Lojas Americanas is a quintessential store for home supplies. It has everything you need from…read morebathroom cleaners to electric domestics, kitchen supplies to snacks, clothes, beach chairs, Kids toys, electronics, you name it. What a great new location, since the other Leblon one is close to the mall but not close to the beach. It's shiny and new, so obviously the best looking Lojas I've visited. It's two stories, with the electronics in the front and kitchen supplies and kids stuff downstairs. It hasn't been crowded as the other stores, probably because they just opened their doors a few days ago. But so far, the customer service has been far better than the other stores. Lots of the workers in the other Lojas branches are painstakingly slow but this one the wait isn't nearly as long and they're polite. Hope this place stays nice!

Visiting this store & buying 3 new eyeglass frames was a highlight of my trip to Rio. The staff is…read moreprofessional and warmly welcoming. I wish I could remember the owner's name, but she went out of her way to help me find the perfect frames to fit my face, style and type of lenses (progressives). The selection is incredible. Every frame is hand made and unique, with wonderful colors and styles you will not find in the U.S. For three frames, I paid only slightly more than I did for my last single pair of (not hand crafted) frames and lenses in the States.

Our concierge recommended that place. It's both a tourist and local spot. It's a huge space…read moreboasting 3 floors and a speakeasy nightclub inside. Live band and service is good. Pretty good system - There's an entrance fee. You then receive a card which you must present to any server to order food and drinks. That tracks your tab which allows you to walk around freely after you eat. Multiple bars. To settle your tab, you pay upfront as they have several cashiers to cash you out. They take credit cards including Amex. Fun times and great cocktails. The passion fruit caipirinhas were delicious!!!

Stunning interior, lively music, delicious and strong drinks, friendly staff, great way to spend an…read moreevening dancing and singing. This used to be an antique store, and there are still beautiful antique items throughout the place. Absolutely adored this spot.

I love this place. It is what Radio Shack or Lafayette use to be to me as a kid. Granted, it is…read morenot as plush but it is almost impossible to find a good neighborhood electronics supply store these days in the USA! However, Brazil still has a few!

It's on the fourth floor of a small shopping complex on Rua Santa Clara, which I recommend you take…read morethe stairs since the elevator is super slow. Our friend told us about this place and heard it was a good place to pick up some beachwear and kanga wraps (cloth for covering up after the beach). It had a good sized space with a variety of dresses and tops. Everything ranged from grande, mediano,or pequeno (large medium or small) or it was a one size fits all. There are no changing rooms but they let you try things over your clothes. They have piles of kangas with a variety of patterns and colors but you have to sort through them and they're all folded and stacked in piles. I didn't see much of the more popular touristy ones like Cristo or Copacabana patterns but they might have been Ina different pile. I did find one with a brazil flag. It looks like the wholesale store for the beach guys. Definitely a place to look if you want a wrap or are looking for presents. The sales ladies are quite nice too.

The Hippie Fair is a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon in Ipanema. Featuring dozens of local…read morevendors, this outdoor craft market is a great place to find souvenirs, art, clothing, food, and more. Some items are generic imports, but many others are one-of-a-kind originals. We found everything from unique-tooled leather belts to hand-crafted batiks and paintings. Go explore!

When traveling these days, one thing I frequently lament is the inability to go anywhere in the…read moreworld and find something unique to return with, something that can't be purchased on-line while sitting at my dining room table. Brazil though, threw a curve into that train of thought and the Feira Hippie de Ipanema (aka Hippie Fair) was a big part of that curve. The al fresco Hippie Fair happens once each week, on Sunday in Ipanema, and if you like shopping and strolling and eating and eyeing it's worth your time. I spent a couple of hours there before my family forcibly evicted me and even then I sent one of them back to purchase something that I suddenly decided I couldn't live without. It's at the Hippie Fair that you'll find a lot of reasonably priced, uniquely Brazilian jewelry, clothing, artwork, shoes, hair/head pieces, soaps, and more. And when you tire of looking walk to the corners. One corner featured a makeshift samba dance troupe from a nearby favela. Another corner bustled with Afro-Brazilian women in traditional garb dishing out luscious Bahian stews and a cornucopia of delicious desserts. It was here that I stopped briefly to enjoy what was quickly becoming my usual, a giant slice of flan (which probably goes by a different name when in Brazil; I just point at it and nod my head). Aside from the name, there's nothing "hippie" about this place. Prices aren't negotiable but they also weren't unreasonable and most vendors accept credit cards. This sort of thing - an arts fair - isn't going to turn you into a shopper if you're not but if you are, it's a nice diversion a mere block from Ipanema Beach. If you're looking for a uniquely Brazilian souvenir besides the ubiquitous but very welcome Havaianas or anything that might be offered for sale while you're sitting on the beach the Hippie Fair is a good place to start your search.