9 lovely boutique hotels in Rio, from tropical guesthouses to beachfront boltholes
Away from its faceless seafront towers, Rio's backstreets, hidden corners and leafier neighbourhoods provide some brilliantly eccentric, intimate hotels. In terms of style, tropical influences tend to rule the roost, but there is also enticing faded colonial grandeur and lavish design aplenty to be found in the dramatic shared spaces of Santa Teresa’s Mama Ruisa or at La Suite's dramatic perch on top of the Joá hills. Alternatively, Selina’s self-styled rock ‘n’ roll suites will bring the essence of lively Lapa right into your room. Here's our pick of the best boutique hotels in Rio.
La Suite by Dussol
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
8Telegraph expert rating
The secluded Joatinga hills are the setting for this mansion hotel, a stylish pioneer that set the standard for boutique hotels in the city (and a backdrop for hundreds of fashion shoots over the year). Interiors are a mixture of contemporary features such as the imposing Baccarat chandelier, and a wealth of ever-changing antiques which create an exotic, homely atmosphere. Every room is unique but all have balconies with staggeringly beautiful views. You won't find a television in any of them but iPod docks come pre-loaded with playlists full of Brazilian music if in need of a dance. Read expert review From £141 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Mama Ruisa
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
8Telegraph expert rating
Put simply, Mama Ruisa is a gorgeous slice of late 19th-century Brazilian architecture, wrapped by an inviting veranda and filled with a treasure trove of art. Outside, there is a simple, attractive swimming pool filling the garden. The main lounge is a lesson in style, too, with pieces by classic Brazilian designers such as Sergio Rodrigues and Brunno Jahara. This being a century-old mansion, there is little uniformity to the rooms. Each is individually styled, dedicated to a different starlet from Carmen Miranda to Josephine Baker; be sure to try and book one on the first floor where the rooms are lighter and the views better. Read expert review From £122 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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TuAkAzA
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
7Telegraph expert rating
This hotel was built in the 1960s as a private residence, with the original design the work of Zanine Caldas, Brazil’s famous 'master of wood'. Huge trunks and planks of ipê and massaranduba wood thrusting up and jutting out of the hillside demonstrate the origins of his nickname. All of the rooms – there are six in total – have balcony views that are nothing short of breathtaking, and rustic beauty is found inside thanks to the repurposed furniture hewn from wood, giving the sense of sleeping in sturdy treehouses. The location isn't convenient up a long and winding hill, but once settled the idea of leaving soon becomes superfluous. Read expert review From £175 per night
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Mama Shelter Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
7Telegraph expert rating
Mama Shelter is a laid-back option that fits naturally with the colourful charms of the Santa Teresa's bohemian vibes. It doesn't feel like an ordinary hotel; a feeling enhanced by the wildly colourful murals around reception and the incongruous ‘naughty’ items for sale on the (top) shelves. Huge windows mean that higher rooms look out over the hillside and down to Guanabara Bay. The location is far from the beaches and many of the staple Rio attractions but leafy strolls and lively treats are on hand, including classic neighbourhood bars Mineiro and Gomes. Read expert review From £40 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Casa Amarelo
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
7Telegraph expert rating
Set on the hillside of Rio's pretty Santa Teresa neighbourhood, this striking, yellow 1904 mansion represents all that is great about the area's eclectic architecture. An antique lift trundles guests up from a street-level corridor and into the heart of the eccentric property, where Gelis' own Robert le Herós fabrics take centre stage. The mansion's architectural quirks inform every room, from the fantastically high ceilings to huge, intricately tiled bathrooms, aided by antique furniture, chandeliers and clever use of colour. The small, attractive swimming pool is tucked away at the back of the property with views down to the Metropolitan Cathedral and Municipal Theatre. Read expert review From £18 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Hotel Arpoador
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
8Telegraph expert rating
A low-key carioca cool can be found throughout Arpoador, right on the Ipanema beachfront. The long reception feels more like the entrance to a spa, its wicker-chaired seating area brightened by soft cushions, while upstairs, curvy, wood-panelled corridors are punctuated with portholes looking out to the beach, with muted, sandy tones doing their bit to bring the outside in. The rooftop bar provides one of the best spots in the city for a rare midsummer sunset over the ocean. Many of the 49 long, slender rooms maximise the sea view, and beachfront balconies are large enough for a hammock that will accommodate two. Read expert review From £108 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Les Jardins de Rio
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
8Telegraph expert rating
Pretty much the closest you are ever likely to come to a retro jungle retreat in the middle of a steaming metropolis, the sensuous, sculptured architecture of Les Jardins de Rio sits in the lee of Corcovado’s Christ the Redeemer statue, engulfed in the sights, sounds and smells of the Atlantic rainforest. Built in the 1970s by Oscar Niemeyer disciple Roberto Bastos Cruz, the guesthouse exudes tropical charm, its curvy white walls making straight lines a rarity and leaving the jacaranda wood staircases to emit their rich glow. There are plenty of unique touches across all eight en-suite rooms, from the impressive granite walls to the colourful murals. Read expert review From £50 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
8Telegraph expert rating
Janeiro may be 18 floors high, but with only five rooms on each, a real sense of spacious calm pervades – it is Brazilian lifestyle impresario Oskar Mestavaht’s first foray beyond his Osklen clothing label into the Rio hotel scene and is suitably stylish from top to bottom. The overriding mood is that of an ultra-modern take of classic 1970s luxury, right down to the wonderfully retro phone perched on the sturdy dark-wood desks that run the length of the room. Behind the glamour, Janeiro is also a brilliantly thought-out slice of boutique that gives upmarket Leblon a hotel to shout about. Read expert review From £213 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Selina Lapa Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
8Telegraph expert rating
From the moment you walk through Selina’s huge dark-wood doorway it is impossible not to be struck by the all-pervading cool beyond. A large, black-and-white mural of a sunglass-wearing face edged in gold sets the tone, likewise the bar with its mix of Art Deco and speakeasy glamour, pillars and leather sofas. The glassed-in booth of the on-site radio station completes a sharp first impression. The 58 standard rooms are unquestionably comfortable, but for a treat opt for a suite, which have projectors and record players. In the evenings, enjoy a refreshing Jaco (gin and tonic with honey and rosemary) on the festooned roof terrace or settle down to a classic movie in the 25-seat cinema. Read expert review From £8 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
