I loved this place! Ana was a magnificent hostess, and was incredibly helpful and responsive to whatever I needed. The apartment was in a wonderful location for someone like me who wants an “authentic” local Lapa experience, and while it is indeed noisy on weekend nights and early mornings with locals speaking loudly in Portuguese, that is very much part of its charm IMHO and it’s nothing that can’t be handled easily with ear plugs if you’re a light sleeper.
The apartment is very clean and well-stocked with a modern kitchen and comfortable beds/bathrooms and good light/ventilation. The windows don’t have screens, which is an issue if you are sensitive to mosquito bites (there do seem to be some here), but there are three beautiful new air conditioning units that have been installed. (I unfortunately could not use them at night because they would keep the upstairs neighbor awake, but Ana was kind enough to get me a powerful fan, and she is having the noise issue with the air conditioners repaired so it should be resolved by the time the next lucky renter comes to stay).
This location truly can’t be beat. There are several food markets including two large grocery stores, a big beautiful gym, trains/trams, and many restaurants and cafes all within 5-10 min walking distance. I can’t wait to come back for my next visit… thank you Ana!