Rio Samba Show vs Dinner Show
A samba show in Rio de Janeiro or the Roxy Dinner Show? Ginga Tropical in Botafogo against the Roxy in Copacabana: length, dinner, drinks, price and who each suits.
This page compares two show nights in Rio de Janeiro: the Roxy Dinner Show in Copacabana, where you eat first and the revue follows, and Ginga Tropical's samba and folklore show at the Centro Cultural Veneza in Botafogo, a 90-minute show with a short samba lesson and no dinner. Pick the Roxy for a long evening at the table with a big production; pick Ginga Tropical if you want samba and costumes, a shorter night and a lower price. For November and December dates, the same show is on Gray Line Brazil’s calendar.
The calendar above is the Roxy’s dinner show, Roxy Dinner Show: Music, Dance and Brazilian Cuisine. Ginga Tropical’s own calendar is on its listing, linked in the cards below.
The two evenings side by side
| The Roxy Dinner Show | Ginga Tropical Samba and Folklore Show | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Rua Bolívar 45, Copacabana | Centro Cultural Veneza, Avenida Pasteur 184, Botafogo |
| Nights | Wednesday to Sunday (the Roxy’s site) | Three times a week |
| Evening | Doors 18:30, dinner 19:00, show 21:00, close 22:45 (the Roxy’s site) | Box office 7:00 pm, samba lesson 8:30 pm, show 8:45 to 10:15 pm |
| Dinner | Three courses on the cheapest option | None |
| Drinks | None on the cheapest option; wine on the two dearer ones | Alcoholic drinks on sale |
| Join in | You watch from your table | A short samba lesson and a photo with the dancers |
| Per adult | US$139.18 on 28 November 2026, US$153.00 on 13 January 2027 (Dinner & Show) | US$70.05 on 14 January 2027 |
| Free cancellation | Up to 24 hours before | Up to 24 hours before |
Ginga Tropical’s own GetYourGuide calendar has no open day before Saturday 2 January 2027 (checked 13 November 2026); from then it sells Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and the price in the table is its 14 January 2027 one: US$140.10 for two adults, US$70.05 each. For November and December dates, Gray Line Brazil’s listing sells the same show as a ticket only, US$94 per adult on 3 December 2026 at 8:30 PM. Both Ginga Tropical and Roxy listings are marked wheelchair accessible.
How much samba is in the Roxy’s show
Aquele Abraço is a revue of music and dance from the regions of Brazil, and samba is one part of it. A few Roxy reviewers came for samba and wanted more: a German reviewer in September 2026 wrote that they had booked a samba show and saw samba for about ten minutes, a Chilean reviewer in March 2026 wanted more samba and fewer slow songs, and a French one in June 2026 expected more dance and samba. Several five-star reviews say the opposite: they liked learning about Brazil region by region.
Ginga Tropical puts Carnival and samba at the front: a samba lesson before the show, dances from north to south, and photos with the costumed dancers. Its reviewers in 2026 mention audience members pulled on stage at the end and a samba finale; a British reviewer in June 2026 called the closing samba fantastic and the show a little long, and a German reviewer in March 2026 wanted more traditional dance and less clowning.
Who should pick which
Roxy Dinner Show: Music, Dance and Brazilian Cuisine
The Roxy in Copacabana: three courses at your table, the house band, then Aquele Abraço at 21:00. The cheapest option has no drinks; the wine options are on the same calendar.
Check dates →Ginga Tropical Samba and Folklore Show - Rio de Janeiro
Ginga Tropical Produções e Eventos Ltda at the Centro Cultural Veneza, Botafogo: a samba lesson at 8:30 pm and the show from 8:45 to 10:15 pm. Drinks on sale; no transport. Its own calendar opens on 2 January 2027.
See Ginga Tropical →Ginga Tropical Show - Brazilian Rhythms
Gray Line Brazil sells the Ginga Tropical show as a ticket only (US$94 on 3 December 2026), with shared transport (US$144), or with a private car and no dinner (US$269 each for two adults, US$386 for one adult alone).
See the options →Prices, ratings and review counts from the listings (GetYourGuide checked November 2026). Operators price by date and season, so treat the figures as the shape of the market, not a quote.
Gray Line Brazil’s Ginga Tropical evening has three options: Show Ticket Only (US$94 per adult on 3 December 2026, 8:30 PM), shared transport (US$144) and a private car (US$269 each for two adults, US$386 for one adult alone, 28 November 2026), the car with pickup from most hotels in São Conrado, Leblon, Ipanema and Copacabana. On Saturday 28 November 2026 only the private car was on sale.
Getting to each
Neither house includes transport. For the Roxy, take Uber or a taxi to Rua Bolívar in Copacabana; Ginga Tropical’s house in Botafogo is close to public transport. Getting to the Roxy Dinner Show covers the ride from the beach hotels, and which Rio dinner show option helps if you have settled on the Roxy.
The Dinner Show at the Roxy
Dinner at the Roxy in Copacabana, then Aquele Abraço, music and dance from every region of Brazil. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check dates