What is It - Ipanema Beach is one of most beautiful and friendly beaches in Rio de Janeiro. One popular attraction there among locals and tourist is the Polis Sucos juice bar located a block away from the shore. Established in 1958, this street corner store was the first juice bar in Rio. It helped promote a casual lifestyle that is at the heart of the Rio experience. The store describes itself as the epitome of that lifestyle with a goal of encouraging “beach and sun, sports and healthy living, simple pleasures, and peace of mind. “ 

Over the past 65 years, juice bars have been opened in hundreds of locations in Brazil and have spread to locations in the United States and western Europe. Traditionally, American supermarkets were limited in their offerings of fruits and juices with most sales focused on apples, oranges, grapes, grapefruit, cranberries, and pineapples. In contrast, juice bars offer dozens of juice drinks, smoothies, and bowls made from fruits that most of us have never heard of. One of the first “new” Brazilian fruits to become popular internationally was Acai, a purple-colored berry from the Amazon that is considered to be an energizer and has been called a “superfood.”  It is served as a juice drink or as a frozen concoction in a cup or a bowl blended with honey, granola, or nuts. Other fresh squeezed juices that can be found on the menu at Polis Sucos or at other juice bars include a vitamin and antioxidant cherry drink called acerola, mango, papaya, a Brazilian caffeine berry called guarana, lime, peach, passion fruit, cashew fruit, strawberry, and pleasing combinations of the juices. 

There are special things about the food and social experience at Rio juice bar. 

First, the fruits and drinks available are often laid out in display counters or piled up for viewing. Many of fruits are unrecognizable to visitors until mixed and blended into a brightly colored elixir because of their weird colors, shapes, and sizes. Second, most juice bars also offer sandwiches, breakfast entrees, rice and bean plates, toasted ham and cheese, snacks and desserts that attract beachgoers seeking a fast-food fix or a meal on the run. Third, juice establishments are like local bars filled with colorful characters and regular customers that come and go throughout the day seeking relief from the heat. Finally, the prices are reasonable because a bowl of Acai will cost you about $4 and a healthy combination juice drink about $3.  

Interesting Facts—Ipanema Beach and the Polis Sucos are located only a few blocks from the Restaurante de Ipanema where the song “Girl from Ipanema,” which popularized the Rio beach scene and bossa nova music in 1962, was written.

Where to Stay- There are many famous hotels near the beaches in Rio. One boutique hotel with modern rooms, a nice café and small rooftop pool is the Sol Ipanema. It offers a superb location on the seafront close to a vibrant area of bars, shops, and restaurants with excellent panoramic views of the coast.

How to Get There- The most popular Rio beaches at Ipanema, Copacabana, and Leblon  are all located on the south shore of the city about fifteen miles from the international airport. They can be reached by car or taxi in about 30 to 45 minutes from the airport and downtown sections of the city. There are juice bars on most streets in the Zona Sul beach zone and the Polis Sucos store is between lifeguard posts 9 and 10 only two blocks from Ipanema Beach.

When to Go- November to April are the warmest months to visit Rio because temperatures are in the high eighties and the water is warm for swimming. However, there is more humidity during these months and rain is more frequent. Consequently, many people find that exploring Rio and its juice bars is more enjoyable between May and late September when temperatures are in the high seventies during the day and in the 60s at night and there are fewer rainy days.