain, when is the first possibility to get on the mountain. I found first cable car will start at 8 am. But the sunrise would be around 6 am.

I have a layover for around 10 hours. Arriving at 4:45 am and leaving 3pm.
So i would to go on the sugarloaf or corcovado in this time.

You're correct on the 08:00. IMHO you might enjoy going to Aterro do Flamengo probably next to Porcão Rio's (all taxi drivers can easily find it, it's well posted) or near it. You'll have a beautiful view of Pão de Açùcar and Urca after which you're less than ten minutes from the bondino (cable car). Here's a link to a photo from taht exact location:

http://melhoresbaresdorio.com.br/wp-...-de-Açucar.JPG

Bacalhau is dried, salted cod from the North Atlantic, largely imported from Portugal, UK, Norway, etc. One especially popular at holidays (my wife-- Brazilian-- feels it's a legacy of Brazil's colonial heritage, when things imported from Europe were seen as prestigious). Lots of good fish in the region.

We're in Fortaleza. I have had the spicey stews (e.g., Moqueca), though more down in Bahia than in Ceará. Not really a prevalent dish here though you can find it. I'd go for grilled fish myself. Sirigado (Badejo). Known in other places as rock fish, and other names. Small crabs (delta craba) are popular here, with Thursday nights the tradiitional time to have them (not sure why), but I'm not a fan. Not like Dungenes crabs at all.

Moqueca is NOT spicy, nor is most food from Bahia, although a small bottle of hot peppers in vinegar is found on most tables for those who appreciate the heat.
Moqueca is made with coconut milk and vegetables (onion, tomato, green pepper) with some oil from the dende palm nut added for a distinctive flavor (but you can ask for a moqueca without dende, an ensopado).
Another example, acaraje (a fried bean batter fritter), has various toppings that you can select (the mainly peanut vatapa, okra based caruru, salad veg cut tiny, tiny shrimp) but you do not have to choose the hot pepper paste that some people (both locals and visitors) do like.

In Rio, a good place to sample a variety of styles of northeast fare from several regions is at the Feira Nordestino in Sao Cristovao.
http://www.feiradesaocristovao.org.br/