Pousada Flor do Dende

It’s a bit out from the center, but easy to reach, about a 10-minute walk. There are restaurants along the way; they’re a little more expensive than the ones downtown, but I think their service is better. My room wasn’t the worst, but it smelled like the beach, faced the reception with no privacy, and had a bathroom without ventilation. Breakfast was simple and very incomplete. There weren’t many choices, and staff were slow to replenish things. The whole setup seemed careless. The sugar was hard and covered in ants on the table. The biscuits were stale in jars with dirty lids that made your hand sticky when you opened them. For the two days I was there, there were no cereal or granola, or even napkins; a staff member had to fetch an opened pack from the inn next door. The only fruit was papaya and pineapple, and the eggs and sausage were served cold in a chafing dish that wasn’t turned on. It was really poor. If you like eating well, you’ll be frustrated. If you’re happy with bread and a cup of coffee, it’s fine.

The first thing waiting in our room was a big cockroach. My girlfriend wanted it gone, so I kicked it and it flew into the room next door. The fridge never worked, and to my surprise it had no drinks or snacks in it, even though I was ready to spend. Still, we made the most of every last minute, staying in the great pool until two minutes before we had to leave. The reception staff were always trying to find out everyone else's business.

I only spent one night here, but that was enough to make me recommend it. It felt like a family-run place, with a pool in the middle and parking on site. It's close to the market and the center of Arraial. The breakfast was simple but fine, and the receptionist Thiago, I can't remember his name for sure, the one with a mustache, was really helpful and put me in a nice room.

We arrived on 08/01 and are leaving today, 13/01, already wishing we could stay longer. The inn feels really cozy, the breakfast was delicious, and everyone was welcoming. The location is great too, we walked everywhere.