Rio's Artistic Hub: Jardim Botanico
Exploring Rio's Jardim Botânico neighborhood with a local.
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Livraria Ponte de Tabuas, Jardim Botanico, Rio de Janeiro
The coffeeshop inside this bookstore is run by the Brazilian restaurant Ateliê Culinário, so the food is fantastic. But I come for the terrific collection of books. The store is small and cozy and feels like a reading room. Sometimes I’ll lose...
Parque Lage, Jardim Botanico, Rio de Janeiro
This is a huge tropical park, with lakes and English gardens and the trailhead that leads up Corcovado mountain. I love having breakfast in the park at the Café du Lage, while everyone else is doing their morning exercise routine. Rua Jardim...
Polo de Pensamento Contemporaneo (POP), Jardim Botanico, Rio de Janeiro
POP is like an alternative school, with classes that last from one day to one week on art history, philosophy—you name it. It’s a place where I know I will learn something and engage with interesting people. I met my great assistant, Guto Martino,...
Fernando Jaeger Furniture, Jardim Botanico, Rio de Janeiro
All the chairs, sofas, and beds in my house come from this store. Jaeger is a new designer who respects Brazilian traditions of furniture-making but does contemporary pieces. I go to the shop to see new stuff and have a coffee with the owner in...
Adega do Porto, Jardim Botanico, Rio de Janeiro
My grandfather used to come here. The restaurant specializes in Portuguese cuisine and serves consistently good traditional dishes, including the bestpicanha(steak) in Rio. The food is simple, but you know it will be amazing. It reminds me of...
Braz, Jardim Botanico, Rio de Janeiro
The pizza here is considered some of the best in Brazil. It’s fairly doughy, and my favorite type is called thebráz, which comes topped with zucchini. It goes great with a light beer like Brahma Chopp. Rua Maria Angélica 129, 55/(21) 2535-0687,...
Farmers’ Market at Rua Frei Leandro, Jardim Botanico, Rio de Janeiro
Open only on Saturdays, this large market has stalls selling lots of fresh fruits and fish for good prices. Everyone who lives in Rio is addicted to açai, the Amazonian berry that’s loaded with antioxidants. The berry doesn’t come from this region...
Jojo Cafe Bistro, Jardim Botanico, Rio de Janeiro
Jojö is a great place to try contemporary Brazilian-Asian fusion cooking. I love the risotto with shrimp and pepper mixed with curry. The place is tiny, maybe five tables. The owner, Joana, always makes sure I get a great dinner—and a treat, like...
Escola de Artes Visuais, Jardim Botanico, Rio de Janeiro
The visual arts school is located inside Parque Lage. The most important Brazilian artists from the 1980s onward studied here, including the abstract painter Daniel Senise. The mansion, stables, library, and great hall are all being renovated, but...
Batman Zavarese’s Rio de Janeiro
Name: Batman Zavareze
Age: 39
Neighborhood: Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Occupation: Marcelo Felipe Zavareze Marques, known as Batman for his childhood penchant for wearing superhero T-shirts, is the curator-director of Multiplicidade...

