Where the Windsor hotel and its “brothers” stand out, a series of bars, restaurants, kiosks and streets invite you to explore the neighborhood on foot.
Barra da Tijuca is the neighborhood of Rio that has the largest beach in the State of Rio de Janeiro: it is 14.4 kilometers long, starting at Píer da Barra and ending at Recreio dos Bandeirantes. With so much sand to explore and no pollution issues like in the South Zone, a common dilemma is where to go to the beach or even establish a base to stay at. The answer is simple: at the beginning. Once out of the tunnel that connects São Conrado to Barra, the area known as Jardim Oceânico and its surroundings has a lot to offer and, above all, it is also possible to do without the car. Yes, the idea that Barra needs a car for everything can be left aside, at least on this stretch, where there is still the Jardim Oceânico/Barra da Tijuca metro station. And when you’re tired, short distances can be covered with taxis, Uber or Itaú’s shared bikes.
When looking for a hotel, a good address is the Windsor Barra, one of the most traditional in Rio, which together with its two “brothers” and neighbors, the Windsor Tower and the Windsor Oceânico, forms the triad of the best hotels. in the area, between Postos 3 and 4. Famous for hosting one of Rio’s most impressive event centers – there are 106 multipurpose rooms – the Windsor Barra has rooms with incredible views. The higher the floor, the better the view of the sea and the islands of Pontuda and Alfavaca, which are located on the left. From the terrace, in addition to the panoramic view of Avenida Lúcio Costa, you can also see a piece of the Tijuca massif, right in front of the swimming pool. On the ground floor, next to the huge lobby, breakfast features a huge and varied buffet, with hot dishes, fruit, fitness options and even mini cheese breads, which arrive hot at the table brought by waiters.
Leaving the hotel, heading left along the sidewalk you reach São Perpétuo square, better known as Praça do Ó, which today houses a skate park and on Sundays hosts a traditional fair selling everything: acarajé, pastels, cane juice sugar, clothes, flowers, kitchen items and a thousand trinkets.
Just beyond the square, still in via Lúcio Costa, the La Fiorentina restaurant opened its doors in July 2023. The venue has been operating in Leme since 1957 and over the years has earned a reputation for bringing together medallions of artistic class in memorable evenings. This is your chance to order Ziraldo Mediterranean Spaghetti or Paolla Oliveira Burrata Ravióli.
A few steps further, the cool, beachy vibe of Brou takes over the cozy wooden deck. The order could be banana moqueca with seafood or some PF, which is reasonably priced. Are you hungry for Japanese food? Invest in Zo Sushi, which is next door.
But for those coming from outside Rio, the advice is to take a trip to Pepe’s tent, which appears immediately afterwards, a true Rio institution created by Pedro Paulo Guise Carneiro Lopes, known as Pepê. He was the forerunner of healthy food in 1979, when sandwiches with green juices and wholemeal bread didn’t even dream of becoming a success on natural menus. Order an açaí or the classic flying chicken sandwich.
Another 10 minutes and you’ll enter the neighborhood’s bohemian epicenter, Avenida Olegário Maciel. There is it Tio Ruy Brewery with its draft beer, snacks from Barrel, and the famous pastries that have spawned nearly two dozen franchises in all Adam’s Bar, which began and is still going strong in Grajaú. But if what you are looking for is a fish restaurant with well-served dishes, the choice is Skinna, nearby, along Avenida Armado Lombardi. And here is proof that a human-scale and pedestrian-friendly Barra da Tijuca is really possible.
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Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
