We stayed in the Florida in September 2005, having come down from Manaus. This was an intermediate stop before we finished our holiday in the Copacabana Palace, so we wanted somewhere cheap. we were very pleasantly surprised by the Florida, which offered a central location, pleasant staff, an interesting and attractive interior and a decent breakfast. The doormen were very helpful with getting our hefty luggage into ta taxi, even though it was clear we were moving on to the Copacabana Palace rather than to the airport!

The Florida is quite a distance from Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, but it is right next to a Metro stop which will take you to the city centre and southern Copacabana, and it is right next to the Catete Palace (which has pleasant grounds, and is historically interesting, having been the former presidential palace of Getulio Vargas). There are several good restaurants not too far from the Florida, including Cafe Lamas (Rua Marques de Abrantes 18-A), which has been serving food since 1874 (though not in its present location).