Botafogo

Yoo2 Rio de Janeiro, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

★★★★★

Yoo2 is the design hotel of Botafogo, the neighbourhood between the centre and Copacabana that has become Rio's liveliest district for independent bars, restaurants and cafes. It stands at Praia de Botafogo 242, on the broad avenue facing Botafogo Bay, in a modernist building that previously housed a diplomatic mission and was converted into the first hotel of the Yoo2 brand, a design-led label created with the Yoo design studio. The hotel later joined Hilton's Tapestry Collection, which brings it into the Hilton booking and loyalty system while keeping its independent character. The view is the selling point. Across the bay, the yacht-filled water leads the eye straight to Sugarloaf Mountain, and Corcovado and the statue of Christ the Redeemer rise behind the neighbourhood, so rooms on the bay side and above all the rooftop enjoy one of the most famous panoramas in Rio. The rooftop has an outdoor pool with loungers and The Rooftop, a bar and restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, which draws locals as well as guests for drinks at sunset. Downstairs, the Cariocally restaurant serves contemporary Brazilian cuisine with local ingredients, and there is a bar and a relaxed lounge. The hotel lists a spa among its amenities, and valet parking is available for a fee. Rooms are modern and colourful, with bold design touches. Botafogo is a practical base: the Botafogo metro station gives fast access to the centre, Copacabana and Ipanema, Sugarloaf and Urca are a few minutes away, and the streets behind the bay, especially around Rua Voluntarios da Patria and the small streets near Rua Nelson Mandela, are full of craft-beer bars, restaurants and live music.

Choosing a room: insist on a bay-view room if your budget allows; the view of Sugarloaf at dawn and dusk is the reason to stay here. City-facing rooms are quieter but lose the panorama. Check whether breakfast is included.

What the stay is like: urban rather than beachy. Botafogo beach faces the bay and is not recommended for swimming, so guests take the metro or a short ride to Copacabana or Ipanema for the sea. The rewards are the rooftop, a central location for sightseeing, and evenings in one of the best eating and drinking neighbourhoods in Rio, walkable from the hotel.

Who it suits: couples, design-minded travellers and younger visitors who want style and nightlife at a fairer price than the beachfront hotels, plus business travellers. Families may prefer a beach hotel with a larger pool.