The Best Boutique Hotels in Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro

The Vila Santa Teresa Hotel ticks all the boxes for a luxury retreat. Gorgeous outdoor swimming pool? Check. Elegantly decorated mansion with five large double bedrooms? Check. Jaw-dropping view across the city with Pão de Açúcar and Guanabara Bay in the skyline? Check. It’s one of the most picturesque hotels in the region and with attentive staff, top-quality food, and the feeling that you’re in an exclusive, private home, it will be hard to leave the grounds of this superb hotel.

Mama Shelter steers away from the minimalist and sophisticated styles of many of the region’s hotels and provides a trendy, modern setting that is full of energy and still provides an upscale place to stay. Set inside an old mansion, the hotel has 55 individually-styled rooms and a quirky bar featuring a wall of mirrors, plenty of plants to add a bit of green, and the works of local artists hand-painted on the walls. It’s not a cheap option in Santa Teresa but it is a place you will be talking about for years to come thanks to its unique, one-off design and tailor-made service.

The elegant white mansion looks like a villa you may find on the sunny coastlines of the Mediterranean, but the jaw-dropping views of Rio de Janeiro and its iconic landmarks such as Pão de Açúcar and the Christ the Redeemer serve as constant reminders that you’re in Brazil. The outdoor swimming pool is surrounded by cushioned deck chairs and stubby palm trees that create an exotic setting to catch some rays. In the morning, help yourself to the buffet breakfast and enjoy the outside in the hotel’s tranquil settings. For an extra treat, get yourself a room with a jacuzzi on the balcony so you can relax while taking in the panoramic views of Santa Teresa.

When it comes to boutique hotels in Santa Teresa, the neighborhood has more than its fair share of excellent accommodation spots. However, no matter how wonderful the others are, it’s the Santa Teresa Hotel that remains by far the best and most established hotel in the region and regarded as one of the best hotels in Rio de Janeiro. From its outdoor swimming pool surrounded by white cushioned deck chairs and complete with a panoramic view to its fabulous cocktail bar and upscale restaurant, everything is made to provide you with an unforgettable stay. The hotel also includes a fully-equipped spa.