Pros

  • Individually decorated, spacious suites -- some with sea views
  • Safe and quiet location is a five-minute walk to Geribá Beach
  • Exceptional, multicultural decor in the public areas
  • Breakfast included in the room rate
  • Outdoor pool and spacious deck
  • Caetano Restaurant serves a la carte lunch and dinner
  • Spa for massage and skin treatments
  • Free Wi-Fi in public areas
  • Free beach towels and chairs
  • Cinema room and Honesty Bar on-site
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Cons

  • Too far to walk to Búzios, not much within the immediate vicinity
  • Wi-Fi not available in all rooms
  • Free parking for Deluxe Suite guests
  • Some maintenance issues in the bathroom
See More Cons

Bottom Line

The fun and funky Aquabarra Boutique Hotel & Spa is located a five-minute walk from the famous Geribá Beach and a 10-minute drive from Búzios downtown. This mid-range property provides colorful and eclectic public areas decorated with an exceptional collection of furniture, paintings, carpets, masks, and memorabilia from around the world. The 15 suites are spacious and individually decorated; each comes with a balcony or private patio and some have sea views. Breakfast, served in the Caetano restaurant, is included in the room rate. Fun extras include a spa, cinema room, free beach chairs, and an outdoor pool. This is an excellent pick for couples who care about style and convenience near the beach. 

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Oyster Hotel Review

Aquabarra Boutique Hotel & Spa

Scene

Bohemian-chic boutique

The Aquabarra Boutique Hotel offers a one-of-a-kind design style that manages to seamlessly mix Asian-inspired furniture, Oriental statues, Indonesian and African primitive masks, beautiful country-style carpets, textiles from Morocco and India, and eye-catching paintings from Argentina and Costa Rica. The spacious lounge, and adjacent rooms, are filled with antiques, memorabilia, and colorful decor that have been brought to Búzios by the globetrotter owners.

The lounge offers an Honesty Bar and the next room has a wine corner with an excellent selection of primarily South American wines. The Caetano restaurant features colorful African masks, silver candleholders, displayed fresh fruit, and tropical flowers. Outside, the garden is reminiscent of Bali with beautiful landscaping. The pool area has a large Buddha head statue and chic sun loungers for a sophisticated, zen vibe. Kiddos are welcome here, there's a kids' menu at the restaurant, but the majority of guests are couples. 

See More Scene

Location

Quiet residential area, a five-minute walk to Geribá Beach

The Aquabarra Boutique Hotel & Spa is located in a quiet and green residential area about a five-minute walk from the famous Geribá Beach, well-known for good surf and surfing schools. The distance to downtown Búzios is about 10 minutes by car. The hotel is located off the main road -- with no public transportation passing by the hotel -- so many guests arrive with private cars. 

The immediate neighborhood does not offer much for dining or shopping options. Downtown Búzios, however, features several decent seafood restaurants, ethnic restaurants, and fast food outlets. Rua das Pedras -- the heart of the town -- has several bars and cafes. It also offers tourist shops and boutiques selling locally made bikinis and beach wear. The town also offers banks, ATMs, pharmacies, car rentals, and tour agencies. 

The city of Cabo Frio -- a 30-minute drive away -- offers shopping centers and some good beaches. Arraial do Cabo has an excellent tropical beach scene with white sand and turquoise water known for diving and snorkeling sites. 

See More Location

Rooms

Artistic and spacious; furnished outdoor spaces

The Aquabarra Boutique Hotel & Spa offers 15 different suites divided into four categories. The Deluxe VIP Suite has an outdoor whirlpool, while others have distant sea views. Decor is more toned than the public areas, but still looks stylish and bohemian with antique furniture, oriental carpets, original artwork, and beautiful textiles from Indonesia and India. Each room comes standard with air-conditioning, a stocked minibar, flat-screen TV, DVD player, and iPod docking station. Bathrooms vary in size and shape; some have maintenance issues like rusty showerheads or floor damage. All come with hotel-brand toiletries and hairdryers. Furnished balconies or patios are nice touches, and allow ample natural light into the Suites. Unfortunately, the free Wi-Fi signal from the lobby only reaches some of the rooms. 

See More Rooms

Features

Swimming pool, spa, and free breakfast at the on-site restaurant 

Caetano restaurant serves Brazilian buffet breakfast -- included in the room rate -- and a la carte meals for lunch and dinner. The menu is international, with some Brazilian delicacies. The lounge offers an Honesty Bar and adjacent wine corner. Room service is available from midday until late evening. The courtyard offers romantic, canopied beds in a Balinese style garden. The spa has a steam room and offers massage (Swedish, Chinese, deep tissue, hot stone) and foot and skin treatments. The pool area is inviting with a deck, large relaxing area decorated with white sofas, and Asian-inspired artwork. The hotel offers a cinema room and access to Netflix and a DVD-library.

The front desk staff carries out concierge functions. They sell tickets to city and boat tours that take guests island hopping, snorkeling, and swimming. Staff can assist with car rentals and airport transfers.

The hotel offers free parking for Deluxe Suite guests and Wi-Fi is provided for free in public areas (some suites get a signal as well). Beach-goers are provided with free towels and arrangements have been made at the Geribá Beach for free chairs and umbrellas.

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Aquabarra Boutique Hotel & Spa

Scene

Bohemian-chic boutique

The Aquabarra Boutique Hotel offers a one-of-a-kind design style that manages to seamlessly mix Asian-inspired furniture, Oriental statues, Indonesian and African primitive masks, beautiful country-style carpets, textiles from Morocco and India, and eye-catching paintings from Argentina and Costa Rica. The spacious lounge, and adjacent rooms, are filled with antiques, memorabilia, and colorful decor that have been brought to Búzios by the globetrotter owners.

The lounge offers an Honesty Bar and the next room has a wine corner with an excellent selection of primarily South American wines. The Caetano restaurant features colorful African masks, silver candleholders, displayed fresh fruit, and tropical flowers. Outside, the garden is reminiscent of Bali with beautiful landscaping. The pool area has a large Buddha head statue and chic sun loungers for a sophisticated, zen vibe. Kiddos are welcome here, there's a kids' menu at the restaurant, but the majority of guests are couples. 

See More Scene

Location

Quiet residential area, a five-minute walk to Geribá Beach

The Aquabarra Boutique Hotel & Spa is located in a quiet and green residential area about a five-minute walk from the famous Geribá Beach, well-known for good surf and surfing schools. The distance to downtown Búzios is about 10 minutes by car. The hotel is located off the main road -- with no public transportation passing by the hotel -- so many guests arrive with private cars. 

The immediate neighborhood does not offer much for dining or shopping options. Downtown Búzios, however, features several decent seafood restaurants, ethnic restaurants, and fast food outlets. Rua das Pedras -- the heart of the town -- has several bars and cafes. It also offers tourist shops and boutiques selling locally made bikinis and beach wear. The town also offers banks, ATMs, pharmacies, car rentals, and tour agencies. 

The city of Cabo Frio -- a 30-minute drive away -- offers shopping centers and some good beaches. Arraial do Cabo has an excellent tropical beach scene with white sand and turquoise water known for diving and snorkeling sites. 

See More Location

Rooms

Artistic and spacious; furnished outdoor spaces

The Aquabarra Boutique Hotel & Spa offers 15 different suites divided into four categories. The Deluxe VIP Suite has an outdoor whirlpool, while others have distant sea views. Decor is more toned than the public areas, but still looks stylish and bohemian with antique furniture, oriental carpets, original artwork, and beautiful textiles from Indonesia and India. Each room comes standard with air-conditioning, a stocked minibar, flat-screen TV, DVD player, and iPod docking station. Bathrooms vary in size and shape; some have maintenance issues like rusty showerheads or floor damage. All come with hotel-brand toiletries and hairdryers. Furnished balconies or patios are nice touches, and allow ample natural light into the Suites. Unfortunately, the free Wi-Fi signal from the lobby only reaches some of the rooms. 

See More Rooms

Features

Swimming pool, spa, and free breakfast at the on-site restaurant 

Caetano restaurant serves Brazilian buffet breakfast -- included in the room rate -- and a la carte meals for lunch and dinner. The menu is international, with some Brazilian delicacies. The lounge offers an Honesty Bar and adjacent wine corner. Room service is available from midday until late evening. The courtyard offers romantic, canopied beds in a Balinese style garden. The spa has a steam room and offers massage (Swedish, Chinese, deep tissue, hot stone) and foot and skin treatments. The pool area is inviting with a deck, large relaxing area decorated with white sofas, and Asian-inspired artwork. The hotel offers a cinema room and access to Netflix and a DVD-library.

The front desk staff carries out concierge functions. They sell tickets to city and boat tours that take guests island hopping, snorkeling, and swimming. Staff can assist with car rentals and airport transfers.

The hotel offers free parking for Deluxe Suite guests and Wi-Fi is provided for free in public areas (some suites get a signal as well). Beach-goers are provided with free towels and arrangements have been made at the Geribá Beach for free chairs and umbrellas.

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Babysitting Services

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Beach

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Free Breakfast

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Pets Allowed

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Spa

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.