By Harold Emert
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – With the current rush of cyber business, not every visitor to Marvelous City Rio de Janeiro has the time or the resources to stay in hotels with panoramic ocean views near its beaches. The Rio Times visited two alternative possibilities for visitors, both located downtown.
Hotel 55
Named after Brazil’s telephone country code (55), this lovely 1860 renovated Colonial-style, yet neo-modern hotel is located in Lapa at Rua Visconde de Maranguape, No. 9, beside the Sala Cecília Meireles chamber-music hall. It was built in 1860 and recently renovated before the 2016 Olympics.
55 overlooks the Largo da Lapa and its Roman Arches or Aqueduct, the Petrobras building and the School of Music of Rio’s Federal University. It is within easy walking distance from the Municipal Theater and Belas Artes Museum, among other “must-see” local tourist sites.
Originally called Grande Hotel Bragança, it was a VIP hubbub when Rio was Brazil’s capital city. Legend has it that among its famous visitors were Rio’s popular composer Noël Rosa (1910-1937) and renowned painter Emiliano Di Cavalcanti (1897-1976).
Today, Hotel 55 is in a perfect locale, not far from the Santos Dumont city airport, to accommodate visiting musicians or actors and actresses performing at downtown theatres, entrepreneurs or tourists preferring a downtown stay.
After a typically large and varied Brazilian breakfast (all kinds of fruit juices, breads, fruits, cereal, yogurt, scrambled eggs, and even hotdogs, for those so inclined), The Rio Times was shown the spacious renovated and high-ceilinged rooms, with windows which are rarely found in modern architecture.
The hotel is divided into two sections: the historical section, with 12 “deluxe” apartments and two “master”, or extra-large, apartments. Contrary to the current American tradition, windows can be opened, and a key opens each door!
The Modern section comprises 106 Standard apartments and a terrace where one may embark in a visual “time machine”, looking back in history at Lapa’s Roman Arches, the Flying Circus (Circo Voador) and its environs. Despite the colonial legacy, the hotel offers Wi-Fi and a small gym.
Hotel 55 is also a colorful locale to lunch or have dinner and a drink before or after a concert at nearby Sala Cecilia Meireles, or even for a business meeting.
Researching what others have to say about Hotel 55, someone identifying herself as Lenna Gomes reports: “The Hotel is simple but clean and organized, has a bar nearby with varied drinks, reception 24 hours a day, a good price and it is well located for someone who likes the diversity of Lapa.”
Belga Hotel
Another alternative in downtown Rio is the Belga Hotel, noted for its attractive combination of Belgian design and gastronomy. The hotel is proud of combining “European efficiency with Rio hospitality” and is 100 meters from the Metro and VLT (Rio’s electric tramline) near Praça Mauá. Either walking or riding the charming VLT will take a visitor to Rio’s financial district, the Museum of Tomorrow, the Aquarium, the central bus station, or the Santos Dumont downtown airport.
Its Brasserie is advertised as “a quiet place for a chat or to do business”. And perhaps it is, offering cuisine created by Belgian chef Alexandre Binard, including locally rare Belgian delights, Dutch and French food.
The menu is described by a former visitor as “small but delightful”. In addition to traditional chocolate topped crepes or those filled with cured salmon, roast beef with crispy potato chips, one may also enjoy imported Belgian beers.
All 25 suites in the hotel are small by Rio standards, but beautifully designed and have high-speed Wi-Fi, multi-color LED lighting, and widescreen TV.
For those visitors so inclined to stay in the often gruff part of downtown Rio, Hotel Belga is a surprising visit to Belgium, yet in the center of Marvelous City!
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