Within walking distance to the beach and public
transportation
Air-conditioned rooms include flat-screen TVs and
minibars
Rooftop bar, restaurant open almost 24 hours, and room service
Fitness center with cardio and weight-lifting equipment and a sauna
Stylish lounge with water views and a flat-screen TV
Computer for guests to use
Free breakfast
Free Wi-Fi
Not within walking distance to major city sights
Rooms are small and simple
Complaints about noisy air-conditioning units
The lower-middle-range Mar Ipanema Hotel is a
five-minute walk from the beach and near a bus stop, making it convenient for
tourists. This small, 86-room hotel has a generous amount of on-site features, such as a fitness center and sauna, an attached restaurant serving free breakfast, room service, and a rooftop bar. There’s free Wi-Fi
throughout the property, though no business center. Guest
rooms, with flat-screen TVs and lightly stocked minibars, are simple and appealing, but they run small. Just a few minutes’ walk away, the mid-range Ipanema Inn provides a good alternative with a free, highly rated breakfast included in room rates.
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.
Scene
Sleek and trendy value hotel that caters to couples
The intentionally rusty sign and nondescript entrance of the Mar
Ipanema Hotel contrasts sharply with its sleek and trendy interior. The lobby has a modern-natural aesthetic, combining earth-tone fabrics and clean-lined furniture with framed black-and-white drawings and photographs of Rio de Janeiro, artsy pottery, and vases of fresh tropical flowers. Distressed wooden floors and walls, a low-lying white coffee table, and long, white marble front desk -- plus fresh
lemon water for guests -- complete the chic space. The hallways are largely plain with gray carpeting and a
few framed photographs of the city. It’s a couple’s crowd here, with most paired-off guests congregating at breakfast or enjoying the rooftop bar.
Location
Within walking distance of the beach
Mar Ipanema Hotel is conveniently located between
Ipanema Beach and Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, each a five-minute walk away. Still, many other sights in Rio de Janiero are best reached by car
or bus from the hotel. The nearest bus stop is a three-minute walk away. It’s a 20-minute drive (without traffic) to either the Christ the
Redeemer statue or Sugarloaf Mountain. Jardim Botanico is a 10-minute car ride without traffic.
The Copacabana Fort and beach are a five- to 10-minute drive away. It takes 20 to 40
minutes by car to reach the Maracana Stadium. There’s a variety of restaurants on surrounding streets. Galeão International Airport is a 25- to 50-minute drive from the hotel, depending on traffic.
Rooms
Streamlined, modern rooms with minibars and flat-screen TVs
Though they aren't quite as polished and trendy as the public spaces, guest rooms here have a streamlined and simple look that's modern and appealing. White linens, wooden or white-tiled floors, and glass-topped cherry-wood furniture give a rooms a neutral backdrop. What the rooms really lack is space, though built-in furnishings keep things from getting cramped. There are small
decorative elements in the rooms that speak to the culture of Rio de Janiero,
such as tropical-themed pillows, drawings of places of local interest, or photographs
of the city. Each room has a flat-screen TV, minibar stocked with a
few drinks and snacks, free Wi-Fi, safe, and air-conditioning, though some guests have noted that the AC units can be noisy. Bathrooms are fairly spacious, though they differ in
style. Some have white tiles, white marble countertops, and large, white
square-shaped sinks, while others have black countertops with white square
sinks. A hairdryer and a shower/tub combo or a shower are provided in each bathroom.
Features
Attached restaurant, rooftop bar, fitness center, and sauna
For a value property, the Mar Ipanema offers a considerable amount of on-site features. Armazém Devassa, a
restaurant and bar connected to the hotel, serves a free breakfast buffet in the mornings in addition to other meals. The restaurant also provides room service to the hotel and
stays open almost 24 hours a day. There’s a small rooftop bar, Bar do Mar, that
serves drinks and has outdoor woven patio furniture and a view of the city. An on-site fitness center has three cardio machines, a weight machine, and some
free weights. Guests can also make use of a sauna. Free Wi-Fi is provided
throughout the property, and though there isn’t a business center, there's a
computer that guests can use.
