Sacrilege Bar
Sacrilege Bar occupies a two-story building on Avenida Mem de Sa, right in the middle of Lapa's main nightlife strip. The ground floor is a straightforward bar with a small stage area that hosts occasional live samba and MPB acts. The upper level opens onto a balcony overlooking the street, which is where most people want to be on weekend nights. From up there you can watch the Lapa street party unfold below while drinking caipirinhas at a pace that suits you. The interior is decorated with religious iconography repurposed in a tongue-in-cheek style, fitting the bar's name. Capacity is roughly 150 people across both floors, and it fills to that limit on Friday and Saturday nights by 11 PM. The drink menu focuses on caipirinhas made with various fruits, including maracuja, abacaxi, and the standard lime. Draft beer is available but the caipirinha is what most people order. The kitchen serves basic bar food: pasteis, coxinhas, and bolinho de bacalhau.
Where to stay near Sacrilege Bar
Hotels and rentals within walking distance.
What to Expect
A lively two-story bar with a balcony that puts you above the Lapa street party. Caipirinhas flow steadily, the music is loud, and the crowd is a mix of locals and visitors warming up for the night ahead.
Energetic and social, with the balcony providing a ringside seat to one of Rio's best street parties.
Samba, MPB, and forró from the house sound system; occasional live acts on the ground floor
Casual. T-shirts, jeans, and sneakers are standard.
People who want to experience Lapa nightlife with a bit of distance from the street-level chaos
Cash and cards accepted. Consumption card system on busy nights.
Price Range
Caipirinha 20-28 BRL, draft beer 12 BRL, pasteis 8 BRL, cover charge 15-25 BRL on weekends
Caipirinha ~$4-5.50/~3.60-5 EUR, beer ~$2.50/~2.20 EUR
Hours
18:00-02:00 Tue-Sat, closed Sun-Mon
Insider Tip
Head straight upstairs to the balcony when you arrive; it fills up fast and the view is the main draw. The maracuja caipirinha is the house specialty. Avoid the ground floor on packed nights unless you want to be squeezed against the bar.
Full Review
Sacrilege Bar works best as a staging point for a Lapa evening. The balcony on the upper floor gives you a view of the action on Rua Mem de Sa without requiring you to stand in the middle of it. On a Friday night, you can lean on the railing with a caipirinha and watch the street below fill with thousands of people, musicians setting up on corners, and vendors pushing carts of drinks through the crowd.
The caipirinhas are the bar's strongest offering. The standard lime version is solid, but the fruit variations, particularly maracuja (passion fruit) and abacaxi (pineapple), are what regulars order. They are made strong, with quality cachaca, and priced at R$20-28 depending on the fruit. Draft beer is available for those who prefer it, served cold in standard 300ml glasses.
The ground floor is functional but cramped on busy nights. A small stage area at the back hosts live acts on some evenings, but the sound competes with the street noise and the space is too tight for comfortable standing. The upper floor is where you want to be. Tables along the balcony railing go first, followed by the indoor seating area. Arriving before 10 PM on weekends gives you a reasonable chance at a balcony spot.
The religious-themed decor is playful without being offensive. Stained glass motifs, repurposed church imagery, and tongue-in-cheek saintly portraits line the walls. It gives the bar a visual identity that sets it apart from the more generic Lapa bars.
Service is friendly but stretched thin on peak nights. Getting a waiter's attention at the bar requires patience. If you are on the balcony, flagging down staff can take several minutes. This is standard for Lapa venues on busy nights and not specific to this bar.
The Neighborhood
Located on Avenida Mem de Sa, Lapa's main nightlife artery. Carioca da Gema, Rio Scenarium, and Mangue Seco Cachacaria are all within a 2-minute walk.
Getting There
Uber from Copacabana costs R$20-35. Metro to Cinelandia station, then a 10-minute walk south along Rua do Lavradio to Mem de Sa.
Address
Av. Mem de Sá, 81
Other Venues in Centro
Rio Scenarium
Three-story venue in a restored colonial warehouse filled with antiques and vintage decor. Live samba and choro bands play nightly, drawing a mixed crowd of locals and visitors.
Carioca da Gema
Intimate samba house that books some of Rio's best traditional musicians. The small dance floor gets packed on weekends, so arriving before 10 PM is a good idea.
Lapa 40 Graus
Multi-level club near the Arcos da Lapa with different music styles on each floor. Expect samba, funk carioca, and electronic sets depending on the night.
Leviano Bar
Underground cocktail bar tucked into a basement space downtown. Known for creative drinks and a DJ lineup that leans toward house and disco.
Bar Bukowski
Low-key spot popular with the local after-work crowd and bohemian regulars. Cold draft beer and simple petiscos keep the atmosphere unpretentious.
Angu do Gomes
Historic boteco operating since 1955, tucked into a narrow storefront near Praca Tiradentes. Known for its namesake angu dish and cold draft beer served to a loyal crowd of regulars.