Pousada Do Carmo

We’ve stayed here in 2022 and 2025, and would happily come back. This old pousada has lots of character, right in the middle of Olinda’s colonial charm and just steps from street bars, restaurants, and local life. Some rooms are simple, while others are adorable, with balconies over the colorful streets. It’s a very walkable spot for soaking up the city’s history and energy, and the night market is easy to reach on foot too. With so much going on nearby, it isn’t the place for solitude or a quiet stay.

Huge rooms, lovely beds, and historic details left in place during the restoration. The whole place is drop-dead gorgeous, in that funky, eccentric-auntie's-house kind of way. Hot water took a while, but it did come through. Great breakfast!

The rooms were large and comfortable, with a nice deep bathtub, and the hotel itself was lovely. Breakfast was fantastic and dinner was good too. The staff were great, but I’m giving it only 3 stars because it was very loud at night, every night, not just on the weekend. An event venue next door is apparently a fairly new addition. It’s not the hotel's fault, but if I’d known about the noise, I would have booked somewhere else.

The pool sits in a lovely garden with several seating areas, and the employees were friendly and helpful, though they weren't always well-informed about what was open in town. Breakfast is included and served in the hotel’s restaurant, Bistro Flor de Coco, which is open to the public for lunch and dinner. The food was good in both quality and variety. Our room had a comfortable queen-sized bed, a nice bathroom, and a cute loft seating area, with a view of the garden and Recife in the distance. The pousada combines two adjoining houses and also occupies another building across the street. Parts date back to the 18th Century, with much of the old detail kept while the space has been updated with modern conveniences. It’s a charming B&B on a lovely street in this historic city. Parking is on the street, as is common here since most buildings were built before the automobile. I’ve been to Olinda several times, but this was my first stay at Pousada do Amparo, and it was very, very good. I’d definitely recommend it and stay again.