Another central and unique characteristic of Carioca nighttime is its gravitation towards the city's plazas and squares. Baixo Gávea (Lower Gávea), located in the vicinity of Praça Santos Dumont (Saint Dumont Square), is a synthesis of trendy informality in Rio. Cariocas flit between bars and vendors, meeting old friends and making new, drinking cold beer and snacking on toasted peanuts or pastries.

Nestled between the districts of Laranjeiras and Flamengo is Praça São Salvador, which comes to life each night with music, dance, laughter and conversation. It epitomizes the relaxed charms of Rio's outdoor night culture, where musicians congregate to play a vast array of rhythms, most notably Samba, Chorinho, Jazz and acoustic guitar. These performances are enjoyed by merry and enraptured audiences, who tend to break out into dance when the mood strikes.