In Rio de Janeiro, diversity is everywhere. LGBTQ+ visitors have been in love with the Brazilian city for decades. (Check out our insider’s guide to LGBTQ+ Rio here.)
Those who spend most of their time at Posto 9 on Ipanema Beach might think the scene is mostly about men. But guess what—Rio’s got a splendid sapphic scene.
We found two Rio-based digital influencers, Mabi and Luiza Goto, who have got a finger on that pulse and know how to find lesbians in Rio. Mabi’s speciality is showcasing gastronomic options (bars, fairs and street food), while Luiza is one of very few influencers who focuses on lesbian nightlife and the music scene. Each of them is always on the hunt for places specifically designed for girls who like girls.
“Most places are still geared toward gay men; the lesbian scene is still less valued,” says Mabi.
“I like places where there are people like me and that have positive energy, places where I feel comfortable and can enjoy myself knowing that I am in a pleasant environment,” says Luiza, who is also a singer.
Pink Ticket Travel asked these two influencers for their recommendations for sapphic socializing in this city of 6.7 million (double that for the metro population). Here are their favourites of the moment.
Rio for queer women
Sapagode (Well’s Beer, R. do Ouvidor 60, Centro, Rio de Janeiro). This women-focused event, which takes place regularly in downtown Rio, was created by seven lesbian singers. Like so much Brazilian socializing, it’s all about the music. The name is a combination of two terms (“sapa” is slang for lesbian, “pagode” is a Brazilian musical genre derived from samba). Though the party is hosted at a local pub, the crowd overflows into the street. “I like it because it isn’t a nightclub playing only electronic music and funk; they diversified by playing pagode, samba and Brazilian popular music,” says Mabi.
Bar Dellas (R. Pedro Ernesto 5, Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro). With its pink façade and an eight-metre tall painting of Lady Gaga, the bar is, as many sapphic spots are, a place for everyone, particularly those with a queer bent. But this one is run by two women, who also host performances, often by women musicians, at Anexo Bar Dellas (R. Sacadura Cabral 331, Saúde, Rio de Janeiro) just across the street. “I really like it when there’s live samba. I really enjoy the music and the atmosphere,” says Luiza.
Karaoke Show Bar (Avenida Men de Sá 103, Lapa, Rio de Janeiro). Located on the main street of Lapa, a trendy neighbourhood considered the heart of Rio’s bohemian scene, this neon-lit bar is the ideal place for women to sing their hearts out in a colourful atmosphere, accompanied by caipirinhas.
Amo Garotas Festa (Rua Riachuelo 20, Lapa, Rio de Janeiro). This occasional party is for dancing and flirting. The crowd is especially hot, even by Rio standards, and there’s an open bar. The soundtrack—pop, hip hop and funk—make it one of the best parties for, uh, making new friends. “I like that it is only for women and that it’s a lesbian party,” says Luiza.
Oscar Selvagem Pub (Rua Paulo Barreto 121, Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro). It is, indeed, named for a man, the legendary gay writer and wit Oscar Wilde. But this pub is for “label free” people to enjoy craft beer, Brazilian music and karaoke. Its regular Cabaret Latino is a burlesque show that attracts girls who are into girls. “I was initially attracted by the karaoke, then I discovered that there were drag and lesbian events, which I found quite interesting,” says Luiza.
Novooeste (Rua Paschoal Carlos Magno 90, Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro). The bar, up in the charming and nightlife-filled Santa Teresa neighbourhood, has LGBTQ+ staff, live music performed by women and a variety of special events that often lure out the lesbians. “It has good energy, is frequented by nice people, has live music, interesting events, and the drinks and food are good,” declares Luiza.
Sambay (Avenida Almirante Silvio de Noronha 300, Centro, Rio de Janeiro). A roda de samba—literally a samba circle—is when a group of musicians gather to play samba, an Afro-Brazilian musical style strongly connected to Carnival. The audience frequently joins in to the call-and-response chorus. It’s essentially a jam session. This is Rio’s first roda de samba dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community—samba with Pride. The event, which always takes place on Sundays, features dancers, performances by artists and lots of glitter. Local women reliably come out for it.
Queerioca (Tv. do Comércio 16, Centro, Rio de Janeiro). The Queer Art and Culture Reference Centre opened in 2024 in a huge mansion in Arco do Teles, an architectural landmark built in the 18th century. The name combines “queer” with “carioca,” which is what residents of Rio are called. Their monthly schedule has all kinds of programming from art exhibitions, cinema, theatre and music to gastronomy, yoga and dance parties. Much of it is well attended by women, says Luiza. The occasional party Bailão Sapatão (which translates to something like “butch ball”) brings out the serious dykes and their fans.
Tau Bar Club (Av. Nossa Sra. de Copacabana 1417, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro). The unique feature of this small dance club is that it’s open every night of the week. They get decent crowds for their I Love Mondays party. Though it’s an “everyone welcome” gay club, there are specific events that attract a large lesbian attendance. Checking on Instagram to see who the DJ is on the night you’re planning to go can give partiers a sense of whether women are going to turn up.
