Visiting The Maze Rio; a viewpoint, jazz bar, and B&B, all in one

Where is The Maze Rio located?

The Maze Rio is located in Tavares Bastos, in the neighborhood of Catete in Rio. This neighborhood is part of what we call the “South Zone” of Rio, and it is very close to other points of interest such as Copacabana, the Sugar Loaf, and the Christ.

Now, we know that the fact that this viewpoint is technically located in a favela makes some visitors worried or scared due to the bad reputation of favelas in general. However, as a local, I can assure you that this favela and this establishment are very safe places to visit, run by incredible locals, who are very proud to welcome visitors to their place.

How to get to The Maze Rio?

Even though you can technically reach Tavares Bastos by car, we believe that the best way of getting to The Maze is by using public transport. If you go with your own car, you will most likely struggle to find parking, since the options are extremely limited and usually taken by the resident’s vehicles.

Getting to The Maze Rio with the subway:

1. Use subway lines 1 or 2 to get to the station called Catete, and leave the station through exit A
2. Go around the station and follow this same street until you cross another street called “Rua Correa Dutra”
3. Follow this street alongside the cars until the end, when it crosses with “Rua Bento Lisboa”. To your left, across the street, you will already be able to see the entrance to the Street Tavares Bastos
4. In that corner, look for the white and yellow vans; they will be your transport for going up the favela (see picture below)

Read also: How to use the public transport in Rio

Getting to The Maze Rio by bus:

You can get to The Maze Rio using several different bus lines, depending on where is your starting point. We recommend using Google Maps to find the most suitable route for you, as the bus lines in Rio are usually very accurately mapped through this app.

If you come by bus, you will need to either get off at the stop at Rua Bento Lisboa or at Rua do Catete. If you have the second option, you will have to follow steps 2-4 described above.

Taking the van up to Tavares Bastos

Once you reach the start of Tavares Bastos Street, you need to hop on the local vans that will take you up the favela. If you do not want to take this transport, you can also walk up but it is a steep climb, I do not recommend it.

The one-way individual van ticket costs R$ 3,50, and we recommend bringing cash with you to pay for it. Go all the way up and get down at the very last stop. At this point, you will already be able to see the signs that lead you to The Maze (see picture below), which is only a 5min walk away.

If you have any trouble finding your way, you can ask any of the locals around Tavares Bastos since everyone there knows The Maze pretty well and will be able to guide you. If you visit The Maze Rio during the evening for an event, there will most likely be people from the venue along the way to help you get there.

If you want to see pictures of what this entire journey to get to The Maze looks like, check their Instagram highlight named “Como chegar”.

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Guided tour of The Maze Rio

Before visiting The Maze in person, I always thought it was only a viewpoint. Once I got there, I was very impressed with how incredible the place is, and how they were able to make something so cozy and diverse at the same time. The standard guided tour is called “tour da casa”, which translates into a house tour.

The visit costs R$ 10 per person and they currently only take cash or PIX (a Brazilian bank transfer option), so be sure to bring money with you. On the tour, you will be guided through the property by a guide who will tell you a bit about the history of the place and the owner, and then lead you through the art exhibition. After this, you will be free to explore and take pictures at your own pace.

PS; At the moment, the restaurant and bar are not working. The Maze Rio has just recently reopened their doors and is taking only guided tours.

The Maze Rio – opening times and visits

The Maze Rio is currently working from 13h to 17h. For visits during regular opening times, you can just come to the property normally. For visits during the morning period, you have to make a reservation.

During the morning, they offer reservation possibilities for groups of 10 people or more, and for exclusive use of the space. This option is popular for photoshoots, filming, etc. For the exclusive use, they charge an additional fee.

If you need any help organizing your visit, contact The Maze through the phone +55 21 99829-2707.

This is the first step of reopening this iconic venue, and we hope they will be back and running at full speed as soon as possible. We will do our best to keep this post updated and let you know once they start hosting Jazz events again.

The mosaics at The Maze Rio

I confess that the biggest reason I visited The Maze was the pictures of the incredible mosaic installations. From what I had originally seen online, it reminded me a bit of Gaudí’s pieces in Barcelona, which made me very curious to go see this place for myself, especially since it is located right in my hometown.

But I had no idea that besides being amazing art pieces, the mosaics had so much history behind them…

The mosaics on the walls of The Maze Rio were made throughout approx. 3 years by people from all over the world. Artists, travelers, and families often stayed at The Maze for a sort of work exchange, where in return for accommodation, they made a mosaic on the wall. There are pieces created by people from China, Colombia, and many other countries – the guide will take you through them all and tell you special stories along the way.

The maze made of mosaics is the perfect location for a viewpoint, making a picture-perfect scene with the Sugar Loaf in the background. My favorite art piece was the face located on the rooftop, half-man, and half-woman (see picture below).

PS; We visited The Maze on a Sunday morning and it was pretty crowded. You have to be patient if you want to take pictures alone at the main spots. If you want to get the place emptier, we recommend visiting during the week.

Bonus tip – combine your visit to The Maze with lunch at a local restaurant!

Since you will already be at Catete to visit The Maze Rio, we have the perfect restaurant recommendation to make your day even more “carioca” (which means, original from Rio). 

Either before or after your visit to The Maze, make a stop at Restaurant Berbigão for lunch. This is a very traditional, local, and authentic restaurant that serves really good food. They are located right next to the subway entrance of Catete. The restaurant specializes in seafood dishes, so we can surely recommend having the “bobó de camarão” (a shrimp dish).

Where to stay near The Maze Rio?

We would for sure recommend staying directly at The Maze if you want to get the true experience, but they are unfortunately with their doors closed for accommodations at the moment. Therefore, we have compiled a few other suggestions of places to stay where you are still close enough to visit The Maze in Rio:

• Windsor Florida: With all the renowned facilities of a Windsor-chain hotel, this property offers a great combination of excellent accommodation, a decent price, and a nice location.
• Yoo2 Rio de Janeiro by Intercity: If you are a fan of unique accommodations, this place is for you. Yoo2 has one of the most incredible rooftops in Rio, with amazing views of the city and a great bar. It is located in Botafogo but is very accessible and very quick to get to The Maze from there.
• Hotel Vitória: This very affordable option, is located right next to the subway station. The rooms are very simple, but it is usually an offer with good value for money.

Read also: Best neighborhoods to stay in Rio

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