Located amid the historic neighbourhood of Santa Teresa, Mama Ruisa is a charming hotel with views over Sugarloaf Mountain and Guanabara Bay. This beautifully restored colonial mansion offers a welcome alternative to Rio’s beach life.
With just a handful of rooms and suites, it blends exotic Brazilian décor with exquisite French touches. Each room is individually designed with polished wooden floors, high ceilings, comfortable furnishings, and antique bathrooms with huge bathtubs. The balconies and terraces face gardens or the bay.
Breakfast is served in guest rooms or around the pool each morning. There’s no restaurant, although there are plenty of options within walking distance including the renowned Aprazivel Restaurant.
Wander around the bohemian neighbourhood of Santa Teresa, enjoy Rio’s famous beaches, head up Sugarloaf Mountain, and visit Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Peak. Then enjoy a dip in the pool, surrounded by tropical gardens.
Mama Ruisa Information
Location & Getting There
Mama Ruisa sits in charming and historic Santa Teresa neighbourhood in the hills above Rio de Janeiro and Guanabara Bay, a 20-minute drive from Guarulhos International Airport.
Accommodation
With only 7 rooms, each individually decorated, Mama Ruisa is a true boutique hotel with friendly personal service. Both La Callas and Josephine Baker Junior Suites offer breathtaking views of the Guanabara bay from their private terraces. Colette Junior Suite has a splendid view over the swimming pool with the Sugar Loaf in a distance. Carmen Miranda Junior Suite and the Deluxe Rooms overlook the tropical gardens.
Activities
A wealth of activities lie in and around the area. Visit the famous Carmelite Convent, taste divine Amazonian food at the restaurant Aprazivel or dance all night at the Bar do Mineiro at Santa Teresa boho hillside neighbourhood just a 5-minute walk from the hotel. Alternatively, head down to Lapa for the best nightlife in Rio, grab a picture with the Christ the Redeemer statue at the top of Corcovado, visit the nearby Chácara do Céu musuem or explore historical sites and traditional markets.
Children
Children are welcome but there are no specific facilities available.
“Classy, quirky and elegant, this is a true oasis in the city. Breakfast on the terrace with magnificent views of the bay is especially enjoyable.”
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