This City Was Just Named the Best in the World for Nightlife — and it's a Stunning South American Destination

A visit to Rio de Janeiro isn’t just about Christ the Redeemer and the Copacabana, but experiencing the partying way of life.

Rio de Janeiro has long had a reputation for being one of the most epic party cities on the planet — and it still lives up to the hype, earning the Brazilian coastal city the No. 1 spot in Time Out’s World’s Best Cities for Nightlife for 2024. Yet these days, life after dark comes with some innovative twists.

“Gone are the days when nightclubs were the go-to places at night in Rio de Janeiro,” Time Out Rio de Janeiro editor Renata Magalhães said of the rankings. “In the lively Botafogo district, up-and-coming gastronomic hotspots like Alba and Vian Cocktail Bar, become dance floors on the weekends, and the streets have never been livelier since the end of the pandemic.”

While the festive atmosphere has always filled the city during the Rio Carnival, typically held in February and March, those vibes are now spilling off the dance floors year-round, making it always the right time to enjoy the Brazilian nightlife.

Magalhães added that the beats of samba de rodas, the country’s best-known musical form, which includes music, dance, and poetry and was inscribed on UNESCO’s  Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008, echoes throughout the city, from areas like Glória to the Port Zone. She also called out Morro do Pinto as the newest trendy area, while the timelessness of Lapa still enchants locals and visitors alike, especially at Bar da Cachaça and Beco do Rato

“Suru Bar has become one of my favorites in the area, drawing crowds every night of the week for its Brazilian-inspired cocktails and sensational vibes,” she added.

Time Out curated the list by surveying thousands of people in hundreds of cities. They were asked to name their favorite venues and experiences, as well as rank the quality and affordability of nightlife. Rio amassed an impressive 90 percent quality score, while also snagging high marks in affordability. Respondents also called out the plethora of live music and dance halls, as well as Lapa’s bohemian bars, and the city's spontaneous outdoor samba parties.

Earlier this year, Magalhães also named Rio's best bars, including psychedelic garage-themed Hocus Pocus DNA, bookstore-bar hybrid Al Farabi,  Liz Cocktails & Co with pop-culture inspired drinks, Madeira Island-inspired Adega Pérola, and fun-loving Boteco do Raoni.

Also making the Time Out list for best nightlife cities of 2024 were Manila, Philippines in second; Berlin in third; and Guadalajara, Mexico, in fourth. The only American city on the list was Austin, snagging the fifth-place spot.

With 13 cities on five continents, the list also included Lagos, Nigeria, and Accra, Ghana, in Africa; Rotterdam, Netherlands; Manchester, England; and Budapest in Europe; Taipei and Singapore in Asia; and Buenos Aires in South America.

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