Bar Urca
8.0Friend Score / 10#5 of 11 Bars & Nightlife in Rio de Janeiro
Known forpastéis de camarãobolinho de bacalhauempada de camarãoempada de palmito
A 1939 neighborhood bar where cariocas grab cold beer and pastéis, then sit on the seawall (mureta) watching boats bob in Guanabara Bay with Christ the Redeemer behind. One of Rio's great cheap pleasures. Caveat: the upstairs seafood restaurant is pricier and slower — the magic is downstairs at the wall, and weekend sunsets get packed.
Key facts
| Hours | Mon–Sat 09:00–22:00 Sun–Sun 09:00–21:00 |
|---|---|
| Price | $ |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | No metro nearby — buses 107, 513 or others to Urca; about 10 min by taxi from Botafogo metro |
| Time needed | 1.5-2 hours |
| Best time to go | Late afternoon on a weekday for sunset on the mureta with smaller crowds |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
8.0/10- Value9.0
- iconic7.5
- Freshness9.1
- Crowd level5.0
- Authenticity9.5
- Accessibility5.5
Frequently asked questions
- Is Bar Urca open on Sundays?
- Yes — roughly 9am to 9pm on Sundays, and to around 10pm the rest of the week. Sunday afternoons are lively with local families, which is part of the charm.
- What time should I go to Bar Urca?
- Late afternoon for sunset over the bay is the classic move. Go on a weekday if you can — Friday and weekend sunsets get genuinely crowded on the wall.
- Is Bar Urca expensive?
- The street-counter side is cheap — snacks run around R$8-10 and beers are modest. The upstairs seafood restaurant is a different, pricier experience with moquecas and full plates.
- What is Bar Urca famous for?
- Cold beer, pastéis and empadinhas eaten on the seawall across the street, with Guanabara Bay and fishing boats in front of you. It's been doing exactly this since 1939 and cariocas treat it as a ritual, not a tourist stop.
- What should I order at Bar Urca?
- Pastéis (especially shrimp), empadinhas, and very cold bottled beer downstairs. If you eat upstairs, the seafood — moquecas and fried fish — is the specialty.
- How do I get to Bar Urca without a car?
- There's no metro in Urca, so take a bus (107 from Centro or 513 from Botafogo area) or a quick taxi/Uber from Botafogo station — about 10 minutes. It's also walkable from the Sugarloaf cable car station.
- Is Urca a safe neighborhood?
- Urca is one of Rio's calmest, safest neighborhoods — it's a quiet residential peninsula with a military base. Normal city awareness applies, but this is about as relaxed as Rio gets.
- Does Bar Urca take reservations?
- The downstairs counter is first-come, casual, no reservations — you buy and find wall space. The upstairs restaurant is table service; arrive early on weekends rather than counting on booking.
Nearby in Ask Rio de Janeiro
- UrcaNeighborhood0.73 km · 9 min walk
- Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar)Attraction1.08 km · 13 min walk
- Parque do Flamengo (Aterro do Flamengo)Park1.74 km · 22 min walk
- Tacacá do NorteRestaurant1.84 km · 23 min walk
- Bar do DavidBar2.23 km · 28 min walk
Where to stay near Bar Urca
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