Boa Praça Ipanema: Sandwiches, Coxinha and Live Music
On our first evening in Rio de Janeiro, we found a table at Boa Praça Ipanema, just across the road from Ipanema Beach. We shared a beef parmegiana sandwich, ate a basket of miniature chicken coxinhas and tried local beers. There was live music inside and Carnival activity on the street opposite. It turned out to be an enjoyable way to settle into the city.
Following the crowd on our first evening
We do not always want an ambitious food itinerary as soon as we arrive in a new city. Sometimes we simply want somewhere welcoming where we can sit down, eat and watch what is happening around us. Boa Praça caught our attention in exactly that way: bright lights, plenty of people and a colourful building that starts on a corner and opens out into a larger space.
We were staying in an Airbnb nearby, so we also passed the restaurant in the morning and photographed it in daylight. That gave us two views of the same place: the blue-and-white patterned corner facade by day, and the lights and crowds after dark.
There were people waiting for tables outside when we arrived. We went in, and the friendly waiter who looked after us found an outdoor table for two. That welcome helped set the tone. We ordered a few things and let the evening unfold.
We were in Rio during Carnival and had hoped to see some of the activity along the beachfront. We did: there was good live music inside Boa Praça, while dancers and a Carnival group brought the street opposite to life. Sitting outside, we could enjoy both parts of the evening.
Sharing the Parmegiana Sanduiche
Sandwiches became a recurring pleasure on our Brazil trip, and we liked the bread we encountered along the way. At Boa Praça, we chose the Parmegiana Sanduiche and shared one between us.
Ours was the beef version. The menu describes panko-breaded beef fillet topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan, gratinated and served in a buttered, toasted roll cut into four pieces. We were after a few things to share rather than a long meal, so a sandwich and a basket of snacks suited us.
A basket of mini chicken coxinhas
Alongside the sandwich, we ordered miniature coxinhas served in a small metal basket. These had chicken and creamy cheese filling. We had also tried a larger version at Fornalha; the ones at Boa Praça were small bites to put in the middle of the table and share.
If this Brazilian snack is new to you, our guide to coxinha explains its filling and dough in more detail. Here, the mini versions accompanied our sandwich and the local beers we tried that evening.
The atmosphere and value
Boa Praça stayed in our memory as a lively bar-restaurant, with something of a pub atmosphere. Music, crowds and the beachfront location were as much a part of the experience as the food. We found it a little on the expensive side; the setting and the enjoyable evening contributed to how we felt about the visit.
Anyone looking for a quiet dinner should keep the music and activity in mind. We wanted somewhere colourful and busy that night, and that is what we found. The outdoor table, friendly service and dancing across the road made it a good first stop in Rio.
The dancing at the start of our Rio video
The opening dance footage in Harbiyiyorum’s Rio de Janeiro food episode was filmed directly opposite Boa Praça. We did not film a food segment inside the restaurant that night. We wanted to enjoy our first evening and leave the other food discoveries for the days ahead. When the dancing started, we took the camera across the road.
The episode is in Turkish. The opening footage captures the street atmosphere we experienced that evening.
Watch the Rio episode on YouTube ↗
Would we recommend Boa Praça Ipanema?
It was the first place we ate in Rio, and we remember it fondly. If you want to sit down after a walk along Ipanema Beach, share some food, have a beer and spend time somewhere lively, it is worth considering. Our order was straightforward: one sandwich to share and a basket of mini coxinhas, with enough time to enjoy the evening.
Where is Boa Praça Ipanema?
Boteco Boa Praça · Ipanema
Avenida Vieira Souto, 110Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22420-002, Brazil
Check the Ipanema branch’s official links for the latest menu, opening hours and music programme before visiting.
Questions about Boa Praça Ipanema
Is it on Ipanema Beach?
It is across the road from the beach, on Avenida Vieira Souto. We sat in the outdoor area.
Does it have live music?
There was live music during our visit. Check the branch’s programme for your own date.
Can two people share a smaller meal?
We shared one beef parmegiana sandwich and a basket of mini coxinhas. That suited the smaller meal we wanted that evening.
Keep exploring Rio and Brazilian food
Where to Eat in Rio de Janeiro brings together more of our stops. You can also read about garlic chicken at Galeto Sat’s and what goes into a coxinha.
This article is adapted from our original Boa Praça visit notes on Harbiyiyorum. The day and night photographs are from the visit; the sandwich illustration is a menu screenshot.
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