Rio de Janeiro Food Tour: Ipanema Life, Botecos & Caipirinha

5.0(30)3 h 30 minFree cancellationBy Sherpa Food Tours

About this activity

Live Rio like a Carioca, from the energy of Ipanema beach to the calm, hill-framed lagoon: beach bars, historic botecos, and plate after plate of local favorite bites, from caipirinhas to açaí.

In Rio, food isn't a separate event. It's woven into life, shared with friends in lively places, usually bite by bite at the beach or around a boteco table. Start the way locals do, with an ice-cold drink and petiscos at a beachfront bar in Ipanema.

Then sit down at the bar where "The Girl from Ipanema" was written for Brazilian grilled classics and a caipirinha. Stop at a bakery open since 1911 for warm pão de queijo, before the city changes pace and you leave the beach behind for the calm of the lagoon. There, at a 1934 boteco with views over the water, share iconic bar dishes and finish with açaí.

Like every Sherpa Food Tour, this route was designed around how locals really live.

What's included

✓Small group size capped at 10 guests for an intimate neighborhood walk
✓5–6 food stops featuring 8+ signature Carioca dishes and street bites
✓Vegetarian, lactose-free, and gluten-free options available with advanced notice
✓Proper sit-down meal featuring clay-pot moqueca carioca
✓All paired beverages including fresh fruit juices, draft beer, and caipirinha
✓Professional local guide fluent in English and Portuguese

Not included

✕Gratuities
✕Additional alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages beyond included tastings
✕Transportation to the meeting point and back from the final stop
✕Personal purchases or souvenirs made along the route

Meeting and pickup

Your Sherpa host will meet you in Boa Praça, a fun, colorful, beachfront boteco in Ipanema to kickoff the tour on a lively note. If you are arriving more than 10 minutes late let us know so we can coordinate both of you meeting up.

Good to know

Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

More things to do in Rio de Janeiro

Rio's Full Day: Selarón Steps, Christ & Sugarloaf – Tickets & Lunch Included

Discover the best of Rio de Janeiro in a full-day tour that combines convenience, comfort, and expert guidance. This experience includes lunch, admission tickets, and transportation for a seamless exploration of the Marvelous City Visit top attractions such as the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue and Sugarloaf Mountain, along with other must-see landmarks that showcase Rio’s unique beauty and cu…

4.9(3,055)8 hFree cancellation

From £56.65 per person

Full Day in Rio Christ Sugarloaf Selaron and Barbecue Lunch

Experience a full-day tour of Rio de Janeiro, visiting all the city’s must-see attractions in a single day! See the iconic Christ the Redeemer Statue atop Corcovado Mountain, enjoy breathtaking views from Sugarloaf Mountain (option with or without ticket included), admire the vibrant colors of the Selaron Steps, and take an external tour of the legendary Maracana Stadium. Pass by the world-famous…

4.7(3,419)8 hFree cancellation

From £58.16 per person

Hang gliding Hang gliding Experience Rotorfly

We fly every day with great joy and care, as if it were always the first time, so we enjoy each flight with the same enthusiasm and superior quality in the images offered.

5.0(2,264)1 h 30 minFree cancellation

From £208.27 per person