External Reviews
Sunday Times, UK: "Here's another Rio altogether: a Rio of rainforest slopes and Christ high above. The city's landmark Jesus statue, Cristo Rendetor, seems to float in the sky when lit white against a black night - a serene vision the postcards rarely capture. Boticario 32, likewise, exists beyond the buxom brochure image of the city: a super-modern two-suite bachelor pad, contained in a Neoclassical mansion that holds court in a pretty fountained square..."
Tucked away on a beautiful square, backing onto Rio’s Atlantic rainforest, Casa 32 puts you within easy reach of all that the city has to offer
Features
- Plunge Pool
- Sauna
- Great Views
- City Hotel
- Meeting Room
- Cultural Tours
- Child Friendly
| Casa32 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
Sustainability Scorecard
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From $250 USD Per Double Per Night
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Good For You
Tucked away on a beautiful square, backing onto Rio’s Atlantic rainforest, Casa 32 is a far cry from Copacabana and Ipanema’s high-rise hotels and puts you within easy reach of all the ciudade maravilhosa has to offer.
Your hosts, Lucio and Joana Beleza, are Rio natives who lovingly restored their neo-colonial mansion to include just two elegant and beautifully decorated guest suites. The grand old dwelling has had its share of notable guests, including Kings Edward VIII and George VI, as well as the architect and writer Le Corbusier, the Brazilian architect Niemeyer, and the painter Portinari.
The neighbourhood, with views of the city’s famous Christ statue, is filled with smart old houses and is well-known for its lively artistic community. Your hosts are well placed to fill you in on all you need to know to make the most of Rio.
Good For Brazil
Casa 32 is housed in a gracious mansion dating from 1846. The current owners completely restored and renovated the place, adding antique flourishes such as the 17th century baroque ceiling, 19th century Portuguese tiles and doors, and windows that were salvaged from 17th century Bahian churches.
Casa 32 is committed to preserving the Atlantic forest that reaches its back door, as well as the Cariaca River. Lucio and Joana also work with other residents of the Cosme Velho neighbourhood to preserve the area's historic buildings.
HighsThe house: Impeccably restored and decorated with a mix of antiques and contemporary design makes this a guesthouse of distinction. The hospitality: Your charming hosts Lucio and Joana are exceptionally welcoming and will often invite guests to join them for lunch while offering a wealth of insider travelling tips. The location: The lively neighbourhood on the edge of the Atlantic Forest is a real winner topped off only by the views of Christ from the hotel's courtyard. |
LowsThe location: The upper-crust neighbourhood of Cosme Velho is a 15-minute cab ride from downtown’s restaurants and bars, as well as the beaches. Family: Kids are welcome, but Casa 32 can't provide cots or babysitting services so is probably best enjoyed by adults only. |
Rooms
With just two guest suites, this hotel is intimate and quiet and you can sleep easy knowing that there will only ever be a maximum of four guests staying at any one time. Both suites are equipped with satellite TV, DVD, WIFI internet, minibar and air-conditioning, while the bathrooms include robes and aromatherapy bath products.
Suite Rodolfo da Siqueira is fit for a king literally - this is where King Edward once slept. The 27m2 suite is named after the former owner, a famous art collector who filled the house in the 1920s with 17th and 18th century antiques. The spacious room overlooks the garden courtyard and features polished wood floors, a king-size canopy bed and a dressing room. The colourful room is furnished with orange velvet chairs and a white writing desk, while the bathroom features a claw-foot bath and a shower with mosaic tiles.
Suite Magu Leão includes a 20m2 living room and a 27m2 bedroom that overlook the garden courtyard and the forest beyond. It features polished wood floors and a mixture of contemporary and antique furnishings - scarlet coloured chairs sit beneath an antique chandelier and the 17th century hand-carved ceiling in the sitting room was rescued from a Bahian church. The bedroom features a canopied king-size bed, and a red-and-white tiled bathroom with both a shower and a bath. This suite is named after another previous owner who turned the house over to frequent artistic soirees during the 1950s and 60s.
Food
Breakfast can be taken wherever you choose – in your suite, in the kitchen, or in the shaded garden. The menu changes slightly each day but typically includes fresh juices, home-baked bread and cakes, fresh fruits, Brazilian and French cheeses, cold cuts, coffee and tea, and eggs upon request.
Guests are usually invited to join the family for lunch, for which there is no charge. This will be a typical Brazilian home-cooked meal: shrimps in coconut milk sauce, moqueca capixaba (a Bahian fish stew), or feijoada.
Dinner can also be served, by prior arrangement, but we recommend you get out there and try Rio’s many great restaurants and explore other vibrant neighbourhoods like Leblon and Santa Teresa. Your hosts are happy to make recommendations and can assist with bookings.
Features & Facilities
- A shaded courtyard, with views of the Christ statue, as well as a sauna and small plunge pool.
- Common sitting room and bar area.
- A local English-speaking driver (from US $150 per day).
- DVD collection, focusing on films made and set in Rio, which can be watched in the lounge or in your suite. i
- Book collection, including plenty of guides to the city
- Facilities for small business meetings and events, with facilities including projector, notebook, broadband access and an audio system.
- English, Portuguese, Spanish and French all spoken.
For More information on activities see the Local Info section.
Local Info & Activities
Cosme Velho: You hosts are full of stories and information about their historic neighbourhood and the elegant Largo Boticario square.
The Christ: An essential stop on the Rio tourist circuit, Casa 32 is an easy distance from the train station that takes you to Rio’s most famous landmark.
Nightlife: Casa 32 is just a cab ride away from the clubs and bars of Lapa.
Rio’s beaches: Casa 32 is about a 15-minute cab ride from Ipanema and Copacabana beaches.
Botanic Gardens: Another Rio must, the garden was founded in 1808 by John, Prince Regent of the United Kingdom of Brazil and Portugal, and is one of the great tropical botanical gardens and arboretums of the world.
Sustainability
Casa 32 is a great sustainable travel option in a city where most tourist lodgings tend towards high-rise hotels along the beaches. Being small, the hotel brings you into contact with the local community and allows you to get away form the typical tourist haunts.
The excellent restoration of the 1846 mansion also makes Casa 32 a sustainable lodging, and the owners are also actively engaged in local efforts to preserve the nearby Atlantic rainforest and Carioca River. They also work with their neighbours in an effort to preserve other historic buildings in the Cosme Velho area.
Getting There
Cosme Velho is in the southern part of Rio, and is about 15-20 minutes from most of Rio’s attractions. The nearest airport is Antonio Carlos Jobim Airport. Casa 32 can arrange pick up from the airport or you can jump in a cab.Visit our Transport section for flights, hybrid car rentals and train bookings.
Rates & Bookings
All rates are per room per night including breakfast
Rodolfo da Siqueira Suite $250
Magu Leão Suite $300
- Rates include accommodation, breakfast and lunch if taken with the family.
- Rates exclude 10% service charge, airport transfer, other meals, laundry, minibar, international calls, driver, boat trips, and lectures.
- Children's policy: Children are welcome (but extra beds and cots cannot be provided)
booking & cancellation policy
- A 15% deposit is required within to confirm the reservation.
- The balance is payable directly to Boticario 32 at time of stay in cash or credit card.
- For any cancellations less than two weeks prior to arrival, a charge of 30% will be made. For cancellations on bookings for New Year or Carnival less than 1 month prior to arrival, 80% will be charged. In the event of a no-show or a premature departure, the full booking will be charged.
Want to avoid cancellation fees? Visit our Insurance section for information on travel insurance.