Yoo2 Rio de Janeiro, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

Botafogo is a cool neighborhood, and the location worked well for getting around, about a 10-minute bike ride to Sugarloaf and 20 minutes to Copacabana. The sunset views were perfect. The service was a highlight: Junior, the rooftop restaurant guy with braces whose name starts with W, and Larissa at the front desk were all amazing. Everyone was friendly and helpful. The room itself was a letdown. It was severely dated, the bathroom smelled like sewer, the hall carpets need steam cleaning, and the bed was rock hard. There was no iron or steamer. The busy road made it soooooooo loud, even with the windows closed. It wasn't as nice as I expected from a Hilton family property, more like a slight step above a hostel, very basic apart from the packed minibar. I had an enjoyable six-day stay, but if you care about the room, this isn't the place for you.

The rooftop view of Sugarloaf Mountain was a highlight, and the team even surprised us with a signature dessert in our room on our last night. Larissa deserves a special mention for going above and beyond to make our visit feel personal. The staff were incredibly friendly, which made our week-long family trip in Rio truly pleasant. The hotel is in the safe, prime Botafogo neighborhood, near a mall, department stores, and major attractions. The rooms were a bit small and had fewer amenities than a typical five-star hotel, but the service more than made up for it. My 8-year-old daughter loved the hotel, and breakfast was varied and delicious. We highly recommend it to anyone visiting Rio.

Breakfast was five stars. As an English man, I was happy to find bacon, eggs, Brazilian-style sausage, waffles, syrup, and Twinning tea bags. It made me so happy. I also got a free upgrade, which was nice. I booked one night through a third party. The front of house and reception were welcoming, and my room was clean, with a very comfy bed and a great shower with good pressure and water control. The room view was mostly office and car park, though the angle in the video I'll upload makes it look great.

Check-in was good, breakfast was good, and the location is top. But this hotel's best days are definitely behind it. The rooms and bathrooms are old and not very clean. I tried calling reception, but the phone didn't work. There weren't many appliances in the room, not even an electric kettle or an iron. Not what you'd expect from a five-star hotel.