Incredibly disappointing apartment. It is in a really poor condition and not really at the standards of an Airbnb for Ipanema (I have stayed in other apartments in the area, ironically even in a very nice unit in the exact same building).
Dirty walls, unfinished floors, extremely low-quality and cheap furniture that is unpleasant to use and even to be around, simple and obvious defects (such as windows that do not close). There were bad odors in the apartment when we arrived, and, shockingly, massive stains on the pillows in the bedroom.
We were so shocked by the bad quality of the place that we were forced to find a different Airbnb so that this would not ruin our trip. I think it is clear that the Airbnb host has simply chosen not to really invest in the property, even to meet a minimum standard of comfort and quality. I am incredibly disappointed that based on Airbnb's strict refund policy we are not able to recoup our money given the shoddy condition.
I fell for the inaccurate reviews, which seem to have been written by people who do not know the area. For example, many reviews touted the supposed view. In fact, the view from the apartment is comparatively very poor. It looks out sideways on a number of tall buildings and construction sites, with only a narrow band of water visible in the distance. Nothing special for the area.
There are hundreds of magnificent Airbnb options in Rio. We found an infinitely better apartment, with high-quality furnishings, magnificent location, and a splendid balcony, for only $50 more per night. I strongly recommend spending your money elsewhere. When the host will not even invest in decent furniture or basic cleanliness, you should save your money.