RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Bumping into a bar at every corner is a pretty common thing in Rio, but finding the perfect spots isn’t as simple: one must be a longtime habitué of the city’s bohemian life. Recently, some of these “experts” have been using social media to share their bar experience, turning themselves into the gurus of Rio’s low-cuisine.
Now, there are important digital influencers, especially on Instagram, spreading authentic information on the best of the “boteco” life across Rio de Janeiro. Eating cheap in Rio’s Zona Norte and trying a slice of succulent roast pork in a hidden Copacabana bar is only a little of what they have been posting on social media.
Although there is a famous samba musician among the biggest Instagram accounts for Rio’s low cuisine, most of the top influencers are ordinary people who suddenly decided to turn their knowledge into a business, including an ensemble of “informal food critics” and two bar-loving girlfriends.
If you feel you’re tired of clichés and are looking for a peculiar bohemian experience in Rio, make sure to follow these Instagram accounts right away, and enjoy the tastes of Rio’s bohemian scene.
On Gabriel da Muda’s Instagram profile, he describes himself as a Carioca (a Rio local), singer and “comilão” (glutton). Followed by 37,000 people, his account, @gabrieldamuda, is used for promoting his work as a musician — Da Muda sings at the famous Samba do Trabalhador and also at Samba do Ouvidor.
But what made Gabriel da Muda’s account take off on Instagram were his amazing recommendations for eating out in Rio’s botecos. Da Muda’s food posts are eclectic, ranging from fancy Japanese restaurants to little-known bars located far away from Rio’s touristic zones.
As a frequent traveler, Da Muda also shares tips on eating out in cities like Barcelona, New York, Salvador, Montevideo, Lisbon, and others. Among Da Muda’s recommendations having the greatest repercussion among followers are: Bar do Momo, in Tijuca; Café Gaúcho, in Centro; Café Pavão, in Santo Cristo; and Bar Barata Ribeiro, in Copacabana.
Another famous habitué of Rio’s botecos is network administrator Marcos Bonder. With over 21,000 followers. Bonder’s Instagram account, @bondboteco, is entirely dedicated to the pleasures of the table. Among the over 6,000 posts, several of them present the amazing food served in bars most people haven’t heard of.
Apart from the very original recommendations by @bondboteco, another thing that also stirs his followers’ attention is the way Marcos Bonder poetically describes every dish. Bars like Cantinho das Concertinas and Bar Adonis, both in Benfica; Casa do Galeto, in Jacaré; Britânia Rio, in Tijuca; and Mussarela, in Caxias, are some of Bonder’s hottest tips.
Aiming to deconstruct sexism in the bar environment, Nathália Freitas and Camila Carvalho decided to create the “Somolier de Boteco”, an Instagram account where they share their coolest eating-out and drinking experience in Rio’s bars. Their Instagram profile has already been portrayed in a story at The Huff Post Brasil, and their account gains approximately fifty followers a day.
The ladies of Somolier de Boteco frequently recommend places from Rio’s neighboring cities, such as Restaurante Seu Antonio, Caneco Gelado do Mário and Galeto Art & Beer, all of them in Niterói. They also explore bars in Rio de Janeiro, such as Cachambeer, in Cachambi; and Bar Santo Remédio, in Grajaú.
Another must-follow Instagram account for exploring Rio’s best botecos is “Alma de Bar”. Created by journalist Caio Barbosa, a bar enthusiast in Rio de Janeiro, @almadebar has over 14,000 followers who look for the best tips to eat out in the city.
The Instagram stories by Alma de Bar are worth checking out: Barbosa divides the bar tips into various categories, such as “Best Feijoada”, “Best Fritters”, and others. The most original recommendations by Alma de Bar include Belezura do Bobó, in Méier; Café e Bar Aldila, in Tijuca; and Toca do Baiacú, in Centro.
Like Alma de Bar, the 25K-follower account Bares Cariocas (@barescariocas), run by Flávio Lima and André Gustavo, also shares bar recommendations on its Instagram posts, dividing the tips according to Rio’s geographic zones. Boteco do Raoni, in Zona Norte; Mirante Rocinha, in Zona Sul; Barzinga Geek Planet, in Centro; Bar do Zeca Pagodinho, in Zona Oeste, are some of the best in Bares Cariocas’ opinion.
For discovering more about Rio’s “low” cuisine on Instagram, make sure also to follow the accounts @butequeiro21; @ondecomernorio; and @menudocarioca.