Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Substant
ial disc
ounts often apply, in which case it really is a
bargain.
R$816
Manhattan Plaza
SHN Q.2, Bloco A
T
61 3319 3060,
W
manhattan.com.br; map p.408.
Less extravagant than
its stable-mate the
Kubitschek Plaza
, but really just as
good: the rooms are bigger, all with balconies, and with the
room numbers illuminated on the floor of the corridor. It's
particularly good value at weekend
s, when
the price falls to
less than a third of the of
cial rate.
R$620
Metropolitan Flat
SHN Q.2, Bloco H
T
61 3533 8888,
W
atlanticahotels.com.br; map p.408.
Not top-of-the-
range but OK for a four-star, and the rooms are indeed
“flats” with a kitchenette for those who want to self-cater.
The pool on the roof is small, but who cares - it's a rooftop
pool. Views are good if you get a room high up facing the
Esplanad
a dos M
inisterios, and good discounts are usually
on offer.
R$418
★
W
hotelstpaul.com.br; map p.408.
Good-value,
businesslike hotel with smallish but well-equipped rooms,
balconies with great views - especially if you ask for a high
room on the side facing the Esplanada dos Ministérios -
and a rooftop pool. Discounts of over 60 pe
rcent m
ake this
place particularly good value at weekends.
R$495
ELSEWHERE
Hostel 7
705 Norte, Bloco I, Loja 20
T
61 3033 7707,
W
hostel7.com.br; map pp.406-407.
Brasília now has a
hostel, and it's clean and modern, with mixed and girl-only
dorms, in a residential area near some handy shops. But
this is still Brasília, and the price of a dorm bed here is much
the same as that of
a sin
gle room in a
pousada
, so it isn't
great value. Dorms
R$80
Hotel Diamantes
QS5, Lote 30, Taguatinga
T
61 3356
5011,
W
hoteldiamantes.com.br; map pp.406-407.
Way out of town but only 300m from Taguatinga Sul
metrô
station, this is how far you have to come to find a budget
hotel. Together with its nearby sister hotel the
Dallas
, it
isn't luxurious, but it's clean enough, the rooms have a/c,
TV, a fridge and free wi-fi (get a room near the lobby for a
decent signal) and - what you won't get in central Brasília
- there's a cheap bar-cum-lancheo
nete ne
xt door and a
small supermarket round the corner.
R$143
Pousada Brasília
703 Sul, Bloco A, Casa 61 (facing W3)
T
61 3321 9889; map pp.406-407.
The best of a little
huddle of
pousadas
in 703 Sul, with rooms that are clean
and neat, if rather poky, and not all with
window
s,
although all have attached bathrooms and wi-fi.
R$140
Pousada JK
703 Sul, Bloco A, Casa 67 (facing W3)
T
61
3323 9998,
W
pousadajk.com.br; map pp.406-407.
A
decent fall-back if the
Pousada Brasília
next door is full. It
isn't as new but it's decent enough. Not all the rooms have
their own bathrooms,
but tho
se without are about the
cheapest deals in town.
R$120
6
Nacional
SHS Q.1, Bloco A
T
61 3321 7575,
W
hotelnacional.com.br; map p.408.
The oldest of the
big hotels, opened in 1960 and a real period piece -
certainly the hotel that best embodies Brasília's retro vibe.
The cavernous lobby is particularly vintage, and mirrors
make the corridors seem endless. Queen Elizabeth and
Prince Philip stayed here in 1968, but they can't have paid
with plastic as credit cards are not accepted. If you don't
mind that however, b
ig disc
ounts usually apply - over 50
percent at weekends.
R$550
Naoum Express
SHS Q.3, Bloco J
T
61 3212 4545,
W
www.naoumhoteis.com.br; map p.408.
A modern
little hotel aimed at the business market but very
reasonably priced and in a great central location, with good
wi-fi in all rooms, rooms around a snazzy little atrium, and
free access to the fitness centre and pool at the nearby
Naoum Plaza
. Good pri
ce on
weekdays but only a small
reduction at weekends.
R$264
St Paul Plaza
SHS Q.2, Bloco H
T
61 2102 8400,
EATING
One of the best things about Brasília is the wide variety of upmarket
bars
and
restaurants
, catering to the city's politicos,
diplomats and civil servants. Cheaper food can be found in the
street markets
and stalls scattered around the Rodoviária
Central and in the
food court
of the Pátio Brasil shopping centre next to the Setor Hoteleiro Sul. On foot, most places in Asa
Norte and Asa Sul are safe enough, but W3 and the deserted central area should be treated with caution at night.
206 Nossa Praia
206 Sul, Bloco A, Loja 2
T
61 3443
4841; map pp.406-407.
A good seafood restaurant,
handy if you're pining for the seaside (the name means “our
beach”). A seafood platter for two including a rock lobster
will set you back R$179, but it's the R$59.90 weekend
lunchtime buffet that really takes some beating.
Mon-Sat
11.40am-11.30pm, Sun 11.40am-5pm.
A Tribo
105 Norte, Bloco B, Lojas 52-9
T
61 3039 6430;
map pp.406-407.
Semi-vegetarian (they serve fish and
chicken but no red meat) self-service offering what they
call “natural food”, and it's certainly good, very flavoursome,
with enough proper options for vegetarians too. Prices
are
R$40.90
Tues-Sat,
R$44.90
Sun.
Tues-Sat
11.30am-3pm, Sun noon-4pm.
★
Bhumi
113 Sul, Bloco C, Loja 34
T
61 3345 0046;
map pp.406-407.
This is really an organic wholefood shop
with café and restaurant attached, but the restaurant
rather overshadows the grocery store. The vegetarian
lunchtime self-service is wonderful (R$47.90/kg), although
the soups they serve in the evenings are pretty hearty too.
Daily: shop 8am-10pm, restaurant noon-3pm (self-
service) & 5-10pm (soups).
