Ever since “The Girl from Ipanema” first seduced her way across the airwaves of radios around the world, the Rio de Janeiro neighborhoods called Ipanema and Leblon have been hot spots for sunbathing and people watching. They are also great places for shopping, as I found out during my most recent visit. Here are a few places to exercise that plastic in your pocket.
Galeria Café
This venue is one of the most creative uses of space I’ve seen in the area. Fashion, art, coffee, cocktails and dancing come together in one small, entertaining space, depending on when you visit. A Saturday afternoon visit might allow you to enjoy live music while shopping for casual clothing, jewelry and boldly colorful artwork. On weekend nights, it becomes a mostly gay dance club, with excellent DJs.
La Cucaracha
The scent of clove cigarettes and incense might fill the air when you enter this youthful bazaar of T-shirts, comic books and quirky home décor including jewelry boxes plastered with vintage advertisements.
Galeria Laura Marsiaj
Open since 2000, this small contemporary art gallery exhibits work in various media. On view through November 3 is “Quem corre por gosto não cansa,” the work of Portuguese sculptor Isaque Pinheiro.
Shopping Leblon
Shopping Leblon allows visitors and locals to get their upscale mall fix, with local designs from Osklen (casual men’s and women’s) and international brands like Lacoste and Hermenegildo Zegna. My favorite store here is Livraria da Travesa, a book shop that stocks gorgeous art, photo and architecture books as well as Brazilian music CDs.
Rio Design Leblon
Just across the street from Shopping Leblon, Rio Design Leblon is a smaller mall but even more upscale, with local retailers including Farm (women’s wear), Bisiteen (girls’ clothing), Giulha Decoração (home decor) and Cacau Noir (designer chocolates).
Where I Stayed: The Rio Othon Palace, in Copacabana, is a large, oceanfront hotel that is popular with tour groups, individual travelers and business travelers, thanks to its central location, good views and reasonable rates.
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