How to get there
AIR FRANCE operates thirteen weekly flights between Paris and Rio, using either Airbus A330 or Boeing B747 quad-class aircraft.
Tel.: 0820 820 820
Internet: www.airfrance.fr
How to get there
AIR FRANCE operates thirteen weekly flights between Paris and Rio, using either Airbus A330 or Boeing B747 quad-class aircraft.
Tel.: 0820 820 820
Internet: www.airfrance.fr
TAM AIRLINES offers five direct weekly flights between Paris CDG (terminal 1) and Rio de Janeiro, operated by three-class Airbus A330. The Brazilian airline also serves Sao Paulo daily, offering frequent connections to Rio (between 1h and 1h30 flight time).
Tel.: 01 53 53 80 00
Internet: www.tam.com.br
Indirect links, TAP (www.flytap.com), a specialist in destinations in Brazil, offers flights from Paris Orly via Lisbon and IBERIA (www.iberia.com) offers services to Rio via Madrid.
GET TO THE CITY CENTRE
Once through customs, Rio Galeão international airport is full of options. These include Aerocoop, which offers reasonable fares on reservation (tel: +55 (21) 3078 5050) or at the counter.
Identity card
Time difference : - 3h in winter, - 4h in summer.
Currency : Brazilian real (R$). 1 euro = 3.6 R$ (January 2013).
Area code : +55.
For more information
Rio de Janeiro, Lonely Planet city guide
Michelin Green Guide, Rio de Janeiro
Brazilian Tourist Office website: www.visitbrasil.com (French version available)
The official Riotur guide: www.rioguiaoficial.com.br (English and Spanish versions available)
Hotels
SHERATON BARRA HOTEL & SUITES
Pending the competition that is sure to arrive in the wake of Rio 2016, the Sheraton Barra remains the "only international five-star", and therefore the undisputed leader in the district's business hotel sector. The establishment has 1,110 square metres dedicated to meetings and events for up to 400 people, including two ballrooms overlooking the garden. Other attractions include its beachfront location, a swimming pool, a business centre, WiFi, three restaurants and bars and, above all, 292 rooms and suites, all with private balconies overlooking the sea or the mountains. Hypnotic. Avenida Lucio Costa 3150
Phone: +55 21 3139 8000
E-mail : reservas.barra@sheraton.com
Internet : www.sheraton-barra.com.br
WINDSOR BARRA
A few hectometres to the east of the Sheraton, the Windsor is the other major hotel on the seafront, particularly popular with business groups, who flock to its 338 rooms and 8,000 square metres of meeting space. Its leisure facilities include two swimming pools, a sauna, a fitness club and a bar. The whole complex, perched at the top of the hotel, offers panoramic views of the ocean and the buildings clinging to the mountains. Avenida Lucio Costa 2630
Phone: +55 21 2195 5000
E-mail : reservas.windsorbarra@windsorhoteis.com.br
Internet :www.windsorhoteis.com.br
ROYALTY BARRA HOTEL
If you don't have the budget to stay at the Sheraton or the Windsor, you can opt for this third option on the seafront, a four-star hotel with 249 rooms and a terrace. Its little bonus: the hotel in the arrivals hall. It's worth noting that Barra da Tijuca is more expensive than the centre or south of Rio. In any case, the transfer should cost no more than R$ 100 (around €37). Another option is the Shuttle Rio, which provides transfers to the city's main hotels, including those in Barra. Journey time: "50 to 75 minutes depending on traffic". Price: 18 R$ (6.5 euros).
Phone: +55 7842 2490
Internet: shuttlerio.com.br
Phone: +55 21 2483 5373
E-mail : comercialrede@royaltyhotel.com.br
Internet : www.royaltyhotel.com.br
ENTREMARES HOTEL
The strong point of this 64-room property is its location in the heart of Jardim Oceânico, a chic and peaceful corner of Barra da Tijuca.
Avenida Erico Verissimo 546
Tel.: +55 21 24943887
Internet : www.entremareshotel.com.br
GAIVOTA RIO HOTEL
Located in Jardim Oceânico, where the metro is due to open in 2016, this hotel offers simple, contemporary decor at contained prices.
Av. Belisário Leite Andrade Neto 406
Phone: + 55 21 3139 1450
E-mail : reservas@gaivotariohotel.com.br
Internet: www.gaivotariohotel.com.br
Hotel residences
BARRA PALACE HOTEL RESIDENCIA
Facing the sea, a residential alternative to the neighbouring Sheraton and Windsor hotels, with the added bonus of Fratelli's pleasant Italian restaurant.
Avenida Sernambetiba 2916
Phone: + 55 21 2178 1212
E-mail : barrapalaceadm@bol.com.br
Internet: www.barrapalacehotel.com.br
BOURBON RIO DE JANEIRO RESIDENCE
Away from the beach, but close to the Rio Design Center, 208 flats with balconies in the middle of a forest of peaceful condominiums.
Avenida Malibu 1355
Phone: + 55 21 3622 4600
E-mail : central.reservas@bourbon.com.br
Internet: www.bourbon.com.br
PROMENADE BARRA FIRST
Right next to the Novo Leblon shopping centre, on Avenue des Ameriques, this is one of three establishments in Barra proposed by the very active Promenade group. The group is planning to open no fewer than three new units in the district between now and 2014!
Avenida das Américas, 7897
Tel.: +55 21 2169 1500
Internet : www.promenade.com.br
Elsewhere (but not far)
You can work in Barra da Tijuca without having to stay there. Especially as Ipanema and Copaca-Bana aren't that far along the coast...
SOFITEL RIO DE JANEIRO COPACABANA
When it comes to choosing the most spectacular viewpoint, the Sofitel Rio is the obvious choice. Standing at the end of the Avenida Atlântica, from the balcony of your room you can see the entire curve of Copacabana, with the Sugar Loaf as its crowning glory. Other hotel attractions include two swimming pools, an exclusive beach service and Le Pré Catelan, Rio's most popular French restaurant. There are many room options, from the 35 m2 'classic' room to the 220 m2 'imperial suites' with their magical views. Avenida Atlantica, 4240 (Copacabana).
Phone: + 55 21 2525 1232
E-mail : reservas.sofitelrio@sofitel.com
Internet : www.sofitel.com
COPACABANA PALACE
This Rio legend, with its white neo-classical façade, has given itself a facelift to celebrate its 90th anniversary, with 20 million dollars invested in renovating the 145 rooms, the Cipriani restaurant and equipping the hotel with chic new boutiques.
Avenida Atlântica 1702
Phone: + 55 212548 7070
E-mail : reservas@copacabanapalace.com.br
Internet : www.copacabanapalace.com.br
FASANO
Design by Philippe Starck in the trendy setting of Ipanema beach: the Fasano combines the most seductive features of the "cidade maravilhosa".
Avenida Vieira Souto, 80
Phone: + 55 213202 4000
E-mail : rio@fasano.com.br
Internet : www.fasano.com.br
Restaurants
DUO
An Italian restaurant set in the liveliest street in Jardim Oceânico, with a neat, bright setting. Avenida Erico Verissimo 690
Phone: + 55 21 2484 4547
Internet: www.duorestaurante.com.br
PORCÃO
The unit barrista of one of the leading chains of churrascaria, the South American version of the steakhouse. Here the rodizio formula reigns: you pay a fixed price and help yourself to the endless round of meats offered on large skewers.
Avenida Armando Lombardi 591
Phone: +55 21 3154 9250
Internet: www.porcao.com.br
SKINNA
As its name suggests, this seafood restaurant is located just a stone's throw from the town centre. esquinaon a street corner, on the ground floor.
of a shopping centre.
Avenida Armando Lombardi 205
Phone: +55 21 2493 2300
Internet : www.skinna.com.br
WASABI
Brazil has not escaped the sushi wave. Here's the best place to go for a dip, with the added bonus of a view over Lake Marapendi and the Tijuca forest.
Avenida Armando Lombardi, 350 - lojas 316 e 317 (Shopping Barra Point)
Phone: + 55 21 2491 2920
Internet: wasabisushi.com.br
4 ESTACÕES
A good base for discovering one of Barra's hidden charms: the small restaurants on the islands of Lagoa de Marapendi, reached by boat.
Ilha da Coroa 20
Phone: + 55 21 2493 4444
Internet: www.restaurante4estacoes.com.br
Get out
Barra da Tijuca isn't the first district you think of when you want to discover the crazy nightlife of Carioca. For that, you have to head for the zona sul - Ipanema, Leblon - or push towards the centre of Rio, in the Lapa district. However, the barrista night has not died out either. The proof: Nuth, a vast restaurant/bar/bar, pioneer of the lounge genre in Rio. Also worth a visit, closer to the beach and in a relaxed style, is the Bar do Oswaldo, inventor of the "Coquinho do Oswaldo", a successful marriage between coconut and cachaça.
Nuth - Avenida Armando Lombardi 999
Phone: + 55 21 3575 6850
Internet: www.nuth.com.br
Bar do Oswaldo - Estrada do Joá, nº 3896
Phone: +55 21 2493 1840
Internet: www.bardooswaldo.com.br
Shopping
The district has something for everyone. Novo Leblon, Rio Design Barra, New York City Center, Barra Square: this is the mall empire along the Avenue of the Americas. The most impressive: Barrashopping, "the largest shopping centre in South America"Barra is one of the world's most popular shopping destinations, with 700 shops and a host of bars and restaurants (Antiqua- rius Grill, Zuka, Delirio Tropical...). Its manager, Multiplan, has just opened a shopping centre that reaffirms Barra's place on the luxury map. The Village Mall, all angles, curves and natural light, is home to Cartier, Gucci, Prada and Vuitton, as well as local creations by Adriana Degreas and Farm Rio. Other attractions include the range of restaurants (Pobre Juan, Nagayama) and event spaces, with a beautiful esplanade overlooking the lake.
Services
Getting around
It's hard to get around Barra da Tijuca without using a car. The first solution is to hire one. Daily rates vary from 120 to 300 R$, depending on the category. Two addresses in Barra: Inter (Av. das Americas 4485, Tel: +55 21 3325 4736) and Locabarra (Av. das Americas, 5001, Tel: +55 21 3257 3700, www.locabarra.com.br). Another option is to take a taxi. The initial charge is 4 R$, then 1 R$ per kilometre.
If you need to get to the zona sul - Ipanema, Copacabana - or the centre of Rio, public transport is also available with the "Metro Card + Express Bus" package, which connects Barra to the Métrôrio network. A ticket for one journey costs R$ 4.35 (information: www.metrorio.com.br).
Fitness
Bodytech
Avenida Lucio Costa 4446.
Phone: +55 21 2434 3577
Internet : www.bodytech.com.br
Congress centre
Riocentro Convention Centre
Avenida Salvador Allende 6555.
Tel.: +55 21 3035 9100
E-mail : commercial.riocentro@riocentro.com.br
Internet : www.riocentro.com.br
Information
Ubifrance
Av. Presidente Antonio Carlos, 58,
5° Andar . Phone number: +55 21 3974 6880
E-mail : riodejaneiro@ubifrance.fr
Internet: ubifrance.fr
Consulate General of France
Avenida Presidente Antonio Carlos, 58
Phone: +55 21 3974 6699
Internet: www.ambafrance-br.org
Business Centres
The O2 Corporate Barra is located in a building made entirely of columns and glass, on the edge of the Peninsula eco-condominium. The Rio de Janeiro Barra da Tijuca is centrally located, close to the Centro Empresarial.
Barrashopping, at the crossroads of Avenues of the Americas and Ayrton Senna.
O2 Corporate Barra
Building Evolution V. José Silva de Azevedo Neto Av. 200,
Phone: +55 21 2430 5900
Rio de Janeiro Barra da Tijuca
Av. Luiz Carlos Prestes 180
Tel.: +55 21 2112-4600
Internet : www.regus.com
