TRAVEL GUIDE | CABANA TRAVEL | WORLD OF CABANA

Brazilian architect Paulo Jacobsen shares his personal map of Rio de Janeiro, a city where architecture and nature exist in extraordinary harmony. From Oscar Niemeyer’s modernist landmarks and Burle Marx’s gardens to neighbourhood institutions, beachside bars and mountain escapes, discover the places, memories and creative spirit that have shaped both Paulo's life and work.

BY PAULO JACOBSEN | CABANA TRAVEL | 2 NOVEMBER 2026

My Favorite Hotel in Rio: Belmond Copacabana Palace

A classic Rio hotel facing Copacabana Beach, the Copacabana Palace is a symbol of the city and its laid-back, beachfront culture. When I was a kid, I learned to swim in the hotel pool, back when they still gave swimming lessons inside.

My Favorite Restaurant: Grado

An intimate and welcoming Italian spot in the Jardim Botânico neighborhood, don't miss Grado. And be sure to try their Ossobuco with Milanese Risotto.

My Favorite Museum or Gallery: MAR

A museum and observation point dedicated to art and the city, MAR (Rio Art Museum) presents Rio through multiple perspectives and horizons. As co-authors of the project, we faced a series of architectural challenges, especially in realizing the museum’s signature undulating roof. We brought in artist Carlos Lopes, who specializes in creating large-scale styrofoam sculptures for Rio’s carnival floats and popular celebrations. Drawing on his experience, he developed the large mold that served as the basis for the concrete slab connecting the museum’s buildings. Nothing could be more “carioca” than bringing together architecture, engineering, and the craftsmanship of carnival to make the project possible.

My Favorite Café: La Bicyclette

La Bicyclette Café is a great spot for breakfast or afternoon coffee. The breads are very tasty, but the delicious fraisier is the highlight. It also has the city best baguettes.

My Favorite Cocktail Bar: Jobi

A classic Rio bar in Leblon, Jobi is a popular gathering spot after the beach. Their ice-cold draft beer and codfish cakes are my personal favorites. The waiters are icons of the city too.

My Favorite Garden or Green Space: Aterro do Flamengo

One of Rio’s major 20th-century urban projects, the Aterro do Flamengo park stretches along Guanabara Bay from Botafogo to Santos Dumont Airport and turns into a huge party on Sundays. I was young when I saw this project take shape, including Roberto Burle Marx’s gardens, and it had a strong impact on the way I understood the relationship between landscape, the city, and everyday life. It is a place where architecture, nature, and public life come together in a way that feels deeply connected to Rio.

My Favorite Place of Architectural Interest: Casa das Canoas

Oscar Niemeyer's house, Casa das Canoas, is one of the places that best expresses the relationship between Brazilian architecture, landscape, and the way we live. It’s actually very close to my house, we are practically neighbors.

My Favorite 'Hidden Gem' or Lesser-known Spot: Parque Lage & Gardens

Visiting the Parque Lage palace and its surrounding gardens early in the morning, before it gets busy, is a wonderful way to walk and experience the relationship between the house, the forest, and the mountains. The park has a rich history, centered around the historic mansion and its transformation into a public cultural space, surrounded by the landscape designed by Roberto Burle Marx. For me, it is a special example of how Rio’s architecture and nature can become part of the same experience.

My Perfect Way to Spend a Weekend in Rio

At the beach, having a long lunch, and spending time outdoors with family and friends. I was a surfer when I was young, riding longboards in Leblon, so the beach and the sea have always been an important part of my life. Rio is a city to be lived outside.

I also love going to the mountains. Rio’s topography is such an important characteristic of the state, and getting out of the city toward Petrópolis is something I do a lot with my family. We used to farm goats and produce our own cheese before the pandemic hit. We’ve also designed bungalows that people can book a stay and have a Jacobsen architecture experience.

My Favorite Thing about Rio

Rio is a city with an extraordinary presence of nature. Oscar Niemeyer used to say that his school was the mountains, the waves, and the winding course of the rivers. I feel something similar. That energy of Rio has always been an important source of inspiration for me.

When I was young and newly married, in the 1970s, we lived in an apartment facing the sea that had a piano on the hallway, surrounded by young people who would become some of Brazil's great artists, like Gal Costa. There was an incredible sense of freedom and creative energy at that time. I think that atmosphere of openness, experimentation, and freedom, together with the landscape of Rio, shaped me and, in many ways, shaped my architecture.