Hotel Portinari

Press Reviews

The Guardian, December 2010
"After celebrating New Year in Rio de Janeiro, you'll never be able to face your local pub lock-in again. Over a million people gather on Copacabana beach to party every year, and everyone dresses in white. Hotel Portinari [is] ideally placed between Copacabana and Ipanema beaches."

Conde Nast Traveler (US)
"Rio's best attempt at a designer boutique hotel is located down a side street in Copacabana. Various Brazilian designers decorated one or two floors each, so you should do some research before requesting a room so you'll know what you're getting. The looks vary from minimal modern to pastels and florals. The Carioca-pride theme is carried over to the lovely rooftop restaurant by designer Chico Gouveia, with china painted with Cândido Portinari reproductions. There's also a little fitness center with a hot tub up there."

Frommer's
"The only thing that keeps Rio's premier design hotel from getting three stars is its location just off the busy Av. N.S de Copacabana; it lacks the sex appeal of a beach address. Inside, the hotel is fabulous. A team of 10 well-known Brazilian designers gave each floor a unique look. Styles range from classic-romantic with elegant furniture and pale colors to the environmentally friendly rooms, furnished using only recycled wood and natural fabrics. Our favorite rooms are the ones designed by Marcia Muller."

Lonely Planet
"This stylish 13-story hotel demonstrates real design smarts in its handsome rooms and suites. It lies toward the calmer southern end of Copacabana, within two blocks of the beach... Although it's small as far as lobbies go, it still lets you see the designers at play - black-and-white striped carpeting and stuffed leather chairs sit beside the entrance to the sleek but inviting lobby bar. Up in the rooms, you'll find more minimalism in action. Tile floors, artful lighting and big windows complete the scene, with each floor decorated in a different style. The sleek modern bathrooms are nicely done, and some of the showers are quite large, with rainwater showerheads."

Guest Reviews

Reviews are only from people who have stayed there and booked through i-escape.

• “The room was very tired. I think we may have had an old room as there did appear to be some refurbishment going on. The hotel is very well located and despite being tired the bed was comfortable and the shower had very good water pressure.
  Sushi Leblon (10 mins by taxi) is fantastic and attracts the best looking crowd in the city.”
  James, United Kingdom (10.03.12)

• “My boyfriend and I were quite disappointed with the Hotel Portinari.
  We asked to change rooms as the first one had quite an old and sad feel about it. Second room was ok, but only ok. We could see the hotel is getting old, not much care put into it. Wardrobe door was broken, sink at the bathroom a bit blocked, bathroom bin broke as well.
  This Hotel should be sold as a simple and standard place, as it's far from being a design hotel and is not offering anything special as described on the website.”
  Marcela, United Kingdom (09.03.12)

• “Excellent location on the south end of Copacabana beach near the Copacabana Fort so convenient for both Copacabana and Ipanema. It is also near pharmacies and other stores for last minute things. The staff shine at this hotel: they were instrumental in our activities while in Rio helping to book restaurants, tours even paragliding off mountains. Our trip would have been much more difficult without them! We stayed on the 7th floor which I recommend. The only draw back for me was the restaurant. The breakfast is good but the restaurant does not look at modern as the rest of the hotel. We had dinner one night which was disappointing. There are a lot of places to eat in Rio, especially in this area, so while the restaurant is not competitive, you are also not stuck for choice either.”
  Liam, United Kingdom (25.06.11)

• “A great place to stay in Rio. Not very expensive and not too touristic.
  Well located.”
  Stéphanie, France (16.01.05)