Rio de Janeiro - The Rough Guide to Brazil

Travel Reference

In-Depth Information

pp.76-77. Crafts from around the state of Rio, but the

quality of many is unlikely to impress. Look out for

occasional interesting items of basketry and embroidery,

however. Mon-Fri 9am-6pm.

Loja Artíndia Museu do Índio, Rua das Palmeiras 55,

Botafogo; M Botafogo; map pp.76-77. The best place in

the city for Amerindian crafts - an excellent selection of

basketry, necklaces, feather items and ceramics, with the

tribes and places of origin all clearly identified. The shop,

along with the museum, was closed for an upgrade on our

last visit, but due to reopen at some point in 2014. Tues-

Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat & Sun 1-5pm.

O Sol Rua Corcovado 213, Jardim Botânico T 21 2294

6198, W osolartesanato.org.br; map pp.76-77. A non-

profit outlet selling folk art including basketware, ceramics,

woodcarvings and table linen. Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat

9am-1pm.

La Vereda Rua Almirante Alexandrino 428, Largo dos

Guimarães, Santa Teresa T 21 2507 0317, W lavereda

.com.br; map pp.62-63. One of the best handicraft shops

in town, with a varied collection from all over Brazil,

including work by local artists. Daily 10am-8pm.

colours of the Brazilian flag - are the hallmark of this

Brazilian designer, who also has shops in Copacabana at

Av Atlântica 1998 and Rua Figueiredo Magalhães 304.

Mon-Sat 9am-8pm.

H. Stern Rua Garcia d'Ávila 113, Ipanema T 21 2106

0000, W hstern.com.br; M Ipanema/General Osório; map

pp.76-77. If you're after a seriously posh bit of bling, this is

the world HQ of the internationally renowned jewellery chain.

They even have a museum of sorts, where they show you how

gemstones are excavated and cut. Their pieces are absurdly

expensive (one ring can easily cost thousands of dollars), but

they're often very pretty, especially under showroom lights;

don't however go flashing them about while strolling through

the favelas . Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Fri 9am-2pm.

Originallis Shopping de Gávea, Rua Marquês de São

Vicente 52, Gávea T 21 2529 6564, W originallisaromas

.com.br; map pp.76-77. Brazil's answer to the Body Shop

or Lush, the chain sells natural soaps infused with essential

oils - the colours and smells are fantastic. Mon-Sat

10am-10pm, Sun 3-9pm.

MUSIC AND BOOKS

Livraria da Travessa Rua Visconde de Pirajá, Ipanema

572 T 21 3205 9002, W travessa.com.br; map pp.76-

77. Their English-language section is small, but they have

an excellent stock of Brazilian art and coffee-table books on

Brazilian subjects, plus a good selection of CDs and a decent

restaurant (see p.100). Mon-Sat 9am-midnight, Sun

11am-midnight.

Musicale Av Nossa Senhora de Copacabana 1103c

T 21 2267 9607, W musicale.com.br; map p.81. For

those in search of that rare Brazilian groove, this is a real

enthusiasts' store, where you can browse through

thousands of hard-to-find used CDs and LPs featuring all

the local genres, with listening stations to check that the

disk in your hand really is the one you were after. Mon-Fri

10am-7pm, Sat 10am-6pm.

Saraiva Megastore Rua do Ouvidor 98a, Centro T 21

2507 9500, W livrariasaraiva.com.br; M Uruguaiana;

map pp.62-63. The largest bookshop in Centro, although

its stock, including its English-language section, is rather

limited. Mon-Fri 8.30am-7.30pm, Sat 9am-2pm.

CLOTHES, ACCESSORIES AND COSMETICS

Although not a shopping mall, Ipanema's Rua Visconde de

Pirajá has similar stores to those found in the likes of Rio Sul

and Shopping Leblon, while on the side roads are some

more unusual boutiques. Brazil has some great designer

brands (although not cheap), and most of the best ones

have outlets in Rio.

Bumbum 4th floor, Shopping Rio Sul, Rua Lauro Muller

116, Botafogo T 21 2542 9614, W bumbum.com.br;

M Botafogo; map pp.76-77. The world's first ever

designer bikini store, and what better name for the place

where fio dental (“dental floss”) thongs were invented? If

you do want to don one of their flimsier creations however,

remember to get a depilação de virilha (bikini wax) first.

Mon-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 3-9pm.

Gilson Martins Rua Visconde de Pirajá 462, Ipanema

T 21 2227 6178, W gilsonmartins.com.br; map pp.76-

77 & p.81. Brightly coloured and interesting designs of

bags and other accessories - often featuring silhouettes of

Sugar Loaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer, or the