Fans of samba music may wish to explore beyond Lapa and head towards the Praça Mauá, in Rio’s historic port district. Housed in a classic 19th-century "sobrado" (a two-story walk-up), Trapiche Gamboa draws a very loyal crowd of samba lovers who come for the great performances in a beautiful venue. An added bonus is that tickets rarely cost more than R$20. The bands usually play a combination of their own repertoire, peppered with classic and contemporary samba hits, with the lively audience belting out the words. Between sets, enjoy a cold beer and some classic Brazilian bar snacks.