Urban Agenda: 8 Cool Activities to Do in Rio De Janeiro

Americans may not recognize Rogê's name, but before the end of the World Cup they will certainly have heard his music. Though Rogê's brand of laid-back samba is a hit in his home country of Brazil (he's a frequent collaborator with the Seu Jorge), he now has the potential to reach new ears across the planet. With the World Cup here and the Olympics fast approaching, Rogê has been tapped to bring samba to a global audience. That means serving as ESPN's Ambassador to Brazil for its 2014 Cup coverage, and by working with the channel on a series of documentaries that will air during the next few weeks. "All my life I’ve waited for the World Cup here in Brazil," says Rogê. "I love this place, I love my city."

Rogê will also travel throughout Brazil, showing the world what his country looks like through the eyes of a samba star. After his work with the 2014 World Cup, Rogê will take on an even bigger challenge: He's been asked to write the theme song to the upcoming 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. In celebration of the World Cup, we asked Rogê to share some of his favorite hangouts and actives in his home city. From amazing restaurants to classic samba venues, this is Rio through the eyes of a real carioca.

The scoop: A beloved spot between Ipanema and Copacabana.
Great for: Watching the sunset.

“Arpoador is where I have gone all my life—I love that place, it’s very special to me. Sometimes I take my kids there to see the sunset and the moon, when it’s shining, is very beautiful; The ocean is very beautiful. I went with my parents—my father—when I was a little kid, he would take me there. For my whole life, sometimes when it’s late at the night, I go there to play guitar. It’s like a church for me, that rock.”

The scoop: Prainha and Grumari are pristine beaches away from the usual Rio crowds.
Great for: Swimming, surfing, and reveling in natural beauty.

“For me the best beach in the region is called Prainha. Prainha and [the nearby beach] Grumari are both beautiful places to go. Sometimes at the end of the week, there will some be some people, but usually, there’s no crowd. It's beautiful!"

The scoop: The most delicious seafood you could imagine, located just outside of Rio.
Great for: Chowing down after a long beach day at Grumari.

"I don’t eat [red] meat, so I prefer fish. Bira is a... pescador? Yeah, a fisherman! He has a restaurant that serves delicious fish and seafood. It's nice place to eat, and has a beautiful view of the ocean. For me, Bira de Guaratiba is the best restaurant in Rio."

The scoop: A classic braseiro (a.k.a. barbecue restaurant) in the Gávea neighborhood.
Great for: Eating out with friends.

"[As I said before} I don't eat meat, [but] I love it when we eat barbecue. I was just at Braseiro da Gávea two hours ago. People love the meat and chicken, it's a good price—not that expensive."

The scoop: A Brazilian paddle-ball sport played at the water's edge.
Great for: Getting your heartrate up.

"Frescoball is a special kind of sport. It's unique, in that you don’t have any competition. It's like tennis at the beach, but we play close to the water. At some beaches it’s not allowed because the ball moves very fast, but it's also very soulful. [In that way] it’s like a surfing, especially for the old, old guys. I like to talk to the guys who play. They have amazing stories."

The scoop: Rio Scenarium is the most famous place to see music in the Lapa neighborhood.
Great for: Listening to music, drinking, and dancing.

"I love the Rio Scenarium. We go there and you can see rock music, samba, bossa nova, lots of kinds of music. It’s very eclectic. I like it because it’s small. It's a good place to watch samba, with people sitting around a table listening to music. It’s a very nice place."

The scoop: Carioca da Gema is one of the birthplaces of Samba.
Great for: A night on the town.

"It's legendary—every Sunday people go there. Samba was born there. It’s the best place to go, where the roots of the music came from. I play there sometimes—I just played there on Sunday. It's a beautiful place to go, and has a nice view. For me it’s the best place to see samba in the city. You feel very relaxed; we have police over there, and don’t have crime anymore. The traffic is better [than it used to be]. And a lot of friends of mine live near there."

The scoop: Brazil's favorite sport.
Great for: Just about everything.

"I've played soccer every Friday for 15 years, with the same people. After we samba, we get some beer, play soccer, and we talk about our wives. Haha—I love my wife, I’m just kidding. But when I play soccer, I don’t need real therapy—that’s my therapy right there. Soccer is like a church for me, too. For me, that’s the real Rio."