Where to stay in Rio de Janeiro: Our 7 best and favorite hotels
Whether high up the hills in Santa Teresa, in upbeat Lapa or right at iconic beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema: we’ve rounded up seven of our favorite hotels in Rio de Janeiro - from 5-star luxury to unique boutique and budget hotels.
Janeiro Hotel
The visionary that brought us Brazil-based fashion brand Osklen sets foot to Rio de Janeiro’s hotel scene. JANEIRO Hotel is the only boutique luxury hotel in the upscale neighborhood of Leblon and is exactly what we would expect a fashion brand to bring: clean rooms dressed in oak and white, an acclaimed restaurant where fashionable ‘Cariocas’ and tourists meet and a sleek rooftop with pool offering sweeping views over Ipanema beach.
JANEIRO Hotel - Rooms from EUR 250 per night
Chez Georges
Our favorite Rio de Janeiro hotel sits high up the hills of Santa Teresa - Rio’s most bohemian neighborhood. Chez Georges is a brutalist villa turned into colorful seven suite boutique hotel. Although we wouldn’t do Chez Georges justice naming it a 'hotel'. Because it is really the un hotel-like homeliness that makes Chez Georges unique. Expect a common spaces filled with art collected at antique markets in Ghent and Paris, spacious rooms peppered with furniture from Rio-based designer Ricardo Fasanello, personal service and a pool deck with views on Guanabara Bay.
Read our full review on Chez George here
Chez Georges - Rooms from EUR 195 per night
L’Homme de Rio
Sandwiched in between the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana L’Homme de Rio is our best pick for the budget traveler with (we'‘ll just throw it out there) rooms starting at EUR 50 a night including breakfast. A bargain for a location like this. Pro’s: the price (obviously), a cute house dog, spacious rooms surrounded by lush gardens and Rio de Janeiro’s best beaches at walking distance. Con’s: it’s quite a climb getting to the hotel and getting around on the hotel grounds (expect magnificent views as a reward though). Also, during night time you might want to grab an Uber to get from and to the hotel, as walking around at dark isn’t really recommended for this part of Ipanema.
L’Homme de Rio - Rooms from EUR 50 per night
Arpoador Hotel
With Ipanema beach at one side and a cobblestone boardwalk and Arpoador rocks (one of the most popular spots in town for watching the sunset) on the other we can state that Arpoador’s location is one to write home about. The hotel recently got a full make over by Rio de Janeiro-based firm Bernardes Arquitetura, giving its 49 rooms and common spaces an ocean-inspired feel and drawing Rio’s beach life right into the hotel. The suberb restaurant on the ground floor opens to the promende out front and is popular among both locals as tourists. Bedrooms come with either city or sea view, though we highly recommend upgrading to a sea view room. Worth every penny.
Arpoador Hotel, rooms from EUR 110 per night
Selina Lapa Rio de Janeiro
Latin American ho(s)tel and co-working chain Selina choose the vibrant neighborhood fo Lapa for their Rio de Janeiro outpost. Bordering Santa Teresa and at walking distance from the famous Escadaria Selarón, Selina Lapa is as colorful and creative as the area it’s in. Rooms with colonial touches range from community dorms to private family rooms and suites. Even if staying in a private room, Selina makes it easy to connect with other guests, which essentially is what Selina is all about - whether in the large communal kitchen, the cinema, the cosy rooftop terrace or at the in-house radio station Lapa55 where local musicians are being offered a stage.
Selina Lapa Rio de Janeiro, private rooms from EUR 35, dorms from EUR 11 per night
Emiliano Rio
Sao Paulo-based hospitality brand Emiliano is giving Copacabana it’s much-needed upgrade in design rooms. It’s changing the scene from outdated and concrete to sleek and sophisticated. Emiliano sits right on the Avenida Atlantica, at the southern part of Copacabana Beach and boasts 90 rooms, informal yet professional staff and a jaw-dropping rooftop pool. The eye-catching Cobogó facade doesn’t just give the hotel an contemporary feel, it also allows hotel guests to control the amount of natural light flowing into their rooms.
Emiliano Rio, rooms from EUR 250 per night
Yoo2 Rio de Janeiro
Yoo2 Rio de Janeiro comes straight from Philippe Starck’s design studio, making it a cool yet affordable place to sleep. Located in the Botafogo neighborhood, Yoo2 offers stunning views on the iconic Sugarloaf mountain from its roof terrace and parts of its rooms. Copacabana Beach is a 10 minute taxi ride away and many of Botafogo’s hipster hotspots like The Slow Bakery and CoLab less than a 25 minute walk. Make sure to request a room on one of the top floors in order to not get any disturbance from the surrounding highways.
Yoo2 Rio de Janeiro - rooms from EUR 55 per night