Riale Imperial Flamengo

8.4Verified guest

“The staff were outstanding, the location was excellent, and the whole experience was fantastic – the front desk team, bellman, and housekeeping were all wonderful.”

8.4Verified guest

“This hotel is honest and does what it says. Rio's hotel prices are inflated compared to other cities, and even mediocre hotels cost a lot (especially with the Olympics and World Cup approaching). Imperial is pricey for what you get, but the room was clean – not luxurious – and the bathroom was fine. My mattress was a bit worn and slightly bent, but I still slept well. A decent hotel overall.”

8.4Verified guest

“I wanted to write a detailed review since there aren't many English perspectives on Rio hotels. The location is decent – if you're keen, you can walk to Flamengo beach in 10 minutes. The area sits between the centre and the beaches, so it's fairly quiet, with a few restaurants and supermarkets within a two-minute walk. It's also right next to Catete metro, which is handy because I wouldn't recommend buses in Rio – the traffic is terrible. The metro system is small and mainly serves the centre (museums, business district) and Copacabana/Ipanema beaches. For Sugar Loaf and Christ the Redeemer, you'll need taxis or buses. From Galeão airport, I paid $12 (Reais), about £4, to get here (be careful – taxi drivers and locals will try to overcharge; haggle or it gets expensive). The hotel itself is OK. Rio is expensive for hotels and prices will only rise. The staff are very friendly and speak enough English. Breakfast is good – pastries, cake, fruit, hot food (not a full English), and drinks. My standard room was basic – a double bed, bathroom, fridge, and a wardrobe – but the size was fine, and they serviced it daily. Bring your own towels if you plan to use them at the beach, as they don't like you taking theirs. The hotel also has an internet room, swimming pool, small gym, and sauna, all clean. I felt safe there, but remember that tourists stand out – don't flash jewellery or valuables. Nothing happened to me, but a wrong turn could get you into trouble. The city is improving, with plenty of police around, so don't buy into the idea that you'll be mugged.”

8.4Verified guest

“The hotel is in a lovely neighbourhood with shops, cafes, and a metro station almost opposite the entrance. It's an excellent base for exploring the city and getting around easily. The staff are friendly and helpful, offering great service throughout. The rooms are comfortable and have all the basics, including a fridge and a veranda. The included breakfast is tasty and a great way to start the day.”

8.4Verified guest

“This is a longer review for English speakers, as there aren't many. Location: not bad – if you're lazy, you can walk to Flamengo beach in 10 minutes. The area is between the centre and the beaches, so there's not much happening, but a few restaurants and supermarkets are within a two-minute walk. It's also next to Catete metro, which is useful – I don't recommend buses in Rio due to terrible traffic. The metro system is limited, reaching the centre (museums, business district) and Copacabana/Ipanema beaches. For Sugar Loaf and Christ the Redeemer, you'll need taxis or buses. From Galeão airport, I paid about $12 Reais (£4) for the taxi (be wary – people will try to overcharge; bargain or it gets expensive). The hotel is OK. Rio hotels are overpriced, and it'll only get worse with the World Cup and Olympics. Staff are very friendly and speak enough English. Breakfast is good – pastries, cake, fruit, hot food (not a full English), and drinks. My standard room was simple – double bed, bathroom, fridge, and a cupboard – size was acceptable, and it was cleaned daily. Don't take the hotel towels to the beach – they don't like it. There's also an internet room, pool, small gym, and sauna, all clean. I felt safe, but tourists stand out, so avoid flashy jewellery. I had no trouble, but it's easy to imagine trouble if you take a wrong turn. The city is improving with more police, so don't expect to be mugged at every corner.”

8.4Verified guest

“The pool was nice and the breakfast had plenty of options. The location was convenient for tourist areas, with easy access to public transport.”