Casa Mosquito, a gay-friendly haven in the heart of Ipanema

May 23 2013

by misterb&b

Rio de Janeiro, 18:30. The sky is blazing under the last rays of the sun. On the terrace of Casa Mosquito, a light breeze shakes the white curtains. Below, the beach of Ipanema. In front of us, in the distance, the Sugar Loaf and the lights of the Cantagalo favela light up and plunge into the ocean, like a garland of stars. The perfect postcard of Rio, with the sweet taste of a sip of Caipirinha...

In a few months, Casa Mosquito, on the heights of Ipanema, has imposed itself as one of the most prominent addresses in Rio. However, the city is far from being famous for its hotels, which are often old and overpriced. With two years to go before the World Cup and four years to go before the Olympic Games, the lack of accommodation is a recurring theme.

Benjamin and Louis, a French couple, opened the establishment last November. The result of a common love affair with Rio, which they discovered in May 2009. "I had never fallen in love with a city to this extent," Benjamin tells us. "At that time, we were thinking about changing our lives. From then on, Rio was an obvious choice. It then took us a year to liquidate our belongings in Toulouse, find the house and start the work.

One of the 4 rooms of Casa Mosquito © Casa Mosquito

They discovered this house almost by chance, in a favela pacified in December 2009 by the authorities, in the middle of a war against gangs. It is dilapidated but under the ruins, they guess the nobility of the walls and volumes. We fell in love with it. 13 months of work followed.

"We wanted to keep the spirit of the house, with its marble, parquet and moldings. Then decorate in a colonial spirit with vintage Brazilian furniture, brought up to date.

As a result, you feel at home in this cosy, sober and elegant decor: library, large living room, four rooms with impeccable bedding and personalized decoration, terrace and balconies... Every morning, breakfast in the patio. On request, the chef can prepare lunch or dinner.

"We wanted a hotel on a human scale, with the services of a luxury hotel, where the staff is there without being there. Benjamin or Lydia, the manager, know at any time how to share their good plans and make you discover their best addresses in Rio, gay or not. Because if the spirit of the place is very gay-friendly, it is not 100% gay.

Finally there is the view, on the ocean, the Sugarloaf and the nearby favela of Cantagalo. The hotel is just a 10 minute walk from the gay beach and all the gay establishments of Ipanema, and 5 minutes from the metro, which will take you to the main attractions: Copacabana, Sugarloaf, Corcovado or the neighborhoods of Lapa or Santa Teresa.

In June, Benjamin and Louis will start new works: at the bottom of the current building, on the side of the mountain, they will build an extension, 5 or 6 new suites. On the roof terrace, a bar and a swimming pool with a panoramic view of the entire bay of Rio. And the detail that kills, a mini funicular to access the pool.

Opening planned for the next Carnival.