A Special Stay at Santa Teresa Hotel and Spa
A charming oasis with a splendid spa and crave-worthy restaurant, this hotel is perfect for couples and friend groups alike.
Classified as a small upscale boutique, the grounds are a restored mansion, with a terrace overlooking the city being the highlight.
Pool and Terrace
A magnificent view of the city matched with tasty cocktails, here we had our favorite caipirinha during our stay in Rio de Janeiro.
The pool isn’t heated, but there is a hot tub and very comfortable lounge chairs in the surrounding pool area. We felt right at home as a couple because there were so many other couples in the area, many of whom were our age. Later in our journey to Ilha Grande, we met a couple that had gotten engaged at the hotel just two days prior to our visit! Small world eh?
Térèze Restaurant
We were first introduced to the hotel via their restaurant – Térèze. We ate here on Christmas Eve and fell in love with the establishment and service.
The cuisine is contemporary, and presents local Brazilian gastronomy with a Latin American touch. It truly was a journey of flavors, and a must visit if you enjoy perfectly cooked seafood. They pride themselves on using Non-Conventional Food Plants (PANCS) from the region, so items you wouldn’t see on your standard grocery shelf in Rio.
The tropical chic decor makes you feel right at home in Rio.
Le Spa
It was Christmas Day and we had nowhere to go, but Le Spa (the name of the hotel’s spa) squeezed us in for a 60 minute massage and facial treatment. Starting with a soothing foot cleaning ritual, we moved onto the massage then finished with the facial. It was divine and competed with the best facials I’ve had here in San Francisco. Our faces were buttery smooth afterwards, and ready to conquer the city!
The Rooms
Each room at the Santa Teresa Hotel has it’s own unique charm to it, some have a balcony and most have a view. The rooms are quiet, not always an easy find in a city as alive musically as Rio.
Tropical design elements are present in the room as raw cotton, natural flax materials, coconut fibers, and tropical woods, and complimented by Brazilian art décor.
All rooms have a king bed, air conditioning, and fast (well, as fast you’ll get in Brazil) wi-fi.
We’ll be back for the Spa, Restaurant, and Service at M Gallery Santa Teresa Hotel by Sofitel.
Location and Safety
The MGallery Santa Teresa Hotel by Sofitel is nestled in the beautiful Santa Teresa area of Rio. The area has a charming, village-like vibe with colonial buildings and cobblestone roads.
Near to the hotel you’ll find romantic cocktail bars and restaurants with magnificent bay views, as well as small boutique shopping featuring Brazilian designers and artists.
Within walking distance and a few steep climbs, you’ll find the world-famous ceramic covered steps Escadaria Selarón. Further down the hill, you can walk between the large white pillars of the Carioca Aqueduct. We visited both of these landmarks on a rainy day in Rio, and there were still loads of tourists at both locations. So, we recommend arriving early in the day for a sunrise shoot!
Safety-wise you shouldn’t walk to far from the hotel alone during the evening hours as the Santa Teresa neighborhood is bordered by favelas, and you could easily walk into one on accident if your wits aren’t straight. During the daytime we felt totally safe.