Hotel Casa Hintze Ribeiro

The room's size and central location were the main positives. In summer or party season it would probably be very loud, though in the off-season it was just okay. Beyond that, we didn't find much to like. The room felt dark and outdated, the mattress was old, and there was dirt in both the shower and toilet. Breakfast was very standard. When we asked for vegan food, all they offered was soy milk and fruit. Other hotels put more effort into options like vegan spreads or soy yogurt. Casa Hintze Ribeiro could easily have found these in the grocery stores right next door. The island capital has far more plant-based food than more remote hotels, and even those managed to provide it.

Friendly staff and stellar service, with a central location that made this a perfect base for my Sao Miguel adventures.

The front desk and cafe staff were amazing, always friendly and helpful, and clearly trying to make our stay enjoyable. The cafe prices were reasonable for the location and compared well with nearby places. We also liked being so central, within walking distance of the main city attractions. Our room was mostly functional and well kept, but there were some issues. The shower was behind glass with no privacy, opening toward the hallway and clearly visible from the living areas. Having its door swing the other way would already help. It also drained poorly, so after a longer shower, water pooled and ran onto the hallway carpet when we opened the door. At one point there was a urine-like smell from the drain, and it seemed to come from the couch too. The spa hot tub never got above 36°C, no matter which settings we tried. The gym was basic but effective, and the sauna and steam room were pretty good. Housekeeping was generally good, though more consistent supplies would have helped: conditioner, extra towels for our third person, and a dish towel. They only brought the dish towel after realizing we were washing our own dishes. Despite these problems, we really enjoyed the stay and would recommend it.

There was a karaoke bar about 20 meters away, with loud music and people screaming and bawling until 2 a.m. It kept us awake. Terrible and noisy, definitely not somewhere I'd recommend. If you love the Azores for its nature and quiet places, you won't like this spot and probably won't want to stay more than one night. I'd choose another hotel in Ponta Delgada. The hotel staff weren't helpful at all.