Watch: mixed picture🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro for Black travellers
Rio's Black history is concentrated in the port area known as Pequena Africa, where samba took shape and where around a million Africans were landed. The memorials are powerful and the city is lively, but official advice flags serious crime risks, so planning matters.
Where to stay & explore
- Pequena Africa (Port area) — Historic Afro-Brazilian district around Valongo Wharf, Pedra do Sal and the Pretos Novos memorial.
- Lapa — Nightlife district, also flagged for violent theft.
- Cidade do Samba — Home of the samba schools, offering behind-the-scenes tours of costumes and dance.
Stay safe in Rio de Janeiro
- Canada's advice says to avoid Complexo da Maré and Complexo da Penha: very high violent crime, frequent police operations and difficulty getting help.
- Violent theft is reported at Copacabana beach, Lapa and Santa Teresa.
- Express kidnappings forcing ATM withdrawals occur in the Rio region.
- Use only authorised taxis, registered ride-hailing apps or hotel transfers; avoid public buses, especially at night.
Black heritage & culture
- Cais do Valongo — UNESCO-listed wharf where an estimated 500,000 to one million enslaved Africans landed between 1811 and 1831.
- Instituto Pretos Novos — Memorial and archaeological site built over a mass grave of Africans who died on arrival.
- Pedra do Sal — Birthplace of samba, now a venue for live music.
- MUHCAB — Museum of Afro-Brazilian history and culture.
Getting around
Official advice is to use authorised taxis (yellow with a blue stripe), registered ride-hailing apps or hotel-arranged transfers, and to avoid unofficial taxis and night buses.
Black-owned in Rio de Janeiro
- Angurmê (at Kaza 123) · Rio de Janeiro
Afro-Brazilian kitchen built around angu, a corn-based porridge, run from Kaza 123 in Vila Isabel, with feijoada on Sundays and Wednesday-to-Sunday opening.
Black-owned · Júlia Ferreira · Source · Website - Dida Bar e Restaurante · Rio de Janeiro (Lapa)
Afro-Brazilian and African restaurant and bar, now on Rua do Lavradio in Lapa. Known for moqueca, acarajé and the Sunday feijoada with live samba.
Black-owned · Chef Dida Nascimento · Source · Website - Afro Gourmet · Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro restaurant led by chef Dandara Batista serving African-diaspora cooking she calls a gastronomy of resistance — Afro-Brazilian dishes with West African roots.
Black-owned · Dandara Batista · Source · Website - Instituto de Pesquisa e Memória Pretos Novos (IPN) · Rio de Janeiro (Saúde, Pequena África)
Museum and research institute at the Cemetery of Pretos Novos site, the burial ground of enslaved Africans. Guided visits and an art collection on Afro-Brazilian history.
Community-run · Founded by Merced and Petrúcio Guimarães dos Anjos · Source · Website - Agô Bar da Encruza · Rio de Janeiro (Santa Teresa)
Bar in Santa Teresa inspired by Afro-Brazilian religions, with orixá-themed décor and cocktails. Try the padê and bobó de camarão; music and drum gatherings.
Black-owned · Kananda Soares · Source · Website - Yayá Comidaria Pop Brasileira · Rio de Janeiro (Leme)
Casual restaurant near Leme beach serving traditional Brazilian dishes with African influences, such as banana fritters with jerked beef. Hosts feijoada and samba days.
Black-owned · Chef Andressa Cabral · Source · Website - Bar do Mussum · Rio de Janeiro (Del Castilho)
Bar and restaurant in Del Castilho honouring the Brazilian comedian Mussum. Expect Brazilian bar food, cold beer and a lively, informal neighbourhood atmosphere.
Black-owned · Sandro Gomes (son of comedian Mussum) and Diogo Mello · Source · Website
Sources: eileenivette.com · en.wikipedia.org · travel.gc.ca. Editorial city guide compiled October 2026 — not official travel advice. Opening times and conditions change; check official advice (GOV.UK, travel.state.gov) before you go.