A colonial fazenda perched in the cobbled alleys of Santa Teresa, far from the beach but above it all.
Santa Teresa Hotel Rio de Janeiro - MGallery Collection
From
439.944 €
“Overflow pool facing Guanabara Bay and Sugarloaf Mountain, in an 8 000 m² tropical garden.”
The Santa Teresa Hotel Rio de Janeiro occupies a colonial mansion from 1850, renovated in 2015, in the bohemian district of the carioca artists. We climb steep alleys, push the gate, and the city disappears behind the palm trees and bougainvilleas. The rooms mix Portuguese azulejos, dark wood and embroidered fabrics, some with balcony over the bay, others over the inner garden. The Clarins spa offers four cabins and a menu of short treatments (50 min max), the pool remains the real asset, open until 8pm. The service is attentive without being stiff, we feel the MGallery management upholding the standards. From 440 € per night, a price justified by the view and the calm, rare in Rio ✨
Who is it for?
Who we recommend it to
We recommend the Santa Teresa to couples seeking a cultural Rio rather than a beach one, and to travellers who prefer human-scale addresses (44 rooms) to large seafront resorts. It is a hotel for thirtysomethings and older, terrace dinners, visits to the Museum of Modern Art, returns from Lapa in a private taxi. Families with children over 10 find their place, yet the atmosphere remains adult and composed.
The building
Architecture and interiors
The Santa Teresa Hotel brings together three 19th-century colonial buildings, former coffee-planter residences, restored while preserving stone walls, coffered ceilings and terracotta floors. Architect Chicô Gouvêa added glazed galleries, inner patios and a contemporary wing in raw concrete that converses with the ochre-yellow façades. Rooms measure between 28 and 65 m², all different, some with period fireplace, others with hammered-copper bathtub. The ensemble comprises 44 rooms spread over three levels, linked by wooden walkways and stone staircases.
At the table
Restaurants, bar, service
The restaurant Térèze occupies the main terrace, open to the bay, with a contemporary Brazilian menu signed Roberta Ciasca: shrimp moqueca, grilled picanha, roasted heart of palm. Breakfast is taken in the same spot, tropical buffet with fresh tapioca, seasonal fruit and pão de queijo. The Belmonte bar serves classic caipirinhas and signature cocktails until midnight, hushed atmosphere under wooden fans. Room service available 24/7, reduced menu after 10pm.
Highlights
- Heated overflow pool with panoramic view over Guanabara Bay
- 200 m² Clarins Spa with four treatment cabins and hammam
- Restaurant Térèze: contemporary Brazilian cuisine by chef Roberta Ciasca
- Free shuttle to Ipanema and Copacabana three times a day
- 8 000 m² tropical garden with native species and contemporary art sculptures
Location & access
Where the hotel sits in Rio de Janeiro
The Santa Teresa Hotel stands in the historic Santa Teresa district, perched 200 metres above sea level over the city centre. The yellow tram (bondinho) stops 300 metres away, artists’ studios and Lapa samba bars ten minutes by taxi. Ipanema and Copacabana are 25 minutes via the hotel’s free shuttle, Santos Dumont airport 15 minutes, Galeão 45 minutes. The neighbourhood is quiet by day, lively in the evening around the bars and restaurants of Rua Almirante Alexandrino, yet the hotel remains set back behind its walls.
Good to know
Before you book
- Pets
- Accepted without extra charge, basket and bowls provided on request.
- Shuttle
- Free to Ipanema and Copacabana, three departures daily, book at reception.
- Pool
- Open 7am to 8pm, heated year-round, loungers and towels provided.
- Spa
- Open 10am to 8pm, booking advised 24 hours in advance.
- Parking
- Valet included, limited spaces, reservation recommended.
- Accessibility
- Three adapted PMR rooms on the ground floor, lift in the main wing.
Facilities
1 pool
Airport shuttle
Room service
Facilities for disabled guests
Spa and wellness centre
Restaurant
Family rooms
Pets allowed
Location
Where Santa Teresa Hotel Rio de Janeiro - MGallery Collection is located
Exact address
Santa Teresa Hotel Rio de Janeiro - MGallery Collection
Address
Rua Almirante Alexandrino, 660
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