Discussion: eating in Rio

We stayed at Copacabana -- some good restaurants on waterfront - suprisingly inexpensive and big helpings. 2 streets back from main drag are supermarkets - worth a visit. Warned away from Ipanema.

It is a good run along the beach, lots of nice things to look at :-)

Is it a location recommended as being ideal for viewing bikini-clad females of the species Homo sapiens in their natural habitat?

Indeed, though not so many of them around at 7.30am. Interested in tinytoes comment about Ipanema - was this because of cost or crime? (it's a very expensive area, but I had the impression it was one of the safer areas of Rio).

Sorry Blair, it was because of the crime. Walked the Copa section at night in January and felt really safe. Not a 'markets' person at all but was interesting social excursion after dinner. But hey this could just be the spin of the tour company guide. Was told we wouldn't be stopping in Ipanema for the obligatory 'Girl from...' because it was 'not very nice'. In January I think there were people jogging etc before dawn - but more skaters later in the day. Always lots of skin, sunglasses and jewellery.

As with a lot of places, I suspect it's somewhere where if you know where you're going and you're not looking for trouble, it's probably not going to find you. (I certainly didn't feel the least bit unsafe going to the football today, for example). Wandering the streets drunk at 1am is a different story, but as that's not my style that's not a problem.

People who are wandering the streets drunk at 1am don't feel the least bit unsafe either; they feel invincible...

Glad you went to the football. We'd hoped to get to a match in La Paz but plane left "too early". Read next day there was a minor crush and a man shot + riot. That was close. Conversely went to a match In Frankfurt no problems. But the best match was in Moorea (Tahiti). The goal celebration was incredible and the photos of the ground were remarkable.