Botafogo

ibis Styles RJ Botafogo

★★★★★

The ibis Styles RJ Botafogo is the budget pick for travellers who want to stay in Botafogo, the neighbourhood between the centre and Copacabana that has become Rio's favourite district for eating and drinking. It stands at Rua Sao Clemente 30, one of Botafogo's main streets, and according to Accor it is about fifty metres from the Botafogo metro station, which puts Copacabana, Ipanema, the centre and Lapa within a short, cheap ride. Accor lists Copacabana beach at about three kilometres, around ten minutes by car, Sugarloaf at around twenty minutes, and the Santos Dumont and Galeao airports at around twelve and twenty-five minutes. The ibis Styles brand is the most design-conscious of the ibis family, with colourful, playful decor, and breakfast is included in many rates. Rooms are compact, at around 18 square metres, with a double bed or two singles, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and city views; accessible rooms are available. There is a restaurant and bar on site, the hotel is non-smoking and pet-friendly for an extra fee, and parking is available nearby. Guest scores on Accor's own site paint a clear picture: location, service and breakfast are rated very highly, while room quality and cleanliness score much lower, so expect small, simple rooms with friendly staff and a good start to the day. The neighbourhood is the real attraction. Within walking distance are the bars and restaurants of Rua Voluntarios da Patria, Rua Arnaldo Quintela and the lanes around them, the Botafogo Praia shopping centre with its view of Sugarloaf, the Casa de Rui Barbosa museum on Rua Sao Clemente, and the bay-front promenade. Urca and the Sugarloaf cable car are a short ride away.

Choosing a room: rooms are uniform, so choose between a double and twins, and ask for a higher floor and a room away from the street for less noise. Check that breakfast is included, as guests rate it highly.

What the stay is like: practical and urban. You will use the metro or ride-hailing cars to reach the beaches and come back to Botafogo for dinner and drinks, where the neighbourhood's bars are some of the most enjoyable in the city. Botafogo beach faces the bay and is not for swimming.

Who it suits: budget travellers, solo travellers and couples who value location, service and nightlife over room size and a beach view; and business travellers needing quick access to the centre. Families who want a pool or travellers who want to walk to the sand should look at Copacabana instead.