The Hippie Fair is a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon in Ipanema. Featuring dozens of local…read morevendors, this outdoor craft market is a great place to find souvenirs, art, clothing, food, and more. Some items are generic imports, but many others are one-of-a-kind originals. We found everything from unique-tooled leather belts to hand-crafted batiks and paintings. Go explore!

When traveling these days, one thing I frequently lament is the inability to go anywhere in the…read moreworld and find something unique to return with, something that can't be purchased on-line while sitting at my dining room table. Brazil though, threw a curve into that train of thought and the Feira Hippie de Ipanema (aka Hippie Fair) was a big part of that curve. The al fresco Hippie Fair happens once each week, on Sunday in Ipanema, and if you like shopping and strolling and eating and eyeing it's worth your time. I spent a couple of hours there before my family forcibly evicted me and even then I sent one of them back to purchase something that I suddenly decided I couldn't live without. It's at the Hippie Fair that you'll find a lot of reasonably priced, uniquely Brazilian jewelry, clothing, artwork, shoes, hair/head pieces, soaps, and more. And when you tire of looking walk to the corners. One corner featured a makeshift samba dance troupe from a nearby favela. Another corner bustled with Afro-Brazilian women in traditional garb dishing out luscious Bahian stews and a cornucopia of delicious desserts. It was here that I stopped briefly to enjoy what was quickly becoming my usual, a giant slice of flan (which probably goes by a different name when in Brazil; I just point at it and nod my head). Aside from the name, there's nothing "hippie" about this place. Prices aren't negotiable but they also weren't unreasonable and most vendors accept credit cards. This sort of thing - an arts fair - isn't going to turn you into a shopper if you're not but if you are, it's a nice diversion a mere block from Ipanema Beach. If you're looking for a uniquely Brazilian souvenir besides the ubiquitous but very welcome Havaianas or anything that might be offered for sale while you're sitting on the beach the Hippie Fair is a good place to start your search.

Smaller than the others store about 1/2 a mile away but okay selection of Rio Olympics 2016. If you…read morewalk up and down the street, there are other shoe stores that sell Havaianas at comparable prices.

This Havaianas shop is located about five blocks away from a larger location on Rua Xavier de…read moreSilveira in Copacabana. The selection is limited to men's, women's, and children's flip-flops and a few accessories. Havaianas are the original and first Brazilian massed-produced rubber flip-flop created in 1962. The flip-flops are comfortable and are perfect on the beautiful beaches of Brazil. The new patterns for the Rio 2016 Olympics are available. www.havaianas.com.br

facebook.com/ProudToBeGuilty…read more This is a well stocked luggage store in Copacabana that I like. They have 3 locations. It is good for the traveler looking for the right item at the right price .

This place has anything you need if you're a tourist looking to bring gifts back to family and…read morefriends. Jerseys, ashtrays, and the best part - Havianas for big feet! They carry lots of large sizes we couldn't find elsewhere. They have 2 huge walls of the notorious flip flops! The staff is very helpful and nice, especially if your Portuguese is lacking like mine. The nice thing is you can loop around and walk along the beach at Copacabana through to Ipanema at Aproador. The quality is pretty standard, no Nike jerseys, but it's also nowhere near as pricey!

Fun spot, but the customization process is a little confusing. Paid for flip flops and then…read morerealized that you had to pick out charms and pay, before they put them on. So had to wait at register 2x and the charm station 2x. But all in all it was a good experience, we had fun!

Havaianas are a lot more expensive in the US than they are in Brazil... and we don't get the same…read moreselection. The Havaianas in Rio has so many cute designs, patterns and styles. I opted for purple (my favorite color) metallic flip flops and added a Brazilian flag charm to the right flip flop. This was the perfect souvenir to bring home to commemorate a great vacation. Locally made with some Brazilian pride. Love it!

Huge bookstore inside Leblon shopping mall, great selection!…read more Enorme librería dentro del centro comercial Leblon, gran selección!

The bookstores in Rio are a lot of fun. They're classy with cafes and restaurants up top and walls…read moreof bookshelves with every topic of books you could want. This one usually has a lot to local events from book signings to music groups. There's always something going on. They also do a good job of rotating then front display and promote new authors and different collections of books. In the front right corner, behind the guard they sell excellent souvenirs; these pop-out tiny replicas of famous Rio landmarks (Maracaná, Pedra de Gávea, Lapa). They also carry some nice photography books although some are older and may need to be updated. They carry a lot of new fashionable books too. Upstairs they have music and DVDs. The listening station allow one to sample the music before purchasing. Scanners around the place allow you to verify prices without having to hunt down an employee. I've always found the ambiance here to be well organized and welcoming.

I was recommended this mall for its great prices. The building us 12 stories with a small selection…read moreof stores and services on each level. This building has everything! Beauty and spa services, souvenir shops, clothing stores, a cafe and restaurant, and other businesses I might have missed. I only wanted to buy a few bathing suits, and was almost overwhelmed at how many swimwear shops there were. They can be found on every level. Some were selling sets for ~300 Reias, but a few had great mark downs for 70-100 Reias. It's definitely worth it to take time looking through this mall. There is an elevator on each level, but I found the stairs easier to explore the entirety of the building.

Shopping mecca! Just two blocks from Coppa this place has everything you want as a tourist or a…read morelocal. I came here in search of a Brazilian bathing suit. Full disclosure, I really had anxiety about the whole bathing suit thing coming from the northern US where I've only ever seen full coverage bottoms at the beach. Based on recommendations from other yelpers (Gabriele J and Mitzy R) I came here and not only did I get 3, that's right 3, bikinis but I'm a convert! I will never go back to my full coverage suits. My fav place was La Ariea on the 7th or 8th floor. They were the only place with bikinis with a "G" bottom. Yes the "P" or "S" weren't going to hold this bumbum. But the place has more than just tons of bathing suit stores, they had plenty of options for workout gear (yes I got several one piece suits to bring back), a store full of sarongs for $R13 (not the 25/30 on the beach) and a great place called Pado de Sol with tons of souvenirs. The prices vary throughout the floors. If you see something you like but don't like the price I'm sure you'll see it on another floor for a different price. Definitely recommend coming here. Note bathrooms are only on floor 12.

Our concierge recommended that place. It's both a tourist and local spot. It's a huge space…read moreboasting 3 floors and a speakeasy nightclub inside. Live band and service is good. Pretty good system - There's an entrance fee. You then receive a card which you must present to any server to order food and drinks. That tracks your tab which allows you to walk around freely after you eat. Multiple bars. To settle your tab, you pay upfront as they have several cashiers to cash you out. They take credit cards including Amex. Fun times and great cocktails. The passion fruit caipirinhas were delicious!!!

Stunning interior, lively music, delicious and strong drinks, friendly staff, great way to spend an…read moreevening dancing and singing. This used to be an antique store, and there are still beautiful antique items throughout the place. Absolutely adored this spot.

I bought sandals there last year and this year my wife bought purse sandals. They're very nice…read morepeople that work in these stores and the value and the quality of the product is very good.