Towards the end of the 19th Century nighttime culture was influenced by Parisian 'boemia.' A number of Parisian-style theatres were created, such as the Moulin Rouge in 1891. In 1909 the Teatro Municipal (Municipal Theatre) was inaugurated, one of the most striking and baroque buildings in the city, which still stands today. These establishments ran varied programs of theater, circus, concerts and balls.

To limit to some degree European dominance in the city, a law was passed in 1901, decreeing that cultural houses and landmarks be given Brazilian as opposed to European names, further stimulating the development of a local music and nighttime culture and resulting in today's iconic Carioca nightlife philosophy.