The Bar Capital of Brazil
Brazilians take their beer very seriously. If you are an enthusiast yourself, you should consider a trip to Belo Horizonte, in the state of Minas Gerais, where there are more bars per capita than anywhere else in Brazil. What is Brazil's best beer? It's really a personal choice. Musician Zeca Pagodinho appeared in a major ad campaign for Antarctica and was then sued when he went back to drinking his personal favorite, Brahma. Some people buy Nova Schin just because a portion of the profits finances the Flamengo soccer team while the owner of a large supermarket chain has banned its sale in his stores since he is a Vasco fan. Skol is a popular choice that you are likely to see in every botequins.
Some time ago, botequins (also known as botecos or pé sujos) reigned in Brazil, where all the working men would team up at the end of the day and drink away their sorrows. Because so many people felt the urge to participate in this ritual it became common to drink standing up. It is easy to see this reflected still today, where hundreds of bars pack thousands of people everyday who would much rather be standing, drinking and talking, than sitting down. Last weekend's New York Times included a guide to Belo Horizonte's bars. Fear not, if your trip to Brazil doesn't include a stop in Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro has a vibrant night scene with plenty of botecos for you to enjoy. Read more about the city that never sleeps for our recommendations.
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