The outside has a nice sign board with the specials of the day, and one might easily pass over this…read moreplace if you did not know it was downstairs. The ground level is a combination beer and liquor store and CD store with a small selection of music on CDs and DVDs. Downstairs is actually quite a nice restaurant with a vast selection of wines and beers both for purchase for home or to consume at their restaurant. We tried this place for lunch and the daily special was a filet mignon with cheesy rice with a tarter sauce. The meat was tender and tasty and the cheesy rice was delicious. Also tried the ravioli stuffed with ricotta and shiitake in a tomato sauce topped with basil. The ricotta and shittake was an interesting and well-paired combination. Service was fine and prices were standard. Be aware that they bring out a bread basket as an appetizer and you will get charged for this. The bread is an ok selection, nothing impressive but the butter spread is tasty. The best part is being able to select a wine or beer to go with your meal. The beer is limited to the selection in the cooler, which is plentiful.

They speak English which is great. The space is spacious but I don't think they'd appreciate you…read moredoing work here. This is on the 2nd floor of the bookstore so gets a surprising amount of foot traffic. I ordered from the snack menu as I wasn't particularly hungry. This was my 2nd day in Brazil so still learning about Brazilian food but I didn't love the empanada. It was tasty but had what I think was nuts or fruits in it which threw me off. I did enjoy the cheese bread and recommend that

This is my favorite bookstore in Rio. There is a small, poorly signed English section if that is…read morewhat you are looking for... just ask. I like that on the display tables each pile is by author, so if you like the top book then look deeper in that pile and you will find other books by that same author. Upstairs cafe is worth a trip on a rainy day even if you are not looking for books... good food, excellent wifi and friendly, attentive staff.

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.

I found this place when I first moved to Ipanema and was exploring the area. It's tucked inside one…read moreof those small commercial malls that are often times a hit or miss (sometimes you find cool stores other times it's not very interesting). This mall had some good finds (this store, a beer store, a cool t-shirt store and a papel craft). It has a great collection of Asian collectibles, from classic wooden Buddha statues to intricate hanging lanterns, to reflective hand made jewelry. There's always something within your budget, from really reasonably priced placemats or coin purses to more expensive wooden furniture like an old fashioned school desk (R$2000) or curio cabinet. There are a lot of beautiful wood crafted furniture items and even natural wood items. We decided on a wooden chair that folds out to a step ladder. For the larger items they ship within the area for free. We got ours delivered the next day.