Hotel Review: Ritz Copacabana Boutique (Copacabana Hotel with Gym)

Introduction: Where to stay in Copacabana with a gym

Copacabana is a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It features the eponymous Copacabana beach with its iconic undulating patterned stone  promenade and is in the center of everything to do and see in Rio. The Copacabana neighborhood itself is certainly touristic, but I’d lean into it!

The Ritz Copacabana Boutique hotel (note – not associated with the Ritz Carlton in any way)  is an excellent choice for a hotel in Copacabana with a gym. After traveling to over 30 countries staying in primarily budget or mid range hotels, I can say that this was by far one of the most comprehensive hotel gyms I’ve seen in any country. Besides the hotel gym, the location is unmatched and the breakfast is great. I would definitely recommend to a health-conscious (or any) traveler.

Overview

Price Range & Value

At $130/night, you can definitely find cheaper in Rio, but I’d recommend against it. In my opinion, you get what you pay for in this case. For example, the Ritz Copacabana Boutique Hotel was worlds better than the $97 accommodation Patrick and I stayed at earlier in the trip. Despite only being $30 less, our previous accommodation had mold in the shower, stale breakfast, no gym, grumpy staff that didn’t speak much English, etc. The Ritz Copacabana Boutique Hotel was the complete opposite. It was a night and day difference. 

For $130, you’re literally beach front with a fantastic breakfast, outstanding gym, and great proximity to all major sites. We couldn’t hand over our money fast enough.

Cleanliness

10/10. Pristine. From the lobby to the bathroom to breakfast, every inch was well attended during our stay. This was a welcome relief, as the Ritz Copacabana Boutique hotel was our third hotel on our trip to Brazil/Argentina, and the first and only not to have any black mold in the showers.

Location

The location of the Ritz Copacabana Boutique hotel is unmatched. You’re literally a 45 second walk across the street (150 m) from one of the most famous beaches in the world, Copacabana. 
There’s also a great little bakery across the street where I got a surprisingly fantastic tuna sandwich. We met a sweet local girl there that raved about the pizzas next door at Forneria Ciao. There’s also an Itau bike rental immediately outside the hotel front doors and to your left. (Warning, we had trouble getting connection, so could only rent 1. Apparently, this is a common problem when payment is linked to an American bank. Per Reddit, other countries don’t seem to have the same problem.) We were also able to walk to the Gloria Farmer’s Market from this location. Sugar Loaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer are all 20-30 minute Ubers away, depending on traffic.

Amenities

1. Gym

This hotel gym in Copacabana is hands down of the best hotel gyms I have ever seen in any of the 30+ countries I’ve traveled to. I will caveat that by saying I typically stay in mid-range accommodations, but the options here were fantastic. 

Unlike most (all?) gym hotels, this hotel isn’t actually on site – it’s a public gym a couple doors down the street. During the gym’s normal operating hours (note – they are closed on Sunday), you can get a free voucher from the hotel front desk. Walk down the street, and the gym’s concierge staff admits you. 

This gym isn’t fancy – we’re not at Lifetime or Equinox – but the optionality is great, especially for traveling in a 2nd world country. There are 3 floors: bottom floor has weight machines, as pictured, and in the back, not pictured, several fully weighted racks – we’re talking for squats, bench, deadlifts, etc. There were several body-building types here, and the weights available, though you sometimes had to search, did accommodate that. 

The second floor has stretching mats, a small selection of kettle bells and dumbbells, a fitness studio (my understanding was that you could join the aerobics classes), and a line of treadmills. There were several personal trainers with clients here. 

Top floor was a cycle studio, the restroom, and some showers (no picture, but given the condition, I’d recommend going back to your room). 

Unfortunately, my blog hadn’t yet started during this trip, so my pictures aren’t very helpful, but the few I have below can give you a slight idea of the equipment age and quality, though doesn’t do the berth justice.

2. Breakfast Included

The included breakfast buffet was great. It was on a higher floor, so you had a lovely view of the city and mountains on one side, and the beach on the other if you’re lucky enough to snag a table by a window. See article on how to build a healthy hotel breakfast [here]. 

Breakfast offerings included the usual array of various fresh fruits, toast, pastries, and eggs. I enjoyed eating their various vegetable quiches and fresh juice every morning. They also offer an oatmeal bar complete with chia seeds and even some bright purple acai! 

3. Rooftop Pool

There is a trendy, though small, rooftop pool overlooking the ocean. The roof also has a small bar. On our visit in September, it felt a little cool to swim. While pretty, if a large pool and lively atmosphere is your priority, lodge elsewhere.

Ambiance & Lobby

The lobby is small and stylish with great air conditioning and fruit infused water to the left of the front desk. There’s a nice bathroom off to the side of the lobby across from the luggage check. 

We loved the staff and found them the most professional, friendly, and responsive of our whole trip. English was great, they were attentive, and easy to work with to book soccer game tickets, which non-Brazilian residents cannot purchase online.

Room

The bedroom was clean and easily accommodated a queen bed right under the air conditioning. The in room fridge was nice to keep drinks or fruit cold overnight. There was also a small desk/vanity area, not pictured, that was a great spot to place phones, tickets, water bottles, etc. I enjoyed the wood or LVT style floors; since they weren’t tile, there was never any sand stuck in the grout.

Bathroom

The bathroom was tiny but clean! No bathtub, but enjoyed the large square showerhead.

Final Thoughts

The Ritz Copacabana Boutique Hotel is a great option for a clean and stylish hotel with gym access in Copacabana. Its central location, proximity to the beach, cleanliness, and great hotel breakfast make it an excellent choice for your next visit. If you’re interested in booking, feel free to do so using my affiliate link below. By using this link, your cost is not impacted, but I may receive a small commission.

Have you stayed at the Copacabana Ritz Boutique Hotel with its amazing gym before? What was your experience? Did you get a good workout in? Let me know in the comments below.

1. 

   Great post! I haven’t been in years but it brings back some great memories. I remember being fascinated by the…

2. 

   Great post! I haven’t been in years but it brings back some great memories. I remember being fascinated by the…

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   That stairwell 😍

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   Jenna!!! This is a lovely post! Moving Norway to the top of my bucket list! ❤️