Pestana Rio Atlantica stands at Avenida Atlantica 2964, in the middle of the Copacabana seafront, in a nineteen-floor building dating from 1989. It is a mainstream four-class beach hotel, the kind that serves holidaymakers and business travellers who want a comfortable base with the sea close by, rather than a boutique or a grande dame. The hotel lists 247 rooms, all with air conditioning, smart televisions, safes and soundproofed walls, and some have balconies or partial sea views. The main draw for many guests is the rooftop, where there is a pool, a sun terrace and the Rooftop Deck Bar, as well as an outdoor pool and a poolside bar. Downstairs, Cais da Ribeira serves Portuguese cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner, there is a snack bar and deli, and the Spa Damani offers treatments alongside a hot tub, sauna and gym. The hotel provides beach towels, loungers and umbrellas, and beach service on the sand across the avenue. Copacabana Beach is listed as a two-minute walk, and the hotel describes direct access, though you do cross the avenue. Free wifi is listed throughout the hotel, with more than 50 Mbps in the rooms, valet parking is available for a daily fee and there are nine meeting rooms for events. Check-in is from three in the afternoon and check-out is before noon.
Choosing a room
Sea-facing rooms and those with balconies cost more but transform the stay, and the rooftop terrace is a good place to watch the sun go down over Copacabana if your room faces the street. Breakfast is listed on weekdays and weekends but must be requested at check-in, so ask when you arrive. The hotel is soundproofed, which helps on a busy avenue, though it will not remove all traffic noise from a lower floor.
What the stay is like
Reliable, friendly and practical. Guests praise the staff, the location, the rooftop pool and the breakfast, while some mention intermittent wifi, tired furniture in places and an air-conditioning unit that failed in one stay, so it is wise to report any problem at the front desk early.
The hotel is a short walk from Rua Barata Ribeiro for shops and restaurants, the Cantagalo metro station is ten minutes on foot, and Copacabana Fort is about sixteen minutes away on foot. Ipanema beach is roughly two kilometres along the sand, and the international airport is about thirty-four minutes by car.
Who it suits
Couples and families who want a beachfront location at a sensible price, travellers who value a rooftop pool and an on-site spa, and anyone who prefers the energy of Copacabana to the calm of Leblon. Pets are accepted under certain limits, one child up to three stays free using existing beds, and rollaway beds are not available, so large families should check room options. Compared with the Copacabana Palace, Fairmont and Hilton already on this site, it is the practical choice, with the same beach and a lower price.
Why stay here
- ✓Rooftop pool and sun terrace
- ✓Rooftop Deck Bar
- ✓Outdoor pool and poolside bar
- ✓Cais da Ribeira Portuguese restaurant
- ✓Spa Damani with sauna and hot tub
- ✓Gym
- ✓Beach towels, loungers and beach service
- ✓Free wifi throughout
Good questions
Where is Pestana Rio Atlantica?+
At Avenida Atlantica 2964 in Copacabana. The hotel lists Copacabana Beach as a two-minute walk and describes direct access to the beach, though you cross the avenue.
Does it have a pool?+
Yes. The hotel lists an outdoor pool, a rooftop pool and sun terrace, a poolside bar and the Rooftop Deck Bar.
What are check-in and parking arrangements?+
Check-in starts at three in the afternoon and check-out is before noon. Valet parking is available for a daily fee, and breakfast must be requested at check-in.
