Mama Ruisa Boutique Hotel
Franco-Brazilian colonial mansion meets personal art collection. Think flea-market finds elevated by taste, not money. Antiques, bold textiles, stained glass, and a curving wooden staircase. More Vogue shoot than hotel chain.
Request the Josephine Baker suite for the wraparound first-floor veranda with full bay views and the remarkable period marble bathroom
Why It Matters
One of Rio's most distinctive small hotels — not for amenities but for the curation. Every object has been deliberately chosen by the owner. The bay views from the upper-floor suites are unmatched in Santa Teresa, and the staff's warmth consistently outperforms what you'd get at properties charging twice the rate.
A century-old mansion built in 1871, Mama Ruisa is a seven-room guesthouse perched on a hillside in Santa Teresa — Rio's arty, cobblestone-street neighborhood that sits well above Copacabana in both altitude and attitude. French-born owner Jean-Michel Ruis has turned the space into a moving personal collection: Jean Cocteau drawings on the walls, floor-to-ceiling French doors, polished ipê wood floors, and rooms named after Francophile icons like Josephine Baker and Colette. The pool overlooks Guanabara Bay and the Sugarloaf. That view is genuinely something.
Where You'll Stay
8 room types available
Deluxe Room — Amazonia
Brazilian-themed room with indigenous prints and earthy tones. Named for the Amazon. Views of the bay. Reviewers specifically recommend it for its spaciousness, bay views, and proximity to the pool.
Deluxe Room — Lapa
Smaller than the suites but well designed, with a particularly notable bathroom. One reviewer described it as compact but beautifully considered. Named after Rio's famous nightlife district.
Deluxe Room — Mascaras
The family-friendly option: two bedrooms, both doubles, making it suitable for families with older children. Brazilian-themed with indigenous prints. Garden level.
Deluxe Room — Pop
The most energetically decorated of the Deluxe rooms — reviewers describe the liveliest color and decor scheme in the hotel. Has a small private veranda, making it a strong option if the Junior Suites are booked.
Junior Suite — Carmen Miranda
Garden-level suite dedicated to the Brazilian-born Hollywood icon. Adorned with books, pictures, and magazines featuring Carmen Miranda. Slightly darker than the upper-floor suites due to garden-level position, but good size.
Junior Suite — Colette
First-floor suite inspired by French novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette. No private terrace, but excellent views of Sugarloaf Mountain. Similar high ceilings, hardwood floors, and French-inflected decor as the other suites.
Junior Suite — Jean Cocteau
First-floor suite sharing the wraparound veranda setup. The real draw here is the bathroom: fading marble, period taps, a bathtub with jets, a separate shower, and mirrored walls — reportedly the original lady-of-the-house's bathroom. Jean Cocteau drawings feature in the decor throughout.
Junior Suite — Josephine Baker
First-floor suite with floor-to-ceiling shutters opening onto a wraparound veranda where rocking chairs face Guanabara Bay. Multiple reviewers call it the best room in the property. High ceilings, hardwood floors, and a large marble bathroom with period taps. The veranda view of the bay is genuinely exceptional.
The Property
Eat & Drink
2 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Pre-arranged transfers from Galeão International Airport (GIG, 20km) and Santos Dumont Domestic Airport (SDU, 3km). Available at a surcharge. Particularly useful given that some taxi and Uber drivers can be reluctant to navigate Santa Teresa's steep, narrow roads.
Bicycles available for rent from the property. Santa Teresa's cobbled hills make this more of a downhill pleasure than an uphill workout.
Staff are knowledgeable about Rio and can book and recommend all the standard Rio excursions: Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado, Sugarloaf cable car, community/favela tours. First-time visitors consistently rate the hotel's recommendations as spot-on.
Off-road jeep tours of the surrounding area and Rio's wilder geography. Arrangeable through hotel staff.
Staff can arrange microlighting experiences above Rio — one of the more memorable and unusual ways to see the city's dramatic geography.
The hotel's team can arrange sailing trips on the bay. Santa Teresa sits directly above Guanabara Bay, so the visual connection to the water is constant — and getting out on it is a natural next step.
Yoga listed as an available activity at the property.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Complimentary WiFi throughout the property.
English-speaking nanny can be arranged for babysitting on request. Baby cots available on request. The Mascaras room (two-bedroom double) is the most family-friendly option.
Mini fridge / minibar in all rooms.
All seven rooms are air-conditioned. Some reviews note that A/C units can struggle to cool larger rooms in peak summer heat.
All rooms have flat-screen TVs with satellite channels.
Lush tropical garden with exotic orchids, palm trees, and flowering plants. The main terrace has the hotel's best views — panoramic sweep of Guanabara Bay, city rooftops, and the Sugarloaf. The large front porch with rocking chairs is a particular draw.
Valet parking available at the property.
Palm-shaded pool in the garden, with views toward Guanabara Bay and the Sugarloaf. A handful of sun loungers around it. Not a large resort pool, but well-maintained and the setting is the point. Pool lights turn off in the evening.
In-room safe available in guest rooms.
Daily housekeeping service.
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Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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