Modern, bright hostel one block from the beach
Free breakfast of hot and cold items
Dorm rooms, female dorms, and private rooms with furnished balconies available
Free Wi-Fi
Communal kitchen for preparing meals
On-site bar and pleasant outdoor terrace
Internet point with three computers
Generally clean, but with dust in corners, mold in grout, etc.
Can get loud with parties
Price can, at times, be a little high compared to similar hostels
This 94-room, budget hostel is a block from the beach and a few blocks from the neighborhood's central commercial area, with bars, restaurants, shops, and the like. Part of the Che Lagarto chain, with 17 properties in Brazil alone, this Ipanema franchise serves a free breakfast and has a pleasant outdoor terrace and communal kitchen. Many of the rooms are dorm-style, with six to 10 beds, though there are some private rooms with small balconies and flat-screen TVs. The place is generally clean, though not spotless, and noise can be an issue as it typically draws a youthful, party-driven crowd. Wi-Fi is free throughout.
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Scene
Basic and youth-oriented with simple furnishings in the bar and outdoor terrace
The Che Largarto Hostel Ipanema is a plain, youth-oriented facility in the Ipanema neighborhood of Rio De Janeiro. A small, nondescript building on the outside, the inside is simple and bright, and decorated in lime greens and vibrant yellows. There's a lovely little patio at the entrance with a few wood tables and chairs, which leads into the combination breakfast and bar area. There are a few cheap-looking booths, plastic tables, and bar stools in white, green, and yellow, where guests can gather for breakfast and drinks. The space is simple and plain, but the bright colors make it much more pleasant, along with the large map of Brazil on the wall, and a couple of TVs. On the second floor is a small Internet corner with three computers for guest use, and collapsable wood tables and chairs that can be spread out in the mostly bare room. The walls of the hostel are peppered with slogans, such as "life is now" or "la vie est belle", encouraging a zestful, celebratory nature among guests.
Location
A block away from the beach and walking distance to bars and restaurants
The Che Largarto Hostel Ipanema is quite convenient, just a block away from the beach. Ipanema, a popular part of town, has plenty of shops, bars, and restaurants, and its commercial center is only a few blocks away from the hostel. Currently the nearest metro station, Ipanema/General Osório, is roughly a 25-minute walk away, but a new station is expected to open a few blocks away in 2016. There are many bus stops within a few blocks of the hostel, as well. The historic center of Rio is about a half-hour drive.
Rooms
Dorms with just the essentials, in bright colors, and some private rooms with small balconies
The rooms are basic and many are dormitory-style, with six to 10 beds and no extra furnishings. There is one women-only room, while the rest are booked first-come, first-serve by bed. Bright red accent walls, and bold yellow and green bed frames lend some pizazz to the white sheets, and there are sizable lockers for storing medium to large luggage. The hostel also has some private rooms, a few of which have small, furnished balconies; while definitely a step up in comfort, private rooms are still simple and mostly white, with gray blankets and bright yellow tables. In dorms and private rooms, the bathrooms are quite small, with stall showers. In general, the facilities here are clean, but with some missed spots -- it's not uncommon to find a bit of mold in the grout, soap stains in the showers, and other signs of cursory cleaning.
Features
Free breakfast and Wi-Fi, communal kitchen, and a bar open late
The Che Lagarto Hostel Ipanema suits youthful, low-maintenance guests. The hostel offers free breakfast, including eggs, bread, fruit, meats, and juice. Wi-Fi is also free throughout the hostel, and there are freely accessible computers on the second floor. For other meals, the hostel has a well-stocked communal kitchen where guests can prepare their own food. In the afternoon, the breakfast bar turns into an actual bar, and things can stay hopping until well past midnight, which could be either a draw or a deterrent.
