So you're in lapa (rio's bohemian heart), the samba stopped around 3am, and you're starving. Welcome to the reality: most restaurants close early but rio's night economy just shifts gears.

Arcos da lapa transforms into street food central after midnight. The pastel vendors set up under the iconic aqueduct arches, serving those crispy fried pastries stuffed with queijo or carne for R$8-12. Galeto sat's (rua barata ribeiro, copacabana) stays open 24/7 serving rotisserie chicken and rice — Unglamorous but feeds half of hungover zona sul at 4am.

Steps of selarón becomes an unofficial midnight gathering spot where street musicians jam until sunrise. No food vendors here but it's a 5-minute stumble to confeitaria colombo's centro location (rua gonçalves dias 32) which serves coffee and pastéis de belém all night. The belle époque interior hits different when you're the only sober person there.

For proper late-night carioca culture: bar luiz (closed 2022, rip) got replaced by dozens of botequins in santa teresa that close whenever the last person leaves. Boteco belmonte (multiple locations) stays open until 2-3am serving chopp gelado and bolinho de bacalhau. Gas stations along avenida atlântica surprisingly serve decent açaí bowls 24/7 because cariocas don't compromise on açaí quality, ever.