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.