PASSPORT CONCIERGE: LUIS CESAR RODRIGUES
Autor: Luís César Rodrigues | Publicado: 2015-10-30T14:15:00-02:00

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by&nbsp;Jimmy Im - Passport Magazine 2014



The&nbsp;Belmond Copacabana Palace&nbsp;(Avenida Atlantica, 1702. Tel: +55-21-2548-7070.&nbsp;www.belmond.com) is legendary. One of the most iconic hotels in the world, this Rio de Janeiro mainstay has served as the preferred stomping ground for dignitaries, celebrities, and socialites alike for nearly a century. It’s inspired movies and songs, put Copacabana Beach on the map, and has been touted by the world’s most famous figures, including Madonna, Walt Disney, and Elton John. Opened in 1923, the beachfront hotel has 216 rooms in a 14-story annex with a massive pool (including a separate pool for VIP guests), lavish amenities, and European-style interiors. It’s just as trendy and modern as it is Old World, and it reigns as the best nightlife spot along the coast. Stately and elegant, the white palace is truly a fixture in the city’s landscape. In fact, staying in these quarters is brag-worthy, while working here is being part of history.&nbsp;

Just ask Luis Cesar Rodrigues, who’s a member of the enviable Copacabana Palace concierge team. His background in hotels spans nearly a decade, and he has a degree in tourism management, along with an MBA in luxury hotel management. It also doesn’t hurt to be a member of Les Clefs d’Or International, an association where concierges must meet strict criteria to receive the golden keys. After being accepted into the group, he was hired at Copacabana Palace where he’s worked for three years. “Concierge is just in my blood,” he says. “I love the life of the ‘conciergerie.’”

With his encyclopedic knowledge of Rio and a natural instinct for pairing visitors with sights and attractions they will love, Luis Cesar is a valuable source in the city with his effortless knack on knowing trends, where to be seen, and how to maximize your Rio visit to the fullest. We caught up with Luis Cesar on what’s hot in the sexiest South American beach destination.

Where are the coolest places to go for cocktails?

Actually, some of the best places to go for cocktails are at luxury hotels here in Rio. One of my favorite places to send people is the pool deck of&nbsp;Hotel Fasano&nbsp;(Vieira Souto 80. Tel: +55-21-3202-4000.&nbsp;www.fasano.com.br) in Ipanema, where you can have an amazing view of Ipanema beach and a beautiful sunset in the summertime. Bar Dos Descasados in&nbsp;Santa Teresa Hotel&nbsp;(Alm. Alexandrino 660. Tel: +55-21-3380-0200.&nbsp;www.santateresahotel.com), a member of Relais &amp; Chateaux, is in the hills of Almirante and has an amazing view of downtown. And, of course, Deck Bar in&nbsp;Copacabana Palace&nbsp;has nice options for cocktails and also a great view of the beach. I also send visitors to&nbsp;Palaphita Kitch&nbsp;(Epitácio Pessoa Avenue, Quiosque 20. Tel: +55-21-99688-9286.&nbsp;www.palaphitakitch.com.br) in Lagoa, which serves exotic drinks and has a beautiful view of the lake. At the end of the year, they put up a decorative Christmas tree that adds to the landscape.

What are the best restaurants for a romantic dinner in the city?

I can say that one of the most romantic is definitely&nbsp;Olympe&nbsp;(Custódio Serrão 62. Tel: +55-21-2537-8582.&nbsp;www.claudetroisgros.com.br), a traditional French restaurant located in Jardim Botânico. The dishes are fabulous and the setting is very intimate. It’s great for special occasions.&nbsp;Zuka&nbsp;(Dias Ferreirra 233B. Tel: +55-21-3205-7154.&nbsp;www.zuka.com.br), a contemporary Brazilian restaurant, is an intimate, small restaurant that locals love. It’s pretty hard to get a table, because it’s so popular, but your concierge can always help with that. Another restaurant I recommend is&nbsp;Aprazível&nbsp;(Aprazível 62. Tel: +55-21-2508-9174.&nbsp;www.aprazivel.com.br) in Santa Teresa. It’s romantic because it’s exotic. They serve Brazilian cuisine with a huge variety of dishes from the south to the north of Brazil, and you’re meant to feel like you are in the middle of the jungle with the décor. In fact, you can have a table in the trees!

Who serves the greatest weekend brunch in town?

Definitely the one at&nbsp;Copacabana Palace Hotel&nbsp;that’s served only on Sundays. Sometimes it’s impossible to get a table. Don’t forget to book in advance, even if you are a guest at the hotel.&nbsp;Everybody&nbsp;wants to go there, it’s such a scene.

What are the hottest shows in town, and how do I get tickets?

We have a nice variety of national and international shows during the year in the city. The main places are&nbsp;HSBC Arena&nbsp;(Avenida Embaixador Abelardo Bueno 3401, Tel: +55-21-3035-5200.&nbsp;www.hsbacarena.com.br) in Barra, and&nbsp;Vivo Rio&nbsp;(Avenida Infante Dom Henrique 85. Tel: +55-21-2272-2919.&nbsp;www.vivorio.com.br) in Aterro do Flamengo, and getting tickets is never a problem. I also recommend visitors check out&nbsp;Ginga Tropical, a show about Brazilian culture that takes place at various locations.

Which museums are a must-see for visitors?

We have so many great museums in Rio. Located close to Rio de Janeiro Port and downtown,&nbsp;MAR&nbsp;(Museum of Art of Rio) (Praca Maua 5. Tel: +55-21-3031-2741.&nbsp;www.museudeartederio.org.br) is one of the newest museums in town, and it has some of the most interesting contemporary art in Rio. Another must see is&nbsp;Casa do Pontal Museum&nbsp;(Estrada do Pontal 3295. Tel: +55-21-2245-2717.&nbsp;www.mseucasadopontal.com.br) in Barra de Guaratiba. It’s a very important museum for us. It mainly celebrates the history and work of Brazilian craft art, and it even has a nice bistro for a light meal and, of course, our famous Brazilian coffee.

Which guided tours do you recommend most often to your guests?

I would recommend a tour of Angra dos Reis. In this tour you go to the tropical islands in Agra dos Reis outside of Rio, leaving the city in the morning and returning in the evening. The tour is organized with&nbsp;C.J. Executive&nbsp;(www.cj-e.com) and includes a boat tour, snorkeling, and lunch in a very nice restaurant. It’s a full-day trip, around ten hours. I also recommend the historical tour in the center city with&nbsp;Rios de Historia&nbsp;(www.riosdehistoria.com). You will learn the important facts of Rio’s history and old buildings with some of Rio’s best guides. It takes around four hours, and you can finish with an amazing dinner or a coffee at&nbsp;Confeitaria Colombo&nbsp;(Rua Gonçalves Dias 32. Tel: +55-21-2232-2300.&nbsp;www.confeitariacolombo.com.br), the most famous bakery in town.

Where can you go to get the best views of the city?

Located in the neighborhood of Urca,&nbsp;Sugarloaf Mountain&nbsp;is 2,199 feet high. A cable car runs along a 4,500-feet route between the Sugarloaf and Urca hill, where the views over the city and the bay are spectacular. Also,&nbsp;Christ the Redeemer(considered one of the seven modern wonders in the world) is a colossal statue of Jesus Christ at the summit Mountain Orcovado. It offers amazing 360-degree views of the city. There is also&nbsp;Pedra da Gavea, for visitors that want to have an amazing view attached with adventure. A helicopter tour can also provide unforgettable aerial views. There are so many vantage points for memorable views of the city.

If someone is looking for a full-service spa, where do you send them?
The most sophisticated urban sanctuaries in Rio are at five-star hotels. I recommend&nbsp;Le Spa&nbsp;at Hotel Santa Teresa located in Santa Teresa.&nbsp;The Copacabana Palace Spa&nbsp;from Copacabana Palace Hotel, and&nbsp;Windsor Spa&nbsp;from Windsor Atlantica Hotel in Copacabana are also top notch. As an alternative space outside of the five-star hotels,&nbsp;Nirvana&nbsp;(Praça Santos Dumont 31. Tel: +55-21-2187-0100.&nbsp;www.enirvana.com.br), located in Jardim Botânico, offers yoga, pilates and, of course, a great selection of spa treatments.

Designer labels for less—do you have any suggestions for the smart shopper?&nbsp;

For men, the recommended shops are&nbsp;Redley&nbsp;(Rua Captao Carlos 171. Tel: 09-527-112.&nbsp;www.redley.com.br),&nbsp;Foxton&nbsp;(Loja A-R. Garcia d’Avila 147. Tel: 22421-010.&nbsp;www.foxtonbrasil.br), and&nbsp;Foch&nbsp;(R. Visc. de Pirajá 365. Tel: +55-21-2521-1172.&nbsp;www.foch.com.br). Those are the typical “carioca” style of clothing, all located in Ipanema and quite stylish. For women,&nbsp;Eclectic&nbsp;(Visc. de Pirajá 414. No phone, no website) is also very popular in Rio and a hot spot for locals.

What are the best gay/lesbian bars in the city?

Tô nem aí&nbsp;(Farme de Amoedo 57. Tel: +55-21-2247-8403.&nbsp;www.tonemai.com.br), located in Ipanema, is the most popular of all. All the locals come out on the weekends, and it’s a huge spot for tourist.&nbsp;TV Bar&nbsp;(Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana 1417. Tel: +55-21-2267-1663.&nbsp;www.bartvbar.com.br) is a retro bar where DJs keep the videos playing all night. It’s a very social bar.

What are the most popular gay dance clubs in the city?

Galeria Café&nbsp;(Teixeira de Melo 31. Tel: +55-21-2523-8250.&nbsp;www.galeriacafe.com.br) in Ipanema is a small and charming club where you can find good music and a nice atmosphere. Friday is the best day to visit.&nbsp;00 (Zero Zero) Club&nbsp;(Avenida Padre Leonel Franca 240. Tel: +55-21-2540-8041.&nbsp;www.00site.com.br) is located in Gávea and is quite different for a club. It offers an outdoor bar, a fine restaurant inside, and a dance floor in the middle. It gets very crowded with all types of gays. Sunday is the best day.

Where can someone go at 3 A.M. for a good meal?

Pizzaria Guanabara&nbsp;(Avenida Ataulfo de Paiva 1228. Tel: +55-21-2294-0797.&nbsp;www.pizzariaguanabara.com.br) is a casual place in the middle of the trendiest and fanciest neighborhood, Leblon, where you can have casual and delicious Brazilian food. You’ll also find some interesting people this late at night. Some say this is the best pizza in town.

What is the iconic tourist souvenir, and where will we find it?&nbsp;

A very typical souvenir is the Brazilian liquor&nbsp;Cachaça, which is made of sugar cane and is used to prepare the famous cocktail caipirinha. You can find it in the supermarket or any liquor store. The small statue of&nbsp;Christ Redeemer&nbsp;made with Brazilian stones is another popular item, and it can be found in Copacabana and Ipanema souvenirs stores. However, the fanciest ones are found at H.&nbsp;Stern&nbsp;and&nbsp;Amsterdam Sauer&nbsp;(Jewelry boutique). Generally people also look for Brazilian coffee, which is considered one of the best coffees in the world!

Please finish this sentence: Don’t leave Rio without…


…eating a&nbsp;feijoada&nbsp;(typical Brazilian dish made with black beans, meat, ribs, and Brazilian sausage) served with rice, manioc flour, sliced orange, green leaves, and a caipirinha.&nbsp;Bar do Mineiro&nbsp;(Rua Paschoal Carlos Magno 99. Tel: +55-21-2221-9227.&nbsp;www.bardomineiro.net) in Santa Teresa is the most famous and best place to find it. The five-star hotels&nbsp;Copacabana Palace&nbsp;and&nbsp;Caesar Park&nbsp;also offer the dish in a sophisticated way. Visiting&nbsp;Sugarloaf&nbsp;and&nbsp;Christ the Redeemer&nbsp;are two wonders that nobody should miss. Having a coconut water and watching the sunset in Ipanema beach is an unforgettable activity. Another exceptional experience is either going to a samba school or trying it at&nbsp;Rio Scenariun Club&nbsp;in Lapa (bohemian neighborhood).
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