Books Hostel

The common spaces have plenty of life, but the hostel still feels comfortable and organized, with good beds and a sense of safety. Staff were welcoming and happy to help with tours, recommendations, or just getting people together. It was easy to make friends here. The location worked really well, and the place was clean and well run. I loved the social atmosphere, whether I wanted to explore Rio, party, or take it easy. One of my favorite hostels, and I’d absolutely stay again.

It’s a lively place, so it suits partying better than having a quiet time. The location is handy, near affordable restaurants, shops, and the nightlife around Lapa. Staff are really friendly and helpful with tourist activities like favela parties, football games, and boat parties. Breakfast is included, and the women working there clearly make an effort to keep everything clean.

The people and atmosphere were lovely, but the cleanliness was so poor that I can’t rate the stay above three stars. There were no mattress covers, mold in the bathrooms, and bed bugs in some rooms. The bathrooms smelled like vomit.

The breakfast was really good, and you can pay R15 for it even if you’re not staying there. It runs until 10:30am, which I appreciated. There’s filtered water too, though it comes out slowly. The party atmosphere is real, and the WhatsApp group makes it easy to find out where people are going. Just know that very loud music starts downstairs around 7pm. Some things felt insecure: the lockers in room #6 can be locked but still opened, and I wish the room door had a key or lock. They offer bag storage, but there’s no verification, and I was able to take my bag without anyone at the front desk noticing. Maybe there are cameras, but I could have walked out before anyone cared. Since there’s 24/7 door staff, a back room only they can access would be useful. You also have to buzz to get into the hostel rather than use a key. The buzzer is loud and could wake light sleepers, though the trucks on the street might do that too.