This apartment is a dream. This is the most fantastic place I have ever stayed in the entire world. I'm not exaggerating. The apartment is in a perfect location with an amazing view of Lapa, Guanabara Bay, Niteroi, and the surrounding mountains of Rio. It's a lovely 5-minute stroll down the cobblestone hill to Lapa, and it's a stunning 10-minute walk to the heart of Santa Teresa at Largo do Guimaraes. You are near the best nightlife and music in Rio, yet the apartment itself is peaceful, and the building is very quiet. There is a decent-sized terrace with this magnificent view, and its doors open fully to the main living area, should you want an outdoor feel. There is tons of light in the apartment with two big windows in the main bedroom and another big window in the kitchen. There are metal shutters, however, should you want to sleep late.
Tania has impeccable taste in decoration- there are beautiful Indio artifacts around the apartment. There are plenty of places to sit, relax, and feel at home. This is a 5-Star place, and it's an amazing deal for the rate. Other nice details: It's in a cool Art-Deco style building, probably from that era, with old-school tiles on the terrace. The bed is a real quality bed- can be a full king size or two doubles. The bathroom has a great jacuzzi bathtub, too! The kitchen is also great. The neighbors I met were all very friendly, though I never heard any noise from the rest of the building. There is a little noise from the street during the day, but just regular street noise- the neighborhood itself is very peaceful. Tania is a class-act, and she is as warm and charming as they come. She is a wonderful host. She really went out of her way to make me feel welcome and comfortable in the apartment, as well as in Rio. She was nice enough to invite me to concerts and shows I might not have known about as a gringo. She is sincerely interested in seeing that her guests experience the beauty of her city. Until I am back in Rio, I will be dreaming of this place!