For more information and to book please visit www.mrandmrssmith.com or let us arrange your whole trip, by calling +44 (0)20 8987 4312 or from the USA dial 1 866 610 3867.
Relais Solar
- Style
- Colonial outside, boho Brazilian inside
- Setting
- Laidback Santa Teresa
Atop a cobbled hillside street in Rio's Santa Teresa, Relais Solar is replete with Brazilian-made furnishings, a creative boutique hotel with tropical gardens.
Need to know
- Rooms
- Five, including one private bungalow.
- Rates
- Individual room reservations (BRL165–595, including breakfast, not including taxes at 15 per cent) are only available for stays taken within 30 days of booking. Full house rental (sleeps up to 13), BRL2,000–2,500. Three-night minimum stay.
- Check-out
- 11am, occasionally flexible.
- Facilities
- Garden spaces, hammocks. Entertainment room with TV/DVD/CD, wireless broadband and a computer with Internet access. Massage and beauty treatments on request.
- Poolside
- Hot tub with jets.
- Children
- Owing to the artworks in the house, under-10s must be supervised, but children are warmly welcomed, and staff can direct you to fun activities in the city. Extra bed, US$30; cot, US$15. 'Bilingual babysitting', US$10 an hour (min four hours).
- Also
- No pets (Una the labrador rules at Solar). Smoking allowed in the gardens. There's a nine-passenger Defender available for tours. Ask about gastronomic, arts and community tours: the hotel people run their own creative tourism agency.
In the know
- Our favourite rooms
- All the rooms are furnished with Brazilian art and design, and hand-painted murals. Bungalow Jabuticaba has a private terrace with verandah, plus its own minibar. Maritaca and Beija-Flor both have access to the verandah; the other two rooms are only for booking in conjunction with main rooms, by families who are happy to share the bathroom between them.
- Packing tips
- Don't bother with a beach towel – use the canga provided, like a true Carioca.
Food & drink
- Dress code
- Relaxed Rio style.
- Hotel bar
- There's no bar, but staff will happily bring you drinks on the tropical garden terrace. There is also a 'make your own caipirinha' honesty bar, fully stocked with cachaça, plus wine, beer and spirits, as well as snacks.
Smith card offer A cachaça kit, complete with shot glasses
If you're a member of Mr & Mrs Smith, you can get special privileges at every Smith hotel you book through us. Just show your Smith card at check-in to claim the offer featured on every hotel page (like the one above).
Not a member? Join now
Book this hotel
To book this hotel please click here, or contact our travel team on 1 866 610 3867.
Local restaurants
Aprazivel, 62 Rua Aprazível (+55 21 2508 9174) serves upscale cuisine in a beautiful setting. For excellent seafood, head to
Sobrenatural, 432 Rua Almirante Alexandrino (+55 21 2224 1003).
Pizzaria do Chico, 21 Santa Cristina (+55 21 2508 7180) is a local secret: a family-run place with great atmosphere and service.
Espirito Santa on Rua Almirante Alexandrino (+55 21 2508 7095) is a great restaurant serving delicious Brazilian dishes and prefect cachaças and caipirinhas.
Local bars
Bar do Mineiro, 99 Rua Paschoal Carlos Magno, is always packed with locals. Armazéns do Thiago on Rua Aurea has a great vibe and is a popular place for after-dinner drinks.
For an insider's travel guide to Rio, including great recommendations for eating and drinking, as well to get tips on what to get up to while you're away, from the best beaches to how to get around, click here for our destination guide.
