Arena Ipanema sits on Rua Francisco Otaviano 131, a block back from the sand at the Arpoador end of Ipanema, where the beach curves around the famous rock. The hotel lists Arpoador and Ipanema beaches as two minutes away on foot and Copacabana Beach as six, which makes it one of the handiest addresses for walking between the two seafronts. It has 136 rooms in six types, from a Standard Double of about 172 square feet with a city view to Deluxe and Superior doubles and twins of about 183 square feet with park views and a Deluxe Triple of about 248 square feet. All have air conditioning, a safe, a flat-screen television with cable, a desk and a private bathroom. The hotel lists a free breakfast buffet, a rooftop terrace, a poolside bar and an outdoor pool with sun loungers that is closed seasonally, a steam room and a garden. The restaurant, Otaviano, serves international food from breakfast to dinner and also offers a children's menu. The property holds Green Key sustainability certification, and free wifi is available in the rooms. A gym is not mentioned, and there is no parking. Guests give it 8.8 from about a thousand reviews, praising the location, staff and cleanliness, with scores of 9.2 for staff and 9.0 for cleanliness.
Choosing a room
The park-view rooms are the better choice, and reviewers rate the Deluxe Twin especially well. The Standard Double looks onto the city and is the smallest, which suits travellers who spend their days outdoors. A recent guest described the rooms as old and not well maintained, so ask for a recently renovated room if you are particular, and report problems at the desk early. Families of three should look at the Deluxe Triple.
What the stay is like
A friendly, no-frills four-class base with an excellent address. You can walk to the Arpoador rock for sunset in a couple of minutes, to Copacabana Fort in five, and to restaurants nearby, with naming Arp, Gero and Adega do Cesare among the closest. Ipanema-General Osorio metro station is eleven minutes on foot and Santos Dumont airport is about twenty-seven minutes by car.
Breakfast gets mixed reviews, described as good and varied by some guests and merely fine by others, so treat it as a bonus rather than a feature. Check-in is from two in the afternoon, and pets are allowed in limited numbers and sizes for a daily fee.
Who it suits
Budget-minded couples, friends and solo travellers who want to walk to everything, surfers and beach lovers drawn to Arpoador, and families who value a quiet side street. Compared with Hotel Arpoador, which this site already lists, it is a little larger and more conventional. If you want a high-end pool or a spa, look at the Fasano or the Fairmont; if you want a base from which the best of Ipanema and Copacabana are on your doorstep at a moderate price, this is a strong choice.
Why stay here
- ✓Two minutes from Arpoador and Ipanema beaches
- ✓Free breakfast buffet
- ✓Rooftop terrace
- ✓Outdoor pool and poolside bar (seasonal)
- ✓Otaviano restaurant with kids menu
- ✓Steam room and garden
- ✓Green Key sustainability certification
- ✓Free wifi and air conditioning
Good questions
Where is Arena Ipanema Hotel?+
On Rua Francisco Otaviano 131 in Ipanema, near the Arpoador end of the beach. The hotel lists Arpoador and Ipanema beaches as a two-minute walk and Copacabana as six.
Is the pool open all year?+
The hotel lists an outdoor pool with sun loungers that is closed seasonally, plus a poolside bar and a rooftop terrace. Ask about the pool for your dates.
Does it have parking or a gym?+
No parking is offered and a gym is not mentioned in the hotel's amenity list.
