Santa Teresa Hotel RJ-MGallery 5 stars

We were concerned about the safety of the neighborhood, but quickly realized it was safe and the hotel was outstanding. Staff were amazing.

We were recommended to stay at the Santa Teresa hotel and it was just the best. Situated up the hill from the beaches, it is easy to get to (and ignore the comments about taxis not wanting to go there because of the cobbles) it is an oasis of calm, yet within easy reach of everything. The tram stops about 200 metres away and whisks you into Centro is about 15 minutes, where the Metropolitan Cathedral in a ‘must see’. Taxis are easy for the beaches, Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf. Uber is everywhere and very reliable. Special mentions for the receptionists who were always helpful and willing to organise anything (Victor and Natalie were especially brilliant). The restaurant is excellent and must rank as one of the best in Rio. Daniel was a great server, knowledgeable and efficient. The pool is swimmable because it is an oblong shape, so good for exercise as well and the cool stuff. All in all, a great place to stay where you can avoid the excess commercialism of the beaches yet be close to all that you need.

We enjoyed our four nights in the spacious and attractively decorated loft suite which has a superb view over the city. Service very efficient and warm. Front desk charmingly helpful. Restaurant first rate for breakfast and dinner.

We had the worst experience we have ever had!! We arrived to the Mama Shelter hotel after we liked a lot the pictures on booking .. We got an “upgrade” for a room in the ground level. The room had no windows and no air circulation, also the water in the shower smells bad. The worst part was arriving at night to our room, hearing weird noises from the trash can that didn’t stopped- we found out a MOUSE inside (probably the primary resident in the room).. I was so horrified!! We went to the reception, and the reception worker came to the room, saw the mouse, and we had to pack all our belongings and move to a different room in the middle of that rainy night (another one with no air circulation). Even though we asked on the day of arrival to extend our stay, we asked to leave in the morning after sleepless night. The Mama shelter hotel manager said she want to give us free caipirinha πzza as compensation.. when we said it’s not a reasonable compensation for this kind of situation (had no hotel for the rest of our stay in Rio and had a terrible night) she talked to her manager Lyudmila- the Santa Teresa manager, and asked us to move for the Santa Teresa hotel (a 5 stars hotel). We arrived and Ludmila was at first really nice , told us she understands our feeling , that this situation is horrible and she invites us to stay in the Santa Teresa hotel for the rest of our stay. On the next morning she asked us to pay 50% from the Santa Teresa hotel rate if we would like to stay for the rest of our stay (when a day before she invited us to the same hotel as part of the compensation). Also Lyudmila told us she talked with the reception worker who didn’t come to the room and never saw a mouse.. the very same mouse who ruined our first night in Rio. As travelers , who sleep in all kinds of properties :5 stars hotels, boutique hotels and all kinds of accommodation we felt so humiliated to be in this kind of situation, and AGAIN, had NO accommodation for the rest of our stay. We experienced our stay uncomfortable because of this situation, and mainly from how it was managed. We asked a refund for the sleepless night we had a mouse in our room at the Mama Shelter but haven’t got it back

Excellent front desk service. Very helpful. Room 14 noisy with water sounds from room above. Hot tub very tepid.

Beautiful property with great potential but everything is lacking in being polished. Rooms with dysfunctional plumbing (stayed in 2). A bar where you had to go to reception to get someone to serve. Mediocre food. No decent wine offering nor cocktails. Overall a very disappointing experience for an overpriced property.

My boyfriend and I stayed at the hotel for his birthday and it was an amazing experience. Our room was beautiful, the staff was aways kind and helpful, and the hotel is simply beautiful.

I have stayed at this hotel around 4 times before this stay, over the years, but this is the first time since it became MGallery. I am very sad to say the service has declined terribly. At the front desk they took our request for dinner reservations that were never made- we found out when we got to the restaurant, and the hostesses' response was to say the front desk was very "out of it" and this sort of thing was normal. The service in the restaurant was bad to the point of being comical. Orders poorly taken, waiters having to come back multiple times to confirm, abrupt greetings, no ability to explain dishes. It was evident, even at Breakfast, that the staff is simply not trained at all. I felt terrible for the non-Portuguese speaking guests as it is evident that nobody speaks more than 3 words of English. At one point during breakfast the waiter had to call the hostess over to translate but she barely knew more than him... A couple during dinner asked for the selection of white wines by the glass but the confused waiter offered a glass of Malbec. Even at the pool bar, which used to be a place of very refined service, the bar itself looked messy and the servers were unpolished and poorly trained. The rooms are lovely as ever and the food generally was quite good. Sadly the team seems totally lost and the experience has lost a good deal of its magic and charm.

We loved the hotel and the Santa Teresa area. All the staff we met were delightful and very helpful. The food in the restaurant and bar (the risotto we had 3 times for lunch!) was excellent. Our room was good although the doors to the balcony are broken and need fixing. Loved the styling of the hotel. We would stay again if we are in Rio.

Although the facilities are great and the hotel is beautiful - my treatment by staff members was severely substandard and prejudiced Upon arrival, I was brusquely shown my room and none of the hotel's facilities were explained or shown to me. Every time I went to the bar, restaurant or pool I was questioned by staff who seemed to suspicious and not able to believe that I was actually a guest of the hotel. When I asked to see the suite at the end of my stay - I was made to sit in reception and wait for 40 minutes and no one showed me the room. When I complained, there was no attempt to solve the problem - just a weak apology. The reception staff on my last day in particular were so nice to everyone else and so rude and uncaring towards me I felt that it ruined my entire experience in Rio

Having Kleenex in room would have been nice

The hotel grounds were beautiful and well kept. The staff were friendly and accommodating. The room was beautiful and exceeded expectations.

Overall I every much enjoyed the decor and environment of the hotel. Initially, I was placed in the wrong room, but the staff was willing to move me to the correct room upon my request which was appreciated. I believe the service at the pool bar could have been more expedient and I would recommend removing or relocating the large computer on the service bar as it's very distracting from the pleasant environment created at the pool. Food was great. Overall I would definitely recommend.

We loved the hotel, its rooms, public areas, swimming pool and dining room. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The food was beautiful and delicious. Would recommend!

Excellent hotel,very helpful staff, helped with booking trip to Christ the redeemer and getting taxis for us. Room very good, quiet and very light. Very comfortable bed.food excellent both dinner and breakfasts in the restaurant.