Most Rio beer bars chase the beach. Botto Bar plants itself inland in Praça da Bandeira and lets 20 taps do the talking, a beer hall built by a brewer who knows what he is pouring.
Published March 24, 2026 · By Daniel Okafor
Botto Bar sits at Rua Barão de Iguatemi 205 in Praça da Bandeira, a short walk from the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro. It takes its name from co-owner Leonardo Botto, a homebrewer and brewing consultant, and BeerAdvocate credits that pedigree for a tap list that runs deeper than the usual carioca beer stop. The 20 taps split between Brazilian breweries and imports.
The hook is range and turnover. The list rotates often, mixing local labels such as Oceânica with guest and imported pours, so the board rarely looks the same two visits running.
The room
The bar runs casual and beer-first, with a walk-in cold room that regulars treat as part of the show. Seating leans communal, the volume sits at conversation level, and the focus stays on the board rather than the décor. One house quirk, noted by local beer writers, has drinkers leaving a shoe behind to borrow a boot-shaped glass.
What to order
Ask what landed on the taps this week and lean toward the Brazilian IPAs, where the kitchen of breweries like Oceânica shows best. BeerAdvocate flags the rotating session and India pale ales as the safe bet. Skip the instinct to order something familiar, since the point here is the label you have not tried. Expect mid-range $$ pricing for a proper craft pour.
The crowd and best time to go
The crowd mixes beer geeks, neighbourhood locals, and football fans before and after games at the nearby Maracanã. Weeknights stay relaxed and conversational, while match days turn the room loud. Go early on a quiet night to actually work through the board, or ride the energy on a game night.
What regulars say
On Google Maps and beer forums the repeated note is selection and freshness, with the staff praised for steering newcomers through the list. The common caution is that the room fills on match nights and the taps move fast, so a favourite may be gone by your next visit. Reviewers rank it among the better dedicated beer bars away from the beach zones.
Who it is for
This is for the beer hunter and the match-night crowd working through Rio de Janeiro craft beer bars. Skip it if you want cocktails or a view. Compare the deep board at Brewteco and the brewpub pours at Hocus Pocus.
The verdict
Botto Bar wins on substance over scenery. A brewer-led list, 20 fast-moving taps, and a room that puts beer first make it one of Rio's serious craft stops. Ask the bar what is fresh and let them pick. Our craft beer bars guide covers the rest of the city.
