the many bars are restaurants, literally set next door to one another along the waterfront quintino bocaiúva avenue, offer a rich variety of foods for all budgets, and often live music including international rock and pop selections, as opposed to the more commonly played samba and bossa nova.

several of the most famous rio's franchises have a presence on são francisco beach, but smal business is also thriving. among them, the restaurant porcão, the bar devassa, botequim informal, conversa fiada, lume and the always popular gula gula liven up the shore by attracting crowds especially on week-ends.