Academia da Cachaça — Restaurant in Região Geográfica Imediata do Rio de Janeiro

Always fun

I've been going to this place for many years and it's been consistent. Academia da cachaça, literally "cachaça-rum academy" offers a large selection of cachaça drinks. I typically have some kind of caipirinha (the traditional caipirinha is made with cachaça, sugar and lime, all pounded together with a small mortar, and served on the rocks.) The last time I was there, I had a couple of aged cachaça shots and a tangerine Caipirinha. It was delicious.

The apetizers are typically the same, I doubt they change that menu. My favorite little dish is called Escondidinho, a yukka pureed small dish filled with beef jerky, au gratin, served in little ramekins and many times shared between two friends, perhaps because the concoction is too rich for one person, or perhaps because sharing dishes brings proximity and better conversations. This particular Academia (as locals call it) is in the Leblon neighborhood, and most of the tables are set outside the small restaurant. As night falls, over the weekends, the sidewalk, where the small bar tables are set, get super crowded, the...

Academia Da Cachaça is quite simply overhyped and over priced. While the bar offers a great selection of cachaça and makes a decent caipirinha, there are hundreds of better options in the neighbourhood which offer cheaper and better crafted local drinks. The service is on and off, and depending on the night/afternoon, you might be looking at waiting 15-20 minutes for a cocktail. Their appetizers, similarly, are over priced and not much to write home about. Sure, they're offering plenty of cachaça and a wide range of caipirinha's which make for a good story and allow the gringos who watched "Somebody Feed Phil" to return back to their home country saying "I went where Phil went!" but in general? It does not live up...

Drinks were extremely strong....too strong for both me and my girlfriend to drink. We asked to have them put in a tall glass, with more fruit juice to make them drinkable. They put them in tall glasses, but only gave us ice. I ended up with a watered down crappy drink. I ordered a lemonade to mix into it myself. Finally got it to be somewhat drinkable. Food was ok. Dessert, the cheese thing that takes 25 minutes was fantastic. If I ask for fruit juice, don't tell me ice is good enough. The customer is...