Insólito Boutique Hotel & Spa — Restaurant in Região Geográfica Imediata de Cabo Frio

This hotel was only our second choice, after out first choice hotel was under renovation over the dates we were travelling. We were gutted! There was a lot of trepidation as we booked Insolito, only because it's not what we initially wanted to book. The trepidation fizzled away the minute we entered the hotel. Carlos, Rafael and every single person who worked at the hotel made us feel so welcome and accommodated us in ways that most hotels probably wouldn't. If you're unsure about the Insolito, Buzios - don't be. The hotel is uniquely terraced over multiple levels: it's set on a hillside which runs immediately down to the a sheltered bay. Whilst I found the hotel to be charming with stairs all over the place leading to otherwise hidden parts of the hotel, this isn't the hotel for those with mobility issues. ||The rooms were very clean and spacious. There was hot water on demand and the water pressure in the shower was fab. By way of decor, imagine white-washed rooms typical of Mykonos, tempered with the minimalism of Scandi design. ||The hotel has a private access point directly down to Praia da Ferradura which is about a 1.5km long golden sandy beach with clear, blue/green water. The beach benefits from being in a sheltered bay so is ideal for swimming. The hotel has some great food and they'll even make you something off menu if you give them 24 hours' notice. The breakfasts are amazing and fresh. Bread and pastry baskets filled with freshly baked goodies, fresh fruit, fresh detox juices on tap and limited but lovely a la carte menu. We always got a table overlooking Praia da Ferradura which was a great way to dine al fresco as you steadily woke up. ||The hotel created a bespoke itinerary for the duration of our stay and we were free to choose to follow it, cherry pick bits or ignore it altogether. We did book some of the activities like yoga and a private boat ride with on board BBQ. This was an amazing day visiting beaches that has sea-only access and cooking our own BBQ. You can opt to have the crew cook for a small charge, but as my Trip Advisor alias suggests, I'm a serial fusspot and have my own exacting food standards! Cooking with my mates amid a pristine marine backdrop with ice cold drinks in hand (the boat had a ready to go cool box filled with ice) and our music blaring from the boat speaker system. Utter bliss. This is a must do activity and the hotel can organise it all for you - all you have to do is go and get the charcoal and food - too easy!||There are a number of pools, with the main one being heated and near the bar (very important for when a cool, refreshing libation is called for!) There were some drinks which are popular in the UK and elsewhere which are not so commonly drunk in Brazil, but the bar staff were happy to take instruction and learn how to make something new to our taste. You can't really ask for much else. ||Whenever we wanted to book taxis, excursions or table at a restaurant, we only had to WhatsApp reception and the on duty manager would see to our request immediately. Once done, we got a text back to confirm.||There were 2 things I didn't like: (1) was that you couldn't flush used toilet paper down the loo, they had to go into a dustbin next to the loo. The bins were periodically refreshed throughout the day irrespective of what was in there, but when you're not used to that practice is can seem a little gross. You get over it and I suppose it's a big job to replace the pipes which are old and narrow and get easily clogged by toilet paper; and (2) the massage I booked, which was around £80 for 80 minutes wasn't that good considering this is a spa hotel.||With all the above, my only regret about my stay at Insolito is that I couldn't stay longer. I was so sad to leave and would go back in...

My husband and I came to stay at Insolito for a 3-day minimoon after our wedding in Rio in Nov 2023. It was highly recommended by a few people so we were super excited. We had told them we were coming for a honeymoon so there was treats and champagne waiting for us when we arrived, as well as a trail of roses leading up the staircase in our room. We felt super welcomed!||The stay took a turn when, on the second night, there was a house party at a nearby property blasting music until 4am. Unfortunately, the windows in the room did not close all the way and we could hear every beat of the music as it rang in our ears. At first we thought it was the on-site beach club but after contacting the front desk they told us it was a nearby house that was having a party. The front desk called the police but that was all they could do. When we complained the next day, they told us that this happens some times and they can't do anything about it. Wrong. They can have the rooms fixed so that the sound does not impact guests, they could offer noise machines, and most importantly, they could let people know! Had I known this was a possibility, I would not have stayed here as both my husband and I are light sleepers.||The management told us that they have sound proofed the rooms by the on-site beach club but unfortunately the other rooms haven't been sound proofed because parties that happen off their property isn't their fault. Although I agree that it is not their "fault" (duh), I do believe they need to have their guests' best interest in mind and modify the property to best accommodate their guests. ||What I found most irritating was how unfriendly and unhelpful the front desk was when we were checking out and voicing our concerns about the noise. They did not offer absolutely anything as compensation for our sleepless night. Nada! As a Brazilian who has lived most of my life in the US, Brazil's customer service is nowhere near the US or Europe.||We did enjoy the pool, the views, the breakfast and the spa. However, I would unfortunately not stay here again due to the potential noise and warn other light sleepers...

nsólito Boutique Hotel & Spa – Still Charming, but in Need of Some TLC My first stay at this charming boutique hotel was back in 2012, and it remains one of the best experiences I’ve had in Brazil. I absolutely love Búzios. I still remember the candles lighting the pathways and the cozy, beautiful room—it was truly magical. Unfortunately, they no longer offer the candlelit experience, but the place still holds its charm.

We enjoyed it so much that we decided to return for a few days after the Desfile das Campeãs in Rio in 2025. Sadly, this time, the hotel felt a bit run-down. There were tiles missing around the main pool, and the first room we booked had mold on the wall.

Thankfully, Laura from the staff was incredibly accommodating and promptly switched us to another room. It was much better, though it still showed signs of wear—tiles were missing in the shower, and the curtains were in poor condition, with some broken parts.

I was told that renovations are planned, which is good news. I also pointed out a nail sticking out of the wooden deck outside—someone could easily get hurt. I ended up asking for a hammer to fix it myself, which felt a bit odd for something so simple that should have already been taken care of.

On the bright side, the staff were warm, kind, and genuinely welcoming throughout our stay. The breakfast and food were lovely—I especially enjoyed the peixe dourado. And of course, the view is absolutely stunning, just as I remembered.

I will definitely return, as long as the hotel follows through with the much-needed updates to the showers, curtains, pool, and deck. Despite its current condition, it remains one of my favorite places to stay in Búzios. The staff is truly wonderful.

Looking forward to coming back—and hopefully giving a well-deserved...