There's a lot of tradeoffs with this place, so it really depends on what you're looking for.

Safety vs Convenience.

Plus: Leblon is a really nice neighborhood, the richest in Rio, so it's extremely safe, even at night.

Negative: Everything is pricey here, especially when it comes to dining options. This is where the rich boring people live so there's nothing to do here. The heart of nightlife, dining, cultural opportunities, and tourism is Copacabana, but it's definitely not as safe as Leblon.


Peace & Quiet vs Active

Plus: It's only a few blocks from the beach, and a quiet stretch of the beach at that.

Negative: Leblon beach is the extreme west end of Ipanema beach. It's pretty much dead, which is good for peace and quiet, but bad if you want social interaction, people watching, or things to do on the beach.


Close vs Far

Plus: it's not far from Ipanema and Copacabana.

Negative: It's not all that close either. We never had reason to go to Ipanema (which it is close to), and it's a about a US $14 cab ride each way to Copacabana. If I had known how often I would be cabs making this run, I would have stayed in Copacabana.


Good Value vs Personal Comforts

Plus: The staff tries very hard to be helpful. The rooms are an acceptable size (barely) with a full kitchen (with full size fridge), balcony, living and dining area, and a separate bedroom. The AC works great. The view was good. I could see Christ the Redeemer from the balcony. The location within Leblon was good with an easy walk to dining options, and a mini mall. The lobby was very comfortable. The free wifi worked (although a bit slow).

Negative: I would have knocked down the walls and made an open floor plan because it all felt a bit cramped although overall far larger than a standard hotel room. Only half the staff speaks English or Spanish (but they really do try their best to be helpful). The continental breakfast is awful, with too many local dishes not edible to a tourist trying not to get sick. The bathroom is uncomfortably snug for a big guy: I had to press against shower stall wall to open or close the shower door; the toilet is far too close to the wall; the sink faucet doesn't project far enough away from the basin making hard to wash hands.


Overall:
I know my review sounds very negative, but I think we got good value. If I were comparing it to an American chain, I would say it's on par with a Ramada Inn/Fairfield Inn/Holiday Inn Express. If it were in Copacabana, I would stay there again, but I think the location is not for everyone. For example, I'm sure my mother would love it. I think older people or people with kids would love it. But if you're actually in Rio to have fun as a young person would, stay in Copacabana.