Red Monkey Hostel: Barra Funda

The location is good, and the staff keep the kitchen and bathrooms clean by cleaning constantly. The inside dining space is tiny, though: there’s just one little table in the kitchen, and it’s a gloomy, awkward place to eat when it rains. The kitchen also doesn’t have enough equipment for the hostel’s capacity. It was quiet while I was there, with only 4-6 of more than 40 spots occupied, so that wasn’t too much of a problem. I stayed for a week and hated every minute. It was cheap, but I really regret choosing it, and it tainted my time in São Paulo. Maybe the small number of guests affected my experience, but I have a feeling it’s usually pretty empty. The place is fine if all you want is somewhere to sleep, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re hoping for a fun hostel where you meet people. The staff aren’t allowed to befriend guests, which seems like a strange rule when staff help create the good hostel atmosphere. It made things awkward, and people didn’t really talk to one another. There’s no soap in the bathrooms, which feels incredibly cheap and is gross because people don’t always bring soap every time they go in. There are three showers, two outside. One of those gets so hot it burns your skin. The indoor shower is really pretty and has a nice view.

The beds and showers were good, and the staff and volunteers were nice. But the owner was one of the worst we’ve ever dealt with. We arrived around 8am because of the night bus, and there were hardly any other guests, yet we couldn’t check in even a minute before 3pm. We couldn’t sleep on the bus, so we sat on the sofa and closed our eyes. We didn’t lie down, just sat normally, but the owner told us we weren’t allowed to close our eyes there. There are too many rules all over the place. It feels like a private house, and if you can’t understand travelers, you shouldn’t run a hostel.

The beds are comfy, with curtains around the bunks for a bit of privacy. There’s a relaxed bar and lounge area, cheap beer, air conditioning, and a helpful 24-hour reception. The place even has dogs, though they didn’t seem to like me much 😂. We didn’t stay long enough to explore much, but the location was okay and there’s a tube station nearby. Lovely place, cheap and cheerful, with a friendly, chilled atmosphere. I recommend it.

It’s in a good spot, with very easy metro access. The facilities are clean and comfortable, and the staff are very friendly and all speak English. The dogs are friendly too, and they’re not allowed inside the house. I’d recommend it.