Livraria da Esquina (the “Bookshop on the Corner”) is not entirely a bar, club or bookshop, but it sure is a great place to go for a drink, a laugh or a read. Located in Barra Funda—a neighborhood formerly dominated by the fabric trade but now undergoing a renaissance as a result of the municipal government’s downtown revival policies—this place stands out among the many hip new live performance venues.

In the afternoon, when it opens, the Livraria da Esquina looks just as a regular bookstore. But when night falls, the lights go down, the sound level goes up and the shop/cafe transforms into a pleasant bar. A variety of performances and gigs take place among the book titles, from rock and DJ sets to photo exhibitions to short film festivals to magic shows and far beyond. The Livraria da Esquina’s owners describe it as “a cultural space for artistic manifestations”.

And boredom is certainly never a problem: during the breaks you call always reach for a book, or sample a tasty “caldinho de feijão” (black bean and bacon soup) with a glass of cachaça.

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