Espelho das Aguas

The setting is gorgeous, with direct beach access, lovely grounds, and lots of couches where you can sit and take in the view. But the hotel and service were a real letdown. It feels like nobody is looking after the place, which is a shame because with renovations and some attention to detail, it could be amazing. Our room felt damp all the time, even the floor seemed wet. There was no shampoo, no umbrellas, and a tiny safe. We had two air conditioners, one broken and one working. It made me wonder why they hadn't removed the broken one. The breakfast was disappointing too. One morning we asked for plates and cutlery but never got them. Staff spoke Portuguese as if we were expected to understand, then got frustrated when we didn't. The manager felt very unapproachable and also seemed annoyed that we couldn't understand her. We didn't expect everyone to speak English or Spanish, but it felt as though they expected us to speak Portuguese. I'd look closer to the center of Armação dos Búzios, around the Rua das pedras. We stayed at El Cazar, which was lovely. It's farther from the beach, but being near all the great restaurants is worth it, and you can take a water taxi to whichever beach you want.