I stayed in Felipe's apartment for five weeks, and it was a perfect home base to get to know Rio. It's well-located in the pretty chic neighborhood of Botafogo, which is full of locals, unlike Copacabana and Ipanema. It's a 1 0-minute walk to the Metro, so those neighborhoods are also close. But there are plenty of good restaurants and bars within walking distance, as well as several good supermarkets and bakeries.
The apartment itself is clean, comfortable and stylish. There are two balconies, one with a hammock off the bedroom that is more comfortable, and a narrow one off the main room that is in the sun all day, so I didn't use it much. I was working while there, and the desk and office chair made that very comfortable, and the internet was fast. The TV has cable and Apple TV, so you can connect to your Mac or iPhone if you have one. The bed is comfortable enough. There is a small gym downstairs, a small pool and even a restaurant inside the condo just for guests. The food is cheap and fast. There is also a garage for parking cars or bikes. The apartment is cleaned everyday.
I would definitely stay again!