Hotel Santa Teresa

This boutique property located in up-and-coming Santa Teresa offers stylish contemporary design and a sense of place.

• The hotel’s Junior and Master Suites are some of the best decorated in Rio
• The Santa Teresa neighborhood, filled with charming restaurants and bars
• The contemporary Brazilian art displayed throughout the hotel
• The excellent Tereze restaurant

Opened in 2008, this property is located in a lovingly restored historic fazenda, or mansion, in the hip Santa Teresa neighborhood (akin to Brooklyn in New York). Set up a hill about twenty minutes inland from the beach, the Santa Teresa is a stylish enclave that offers a more intimate, boutique experience than that of the Fasano or Copacabana.

The forty-one hotel rooms showcase a gorgeous Brazilian contemporary design – the use of materials such as wild cotton, tropical wood, stone, and natural linens give the interiors an organic aesthetic. Each room showcases art pieces by a range of Brazilian designers, and is equipped with modern-day amenities such as LCD TVs and WIFI. Junior suites offer an adequate amount space, wooden four-poster beds and prime placement within the hotel for better views. The Loft Suite has a terrace with panoramic vistas over the city.

The Santa Teresa’s focus on food and wine is evident in the Térèze restaurant and bohemian bar/lounge. Where more attention should be paid is on service, which oftentimes is non-existent. The pool area is small and nothing special, but perfectly enjoyable with views of the city. The French owners are committed to sustainable tourism so are involved in a number of philanthropic community projects in Rio.

Couples and art aficionados who prefer to be based in a charming neighborhood than in the hustle-and-bustle of Rio’s beaches.