The district is home to a highly impressive samba school, known as Acadêmicos da Rocinha - taking as its symbol a blue, green and white butterfly, around the period of carnival vibrant and engaging rehearsals can be viewed, to the great support and admiration of residents and visitors.  Rocinha is a friendly, diverse and highly interesting panel in the social and cultural tapestry of Rio, offering the warmth and generosity commonly associated with the carioca spirit, as well as some of its most charming and archetypal music, commerce and views.

located near the entrance to rocinha, at 31 Travessa Kátia, Sushi Yaki  is getting more famous every day - here,  Givabildo Pereira serves eastern delights alongside sake caipirinhas, in this Japanese restaurant with a Brazilian twist. He decided to open a restaurant not only to earn a living, but to ensure that he himself would be able to eat well every single day in the favela where he grew up.