Pausa: One of the Most Unique and Authentic Experiences in Rio de Janeiro

Before you read on, visit Pausa’s website to get a feel for the vibe. The house, the music, the people—and the invitation to slow down.

And yes, it’s straight-friendly. All sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome. Curiosity and an open mind are what get you a little closer to the table.

Looking for unique experiences in Rio de Janeiro? Pausa brings together just 15 guests for an offline dinner at Casa Amara, a private, art-filled home surrounded by Atlantic Forest.

A guest chef prepares three courses. Vinyl records set the mood. You arrive alone and meet 14 people you have never met before, with an invitation to put your phone away and let the evening unfold.

For travelers and residents exploring cool things to do in Rio de Janeiro, this carefully curated encounter offers an authentic, personal experience shaped as much by its guests as by its setting. Some receive physical invitations through partners around the city; others are selected through an online application.

Discover Pausa

What makes Pausa a unique experience in Rio?

Part of the experience happens before dinner even begins: choosing who will share the evening.

There is something of the fascination surrounding Berghain in Pausa’s approach: who gets in helps define what happens inside. Here, that idea takes the form of a private dinner, where every person changes the conversation.

The organizers curate each edition around a mix of stories, cultures and perspectives. A local artist might meet a traveler spending a few days in Rio, an entrepreneur, or someone who has recently made the city home.

Selection considers the table as a whole. Curiosity, openness and the willingness to meet people outside your usual circle are central to the experience.

With just 15 places per edition, participation is limited. Completing the online application does not guarantee an invitation.

Your invitation might find you somewhere in Rio

Some guests are selected through a network of partners, including parties, bars and hotels, and receive a physical invitation.

Participants have reported receiving theirs at Arp Bar, Bar de Escuta in Botafogo and Fatchia in Glória.

An ordinary night out can unexpectedly lead to another encounter: dinner in a private home, surrounded by forest, with 14 people you have yet to meet.

Recipients of these invitations do not go through the online selection process. Their place is secured by following the booking and payment instructions provided with the invitation.

To complete the table, the organizers select additional guests from the profiles submitted through the online application form. There is no fixed split between the two routes; the group takes shape through the curatorial process.

Every edition brings together a new combination of people, making the guest list an essential part of what makes Pausa distinctive.

An offline dinner in one of the world’s coolest neighborhoods

Casa Amara sits in the green hills of Laranjeiras, named the world’s 17th coolest neighborhood in 2026 by Time Out.

If the neighborhood’s atmosphere appeals to you, compare Laranjeiras with other areas to stay in Rio.

It is a fitting setting for Pausa: a neighborhood where culture, creativity and community are part of everyday life.

Inside the house, contemporary architecture, art and tropical vegetation create a setting that feels intimate and secluded while remaining within the city. The atmosphere recalls an evening at the home of a particularly interesting friend: spaces to explore, records playing and conversations that move naturally as the night unfolds.

You arrive alone. Over approximately four hours, the unfamiliar faces around you gradually become people with stories, opinions and experiences to share.

There are no assigned seats, networking exercises or forced icebreakers. Each edition develops its own rhythm.

A guest chef, three courses and a soundtrack on vinyl

An invited chef prepares a three-course menu. As the chefs change, the dinners gain different flavors and personalities.

For other approaches to dining in private homes, explore our selection of Rio food experiences beyond restaurant reservations.

Food gives the evening its structure, while vinyl records set the mood. Brazilian and international selections move between familiar favorites and unexpected discoveries.

Guests are encouraged to bring a record, an analog camera or a bottle of wine to share. These small contributions can become part of the evening: a song someone loves, a photograph taken between courses, a conversation sparked by something brought from home.

Analog photography captures fragments of the experience. The images reveal themselves later, after the film is developed.

The complete four-hour experience costs approximately €100–€150 per person, depending on the edition. Check the price for your chosen date when booking.

Discover Pausa

Put your phone away. See what happens.

Pausa invites guests to step away from their screens and give their attention to the people around them.

On arrival, you are encouraged to leaveyour smartphone in a box. It is optional. If you need to use it, the request is simply to do so briefly and discreetly, preferably away from shared spaces.

The invitation is to notice what changes when a conversation has your full attention—when there is time to listen, follow an unexpected subject or stay with a moment without immediately documenting it.

“Offline is a state of mind.”

The dinner ends. The connection can continue.

At the end of the evening, the group is encouraged to keep the connection going somewhere else—perhaps over a drink or at another spot in the city.

It is an open invitation to spend more time with the people you have just met. After four hours together, arriving alone can turn into heading out with new company.

What happens next is up to the group.

An authentic Rio experience shared by locals and travelers

Pausa brings together people who live in Rio and people visiting the city, including international travelers. The dinner is open to everyone, across sexual orientations and gender identities.

Many of the guests who have shared their experiences from previous editions are connected to art and creative fields. That creative spirit is part of the atmosphere, but you do not need a particular profession or background to belong at the table.

For someone traveling alone, it offers a personal way to meet people. For residents, it creates an opportunity to step beyond familiar social circles. What matters is curiosity about others and openness to different experiences.

The authenticity comes from the encounter itself: people sharing their stories, listening to unfamiliar perspectives and contributing to an evening that takes its own course.

Prejudice, discrimination and intolerance are never accepted. Diversity is part of the experience’s foundation.

How to join Pausa in Rio de Janeiro

There are two routes to the table: receive a physical invitation through a partner, or complete the online application when registrations open.

If you receive an invitation, follow its instructions to confirm your place. If you apply online, share something about yourself: the organizers use those profiles to complete the curatorial mix for each edition.

Explore the experience and application information on Pausa’s official website. Upcoming dinner dates are announced on Pausa’s Instagram.

In Rio when a dinner is happening? It is worth sending a direct message to the organizers on Instagram the day before the event and asking to join the waiting list. If a last-minute place becomes available, you may receive an invitation.

Only 15 guests attend each dinner. Your story could be part of the next table.

Get a feel for Pausa and explore how to participate.

Discover Pausa

Frequently asked questions

What is Pausa?

Pausa is a curated offline dinner in Rio de Janeiro, bringing together 15 people for a three-course meal, vinyl music and conversation at Casa Amara.

Where does it take place?

At Casa Amara, a private, art-filled residence surrounded by Atlantic Forest in Laranjeiras, Rio de Janeiro.

How are guests selected?

Some are selected through partner parties, bars and hotels and receive physical invitations. Additional guests are chosen from online applications to complete the table’s curatorial mix.

Does applying guarantee a place?

No. Each edition has only 15 places, and online applications are considered as part of the selection process.

What if I receive a physical invitation?

You do not need to go through online selection. Follow the invitation’s booking and payment instructions to secure your place.

How much does the experience cost?

Approximately €100–€150 per person for the complete four-hour experience, depending on the edition. Check the confirmed price when booking.

Is it exclusively an LGBTQ+ event?

No. People of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome. Respect for others is essential.

Can travelers participate?

Yes. Residents and travelers are both welcome to apply, including people visiting Rio alone.

Should I come alone?

Yes. Arriving alone and meeting 14 people you have not met before is central to the experience.

Are smartphones prohibited?

No. Putting your phone away is encouraged. Guests who need to use theirs are asked to do so briefly and discreetly.

What can I bring?

A vinyl record, an analog camera or a bottle of wine to share are welcome contributions.

Does the group stay together after dinner?

At the end of the evening, guests are encouraged to continue the connection at another location. Joining is optional, and the group decides what comes next.

Where can I find upcoming dates?

Upcoming editions are announced on Pausa’s Instagram. Visit the official website to explore the experience and participation process.

Is there a waiting list?

If you are in Rio when a dinner is scheduled, send a direct message on Instagram the day before and ask to join the waiting list. Last-minute invitations depend on availability.